Also known as Hehaya and the founder of the Hehaya dynasty.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Yadu – Sahasrajit – Shatajit – Hehaya. There are also alternate versions in the scriptures. As per Devibhagavata, Hehaya was the son of Yayati’s son Turvasu, and was the forefather of Kartaviryarjuna. Since this seems inaccurate, the above antecedents are from Agnipurana and Vishnupurana. As per this, Ekavira’s son was Dharma. Dharma – Kunti – Bhadrasena – Dhanaka – Kritavirya – Kartaviryarjuna – Madhu – Vrishni. From Vrishni began the Vrishnivansh.

Once there ruled a king named Revanta, who was a friend of Indra. He once rode Uchaishravas to Vaikuntha to see Vishnu. Lakshmi, who was by Vishnu’s side was amazed at seeing her brother Uchaishravas and sat staring at him, and Revanta alternately. She didn’t hear Vishnu speaking to her. Vishnu cursed her and as a result she was born as a mare. Lakshmi begged for forgiveness and Vishnu said that she would be released from the curse when a son equaling Vishnu was born to her. Lakshmi reached earth in the form of a mare and stayed at the meeting point of the rivers Kalindi and Tamasa, where once Surya’s wife had meditated. There, she began praying to Shiva. After a thousand years, Shiva appeared there with Parvati and his ganas, and asked her what she desired. She narrated what had happened and asked him who should eb the father of her son who would equal Vishnu. Shiva agreed to provide a solution, went to Vaikuntha and convinced Vishnu to go to her in the form of a horse. They mated and soon Lakshmi gave birth to a son who became famous later as Ekavira. Since he was born from a horse (Haya) he came to be known as Hehaya as per Devibhagavata Skanda 6.

A vidyadhara named Champaka and his consort Madalasa saw the baby lying unprotected in the forest and took it to devaloka, where Indra identified it as the son of Vishnu and Lakshmi. They left the baby back where they found it. During that time, Shatajit, Yayati’s descendant, was praying for a child. Lakshmi and Vishnu appeared in his dreams and asked him to find the baby and raise it. The king promptly brought the baby back to the palace, named him Ekavira and raised him. When Ekavira was old enough, Shatajit handed over the reign to him and left to the jungles, to meditate. The king and queen later attained vishnuloka as per Devibhagavata Skanda 6.

Once Ekavira traveled to the plains along the Ganga with his minister. As he was enjoying the spring greenery, he saw a huge lotus and to its south, a woman weeping. He asked her why she was crying. She said that the neighbouring kingdom was ruled by a pious king named Raibhya. His wife was Rugmarekha and they had been childless for a long time. The king then conducted a putrakameshti yajna and after several offerings, from it arose a maiden whom the king named Ekavali. She also said that she herself was the minister’s daughter and her name was Yashovati. Since she was of the same age as the princess, the king had appointed her as Ekavali’s chief attendant. The princess was very fond of lotuses. The king built her a huge pond with many lotuses, but that didn’t stop her from roaming around looking for lotus ponds. Once, when Yashovati and Ekavali were near the river Ganga, the princess was abducted by the asura Kalaketu. Yashovati followed them. Though Kalaketu tried to entice her to marry him, the princess refused since her father wanted her to marry Ekavira. Kalaketu imprisoned the princess and thus Yashovati sat near the Ganga weeping.

On hearing this, Ekavira found Kalaketu, defeated him, and returned Ekavali to Raibhya, who got them married.