Mahendra

Mahendra () is a Sanskrit compound word deriving from mahā (great) and indra (the title of the king of the devas) from Hinduism. It has been used in compound royal styles.

History and politics

Royalty

• Mahendra or Mahinda – the son of Emperor Ashoka and a promoter of Buddhism
• Mahendravarman I – (Tamil: மகேந்திரவர்மன் 600–630 CE), Pallava king who ruled the Northern regions of what forms present-day Tamil Nadu in India in the early 7th century.
• Mahindu, 10th century Chahamana king of north-western India
• Mahendra of Nepal – king of Nepal from 1955 to 1972

Elected office

• Mahinda Rajapaksa – President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015
• Mahendra Chaudhry – Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party
• Upul Mahendra (born 1971), Sri Lankan politician
• – Retired Indonesian National Police Officer, Acting Governor of Bali from 2023 to 2025 and since 2025
• Yusril Ihza Mahendra – Indonesian politician, former leader of the Crescent Star Party and Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction of Indonesia since 2024.
• Mahendra Gondeea, Mauritian politician
• Mahendra Singh Mahra, Indian politician

Entertainment

Film

• Balu Mahendra – director of Tamil films
• Y. G. Mahendra – an Indian actor, singer playwright and comedian

Music

• Mahendra Kapoor – Bollywood singer

Sports

• Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Indian cricketer, former Captain of Indian Cricket Team
• Mahendra Nagamootoo – West Indian cricketer

Business

• Mahendra Kumar

See also

• Raja Mahendra, royal style; and name

References