Genealogy.
Descended from Visnu in the following order:
Atri
Candra
Budha
Pururavas
Ayus
Nahusa
Yayati
Puru
Janamejaya
Pracinvan
Pravira
Namasyu
Vitabhaya
Sundu
Bahuvidha
Samyati
Rahovadi
Raudrasva
Matinara
Santurodha
Dusyanta
Bharata
Suhotra
Suhota
Gala
Garda
Suketu
Brhatksetra
Hasti
Ajamidha
Rksa
Samvarana
Kuru
Sudhanva
Sugotra
Cyavana
Kriti
Uparicara Vasu.
2) How he got the name Uparicara Vasu.
Once Vasu built a hermitage and began to perform penance in accordance with the advice of Indra. When the penance became too severe Indra appeared and gave him an aerial chariot. Since then Vasu used to travel through air in the chariot. So he got the name Uparicara Vasu (Vasu, who travels above).
(Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 63).
3) Vasu and Indra festival. Indra gave Vasu a garland (Vaijayantimala) which would never fade, and gave a boon that, so long as he wore that garland, he would not receive any wound. He was given a bamboo stick (Venudanda) and was instructed to fix that rod on the earth and celebrate the festival of Indra. Vasu celebrated the festival of Indra and from that day onwards the festival of Indra came to be celebrated in the world.
(See under Indrotsava).
4). The sons of Vasu. Five sons named Brhadratha, Kusamba (Manivahana), Mavella, Yadu and Rajanya were born to him.
5) Kicking and slitting Kolahala. The river Suktimati flowed through the capital city of Vasu. Once the great hill Kolahala grew amorous of Suktimati and caught hold of her. Uparicara Vasu got angry at this and kicked the mountain which was split into two and Suktimati flowed out of the gap. Still two children were born to the great hill by guktimati. The river was pleased at the freedom accorded by the king and placed the two children at the feet of the king. They grew up. The son became general of the army and the daughter Girika became the wife of the king.
(Maha-bharata Adi Parva Chapter 63) .
6 ) Vasu goes ahunting.
One day the king decided to go to hunt. On the same day his wife had her monthly course. Still without changing his programme he started for the forest. Even after entering the forest the thought of his wife lingered in his mind. The forest was in full bloom as it was Spring. Seeing this the king grew amorous and sat under a tree. A mild breeze was blowing. Instantly the king had seminal flow. He collected the semen in the leaf of a tree and sent it to the queen through an eagle. Thinking that to be some food, another eagle got near and a quarrel arose. The semen fell in the river Yamuna. A fish named Adrika swallowed it. (See under Adrika). A fisherman caught that fish. He got a male child and a female child from the stomach of the fish. That girl is the famous Satyavati Matsyagandhi who became the queen of Santanu. (See under Satyavati). The fisherman gave the boy he got from the fish to king Uparicara Vasu.
(Maha-bharata Adi Parva Chapter 62).
7) Other information.
(i) It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 8, Stanza 20, that Uparicara Vasu was famous as a member of the council of Yama.
He was a friend of Indra, a devotee of Visnu and a righteous and diligent man who loved and esteemed his father. Because of the grace of Sri Narayana, he secured an empire. He consecrated everything before god. Once Indra gave him half of his seat.
(Maha-bharata Santi Parva, Chapter 355 ).
Because of the grace of Bhagavan, Garuda made him a traveller of the sky.
(Maha-bharata Santi Parva, Chapter 337, Stanza 37).
(iii). In Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Chapter 337, Stanza 38, it is mentioned that finally Uparicara Vasu entered the world of Brahma.
(iv) Once a controversy arose between Indra and the hermits, whether cow-slaughter during sacrifices, was desirable. At this time Uparicara Vasu happened to come there. As he was a man of truth, he was asked to make a decision. Uparicara Vasu stood on the side of Indra and gave his opinion in favour of slaughter. The hermits who were against cow-slaughter got angry and cursed #Uparicara Vasu to go down to the world of Patala (netherworld).
(Matsya Purana, Chapter 152 ).
This story is seen with slight difference in Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapters 322-324.
Meaning
#Uparicara
| उपरिचर | adj. | uparicara | moving or walking above or in the air | |
| उपरिचर | m. | uparicara | bird |
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