Kakutstha, also called Puranjaya, is an early Ikshvaku king. His name gives Rama the epithet Kakutstha, used often in the Valmiki Ramayana.
RoleKing of the Ikshvaku line
ParentsRaghu, Bhagiratha
Appears inRamayana
GroupIkshvaku ancestors
KingdomAyodhya
Who was Kakutstha?
Kakutstha's name means one who stood on the hump: tradition says he fought the demons riding on the hump of Indra, who had taken the form of a bull. From him the whole family is sometimes called the Kakutsthas.
When Valmiki calls Rama or Lakshmana Kakutstha, he is reminding the listener of this heroic ancestor.
Kakutstha's family
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