Brihadratha Dynasty

According to Vishnu Purana Magadha was only the valuable kingdom in Puranic period. It was the center of civilization and power in India.

Brihadratha the king of Magadha founded the Brihadratha Dynasty. According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas, he was the eldest of the five sons of Vasu, the Kuru king of Chedi and his queen Girika. The name of Brihadratha is also found in the Rigveda.

There were several powerful princes from this dunasty. Jarasandha was the most celebrated king of all Brihadratha princes. There were 24 Brihadratha kings who ruled for thousand years. However there was a conflict between Vayu purana, Matsya purana and Vishnu purana regarding the Brihadratha period of rule.  The astronomical works based on Vishnu purana decits that Brihadratha dynasty was last for 994 years.

Brihadratha Dynasty (3128 – 2122 BCE)

The hirerachy of Brihadratha dynasty is as follows.

Brihadratha                                                                                         Suchi
Jarasandha                                                                                          Kshemya         
Sahadeva                                                                                             Suvrata      
Somapi                                                                                                 Dharma
Srutavat                                                                                               Susrama
Ayutayus                                                                                             Dridhasena
Niramitra                                                                                            Sumati
Sukshatra                                                                                           Subala
Brihatkarman                                                                                    Sunita
Senajit                                                                                                Satyajit
Srutanjaya                                                                                         Visvajit
Vipra                                                                                                  Ripunjaya

The last of the Brihadratha dynasty was Ripunjaya, who was killed by a minister named Punika(Pulika). After the death of Ripunjaya, Punika placed his own son Pradyota on throne and founded the Pradyota Dynasty.