Sasada · Shashada
An early Ikshvaku king, known as Shashada, the hare-eater.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Puranic tradition, with other tellings (Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda genealogy), Kalidasa's Raghuvamsha) noted where relevant.
Vikukshi, also called Shashada, is an early king of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Ayodhya. Ancient lists of the Ikshvaku kings differ in names and order, so his exact place in the line varies by text.
In the Puranas, Vikukshi was told by his father Ikshvaku to bring meat for a ritual. He tasted a hare before offering it, and was called Shashada, "the hare-eater", and lost his place.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above. Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.