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Harita — Son of Rohitashva, King of Ayodhya, Solar Dynasty
Harita · Hārita · Haritashva · Rohitashva-putra · Chanchu-pita · Ikshvaku-vamsha-nripa
Harita — also written Haritashva in some sources — is the son of Rohitashva (son of Harishchandra) and the father of Chanchu; a king of the Ikshvaku Solar Dynasty of Ayodhya. His position in the succession is confirmed across the Garuda Purana (Chapter 138), the Bhagavata Purana (Canto 9, Chapter 7), the Vishnu Purana (Book 4, Chapter 3), and the Bhavishya Purana. No primary canonical source records any personal episode of his life, any military campaign, any sacrifice, or any personal history beyond his genealogical position between Rohitashva and Chanchu. A note on disambiguation: the name Harita appears for several distinct figures in the tradition — including a sage Harita of the Bhrigu-Chyavana lineage (listed among the sons of Chyavana in some Puranas), a lawgiver Harita whose Dharmashastra is cited in later legal texts, and Harita the king who is a later Solar Dynasty descendant of Ikshvaku's son Bharata. The Harita profiled here — the son of Rohitashva — is a distinct figure from all of these. The Booksfact source notes his reign was contemporary with Chandravamshi king Dushyanta — placing him in the same broad era as the Shakuntala-Bharata narrative. The Bhavishya Purana records: King Harita also ruled for a long period, just like his father. His son was Chanchubhupa.
✦ The Name
The Sanskrit name Harita — written Hārita — derives from hari (green, the colour of new leaves; also golden; also Vishnu's name) with the suffix giving the adjectival form: the green or golden one, the Hari-coloured one. It is a name of auspicious brightness — the colour of new growth and of Vishnu's complexion simultaneously.
✦ Lineage
- Father: Rohitashva — son of Harishchandra; who was promised to Varuna; who wandered six years at Indra's advice; who obtained Shunahshepa; profiled separately in this series
- Son: Chanchu
- Position in Solar Dynasty: Trishanku → Harishchandra → Rohitashva → Harita → Chanchu → Sudeva → Vijaya → Ruruka/Bharuka → Vrika → Bahu (Bahuda/Asita) → Sagara
✦ References
- Garuda Purana (Chapter 138) — primary source: Harita named as son of Rohitashva, father of Chanchu
- Bhagavata Purana (Canto 9, Chapter 7); Vishnu Purana (Book 4, Chapter 3); Bhavishya Purana (Pratisarga Parva) — parallel confirmations
- Booksfact.com — Lord Rama Lineage; Wikipedia — Solar Dynasty; Wisdomlib — Garuda Purana Chapter 138: modern summaries