Solar Line

In Hindu mythology, one of the two
great lineages, the other being the Lunar
Line. The Solar Line traces its descent
from Ikshvaku, the grandson of the Sun
himself. Its descendants include many
of the principal characters in the
Ramayana, the earlier of the two great
Indian epics. One of these descendants
is Rama himself. In many of the small
former princely states in Rajasthan, the
rulers claimed descent from the Solar
Line as a way to establish and support
their royal authority. Although they no
longer wield ruling power, many of these
royal houses still exist, and thus this lineage is believed to be still extant.