The family of the moon or the Lunar Dynasty has produced many illustrious and well-known kings. The family is known for several kings those who were gifted with regal qualities of strength, valour, magnificence, prudence and energy. Some of the well known kings of the lunar dynasty were Nahusha, Yayati, Kartavirja, Yaryuna and others.
The six brave sons of Nahusha were namely Yati, Yayati, Sanyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. Yati had declined the throne and as a result it was Yayati who had succeeded the throne. Yayati had two wives namely Devyani, the daughter of Usanas and Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. Devyani had given birth to two sons. They were Yadu and Tarvasu. On the other hand the three sons of Sarmishtha were Druhya, Anu and Puru.
Legend in Vishnu Purana says that Yayati was rewarded with a renewed youth by his youngest son Puru. But as he started enjoying his life once again he soon realised that desires are never satiated so it is better that one renounces all his or her desires. As a result Yayati gave the youth to his son Puru and himself decided to go to Tapovan to seek spiritual truth. Before going he had made Puru the sovereign and his other sons were made viceroys of various directions. Turvasu was the viceroy of the south-east districts, Druhya of the west, Yadu was the viceroy of the south and Anu was viceroy of north.
Vishnu Purana states that Yadu was the eldest son of Yayati and among the descendants of Yadu one was an incarnate of Lord Vishnu. Yadu had four sons. They were Sahasrajit, Kroshti, Nala and Raghu.
Vsaudeva was also a descendant of the Yadavas and he had a number of wives. All of his wives had bore children to him. Devaki who was also one of the wives of Vasudeva had borne Lord Vishnu, the source of the vast universe, beyond the understanding of all gods and demons, the one who is without beginning or end had descended into the womb of Devaki.
The Purana says that with the birth of the lord the earth was relieved of all sins, the sun, moon and planets shone with unclouded brilliance; all fear of evil portents was removed and universal happiness prevailed. And from the time of his birth people were led into the righteous path.
The account of Yadu family in the Vishnu Purana also includes that Lord Krishna who was born on Devaki had sixteen thousand and one hundred wives of whom the principal were Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jamvabati, Jalahasini and four others. The divine Krishna, the universal form without beginning, begot on all these wives a hundred and eighty thousand sons, of whom thirteen were most celebrated, Pradyumna, Charudeshna, Samba and others. Pradyumna, married Kakudwati, the daughter of Rukmimi and had by her Aniruddha. Aniruddha married Subhadra, the grand daughter of the same Rukmni and she bore him a son named Vajra. The son of Vajra and Bahu was Sucharu.
Thus it can be said in conclusion that it was in this manner that the Yadu family increased in size by hundreds and thousands and they became so large in number that it almost impossible to repeat their names in hundreds of years.
