The story of this dynasty

Emblem of Ikshvaku dynasty

The Ikshvaku dynasty is founded by the the great king Ikshvaku, as illustrated in Puranas. Ikshvaku, literally means "bitter cucumber [Citrullus colocynthis - Bot.]". The dynasty is also known as Surya Vamsha (the Solar dynasty). Lord Rama belonged to the Ikshavaku dynasty. Twenty-two out of the twenty-four Jain Tirthankara belonged to this dynasty. Rishabha is present in both Hindu as well as Jain mythology. According to the Buddhist texts, Prince Siddhartha belonged to this dynasty. The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Bharata, Harishchandra, Dilipa, Sagara (The Ocean/Sea), Raghu, Rama and Pasenadi. Although, both the Hindu Puranas and the Buddhist texts include Shuddodhana, Gautama Buddha and Rahula in their accounts of the Ikshvaku dynasty. But, according to the Buddhist texts, Mahasammata, an ancestor of Ikshvaku was the founder of this dynasty, who was elected by the people as the FIRST KING.