Harita (Hinduism)
Harita is a king in Hindu literature, the son of Yauvanāśva and the grandson of Ambarisha, belonging to the Suryavamsha (Solar) dynasty. He is said to have left his kingdom as a symbolic atonement for his sins. After performing austere practices, the Sthala Purana of Sriperumbudur says he and his descendants were granted the status of Brahmins by Narayana (Vishnu).
According to the story, Harita went on a hunting trip and saw a tiger attack a cow. He killed the tiger to save the cow, but the cow died. A heavenly voice told him to go to Sriperumbudur, bathe in the temple tank, and pray to Narayana for forgiveness. Narayana appeared and forgave him, declaring that although he had been a Kshatriya, he and his descendants would now become Brahmanas.
Because of this, many royal lineages claim descent from Harita to support their legitimacy, citing texts such as the Vishnu Purana, Vayu Purana, and Linga Purana. The Harita gotra Brahmins have two variations of their pravara used in ceremonies and other auspicious functions.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:05 (CET).