HARISCHANDRA, a Hindu king of the solar dynasty, a descendant of Ikshwilkn, and one of the more prominent personages in the legendary history of ancient India. The earliest mention is made of him in the AitdreyaBreihmana (see VEDA), where he is the subject of one of the most interesting legends of the Vedic period, Iie is repre sented there as desirous of obtaining a son, and of making a compact with the god Vanilla, by which he promised to sacrifice to the god his son, if lie granted him one. Varuna acceded to his prayer, and the Altdreya-Bratnana then proceeds to relate how Harischandra delayed, from time to time, the fulfillment of his part of the compact, until at last he succeeded in finding a substitute for his son in $nanalis'epa. who m as sold to him by his father for 100 cows, to be offered in sacrifice to Vurtma. Ultimately, however, S'nanahs'epa becomes released from his bondage through the intervention of the gods. (See S'HANAHS'EPA). According to the epic poem 3 faltablui,rata , llarischandra
was a type of munificence and piety, and after death became elevated to the court of Inclra; and sonic of the Puranas are Still more explicit on his wonderful fate. ]laving given his whole country, his wife and son, and finally himself to Vis'witmitra, :-atis• faction of the demands made by this greedy priest for his assistance at a sacrifice, Harischandra, in consequence of this pious act, became elevated with his subjects to the paradise of Inds; but, having been insidiously misled by Na rada to boast of his merits, was again precipitated. The repentance of his pride, however, arrested his downward descent, and he and his train paused in mid-air. where his city is popularly believed to be at times still visible.—See Wilson's translation of 'the litAntt Parana.