A mantra. As per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 66, verse 21, after being separated from Damayanti, Nala roamed in the jungles and saved a naga Karkodaka from a fire. To show his gratitude, Karkodaka bit Nala and the venom gave him a dark complexion. He also told Nala that he should go to the capital of the kingdom of Ayodhya, ruled by Rituparna, and that the king, being an expert in aksha, would give Nala the knowledge of the Akshahridayamantra. People with the knowledge of this mantra can automatically figure out the number of leaves and flowers in a tree and even the calculations behind gambling. As per the advice of Karkodaka, Nala approached Rituparna. While he was staying there, a brahmin called Sudeva arrived there and told the king about the second marriage of Damayanti. With the help of Nala, an expert charioteer, he quickly started for Vidarbha.

On the way, Rituparna’s cloak accidentally fell off. Rituparna asked Nala to stop the chariot, but Nala informed him that the chariot had already crossed a yojana in a second. On seeing a huge tree in the forest, the king informed Nala that that it had 5 crore leaves and 2095 fruits. Nala was amazed. They both confided – Nala was able to drive the chariot with such speed because of the Ashwahridaya mantra, and the king was able to know the number of leaves and fruits because of the Akshahridayamantra. They taught each other the mantras. According to the Mahabharata, Vanaparva Chapter 72, Nala was able to win back his kingdom in the game of gambling thanks to this knowledge.

The wife of the sage Apasthamba.

During the Mahabharata war, when Arjuna was under the illusory spell of Maya, Krishna told him about the two forms of God – Kshara and Akshara. All lifeforms and elements are kshara, and the invisible life force in them is akshara. The entity that goes beyond these two forms and stands as the reason for these two forms is Ishvara – God. (as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 39, verse 16-19)

A holy place. During the Pandavas’ exile, they visited the sage Pulasthya’s ashram, where the sage told them about the holy places in India. “After visiting Markandeyatheertha, proceed to the famous sangam of Ganga and Gomati. From there, travel to Gaya, where you will find Akshayavata. If you take a bath there, you will attain moksha.”

According to Devibhagavata, Navamaskanda, “Pushpabhadra is a famous river in India. This river originates in the Himalayas as Sharavati, and flows to the left of Gomati river, for 500 yojanas before joining the ocean in the west. On the banks of this river is Akshayavata. Here the sage Kapila had an ashram long ago, where he meditated. The place is named so because of the vatavruksha found here. It is said that Shiva, Skanda and Bhadrakali visit this tree occasionally.

A copper vessel given to Yudhishtira by Surya, as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 3. Duryodhana had sent the Pandavas to the lac house to get them killed. They escaped into the forests after crossing the Ganga. After killing rakshasas like Hidimba and Baka, the Pandavas reached the kingdom of Panchala and married Krishnaa (Draupadi). The Pandavas returned to Indraprastha but were cheated out of their kingdom by Duryodhana, and had to go into exile for 12 years. They had no way to feed the thousand of Brahmins who accompanied them. Yudhishtira prayed to Surya, who gave him a copper vessel, and said that the vessel would keep getting replenished with food until Draupadi ate her meal everyday.

According to Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 38, verse 29, this is a place in the kingdom of Aanartha. Here, Krishna killed two Rakshasas – Gopati, Thaalaketu

According to Mahabharata Shalyaparva, Chapter 45, verse 58, Aksha was one of the persons who came to assist Skanda in the Mahabharata war.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Pulastya – Vishravas – Ravana – Aksha (as per Uttararamayana)

Meghanadha, Atikaya, and Akshakumar were the three sons of Ravana and Mandodari. As per Valmiki Ramayana Sundarakanda Sarga 47, he was killed by Hanuman, when Hanuman visited Lanka before the war.

A Puruvansh king. As per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 95, verse 21, he was born to the kin Ayuthanayi and his wife Kama, the daughter of Prithashruva.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Aayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Yadu (as per Agnipurana, Chapter 12) Yadu -Sahasrajit – Shathajit – Hehaya – Dharma – Kunti – Bhadrasena – Dhanaka – Kritavirya – Kartaviryarjuna – Madhu – Vrishni (as per bhagavata Navamaskanda Chapter 23) Vrishni (from whom Vrishnivansha starts) – Yudhajit – Shini – Satyaka – Satyaki – Jaya – Kuni – Anamitra – Prishni – Shwapalka – Akrura (as per bhagavata Navamaskanda Chapter 24)

Birth: Shwalpaka, who elonged to the Vrishnivansha married Nandini, the princess of Kashi. Akrura was born to them. He was Krishna’s maternal uncle, and was also his devotee. As per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 220, he was the commander of the Yadava army. According to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 185, verse 18, he was also present at Panchali’s swayamvar. As per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 218, verse 10, when Subhadra eloped with Arjuna, there was a festival in the Raivatha mountains, which Akrura attended. According to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 220, verse 29, Akrura accompanied Krishna to deliver Subhadra’s dowry. As per Mahabharata Virataparva Chapter 72, verse 22, Akrura arrived at a town called Upaplavya for Abhimanyu’s wedding. According to Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 81, verse 9-11, Akrura and Aahuka quarreled continuously on who was Krishna’s real ally.

In order to kill Krishna and Balabhadrarama, Kamsa used the pretext of a Chapapuja that he organised. He sent Akrura to fetch them from Ambadi. Akrura, being a Krishna devotee, warned Krishna and advised him to kill Kamsa. Akrura also fought at Krishna’s side during his battle with Jarasandha. Once Akrura was also sent to Hastinapura by Krishna, Balarama and Udhava to inquire about Kunti and the Pandavas. There, he spent time with his sister Kunti and Dhritarashtra, before returning to Dwaraka. (all as per Bhagavatha Dashamaskanda) Akrura also went to Hastinapura later as Krishna’s envoy. (check Krishna)

Akrura married Sutanu, the daughter of Ahuka and Devaka and Upadevaka were born to them, as per Bhagavatha Dashamaskanda. For Akrura and the Syamantaka gem, check Kritavarma.