The âgavataPurâLunar dynasty originated in the union of Târâ, the female principle of Brihaspati (Jupiter), and the Moon. The issue was Budha (Mercury), the direct progenitor of the Lunar dynasty.
The son of Budha was Pururavas. He married Urvasi, the renowned Deva nymph.
Pururavas had six sons. But we are concerned with only two of them, Âyus and Vijaya.
Vijaya gave the Adept line of the race and Âyus, the ordinary humanity.
In the line of Vijaya, we find Jahnu, purified by the assimilation of Gangâ, Visvâmitra, pre-eminently the Rishi of the Rig Veda and one of the seven sages who watch over the destiny of the present Manvantara, Jamadagni, another of the seven sages of our Manvantara and Parasurâma one of the coming sages of the next Manvantara. We have already mentioned the part taken by Visvâmitra and his sons in the composition of the Vedic Mantras.
Coming to the line of Âyus, we recognise the forefathers of the Aryan races.
In the short-lived branch through Kshatra-vriddha, we find the Vedic Rishi Gritsamada, his son Sûnaka, the renowned Sounaka, Dirghatamas and Dhanvantari, the promulgator of Âyur-veda.
But the longest history of the Race is through the descendants of Yayâti.
King Yayâti married Devayâni, the daughter of Sukra, the presiding Rishi of the planet Venus, and had by her two sons, Yadu and Turvasu. Sukra is the son of Bhrigu, the Rishi of Mahar Loka. Devayâna, is the path leading beyond Trilokî, after death.
But the King had also connection with a Dânava girl, who brought forth three sons, Druhyu, Anu and Puru. For his Dânava connection, King Yayâti had in youth to undergo the infirmities of age. This evil was transmitted to Puru, the youngest son of the Dânava girl.
The line of Puru was short-lived. But it is this line that gave some of the renowned Vedic Rishis, viz. Apratiratha, Kanva, Medhâtithi and Praskanva. Dushmanta, the hero of Kalidasa's renowned drama also came of this line. Vishnu incarnated in part as Bharata, son of Dushmanta.
Then there was a revolution. Bharata found that his sons were not like unto himself. So the direct line of Puru came to an end. What followed is a little mysterious. Bharata adopted Bharadvâja as his son. Bharadvâja was begotten by Brihaspati (Jupiter) on the wife of his brother Utathya named Mamatâ (Egoism).