Udayana was a king of Vatsa in India, a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. He is a popular figure in Indian literature, for both his romantic and military stories, but though he probably existed, little is known for certain about his life or reign.
According to Buddhist sources, the Buddha visited Kauà ÂÃÂmbë several times during the reign of Udayana on his effort to spread the dharma, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths. Udayana was an upasaka (lay follower) of Buddha. The Chinese translation of the Buddhist canonical text states that the first image of Buddha, carved out of sandalwood, was made under the instruction of Udayana.
Udayana, the son of à ÂatÃÂnëka II by the Videha princess succeeded him. Niti Adaval mentions about Udayana and his love for music, art and fondness of women. Due to a dohada ("pregnancy craving"), Má¹ÂgÃÂvatë, pregnant with Udayana, is either covered or immersed in red. A monstrous bird mistakes her for raw meat and carries her away, later dropping her. She is cared for in a hermitage, where she raises her son. Udayana obtains a wonderful lute, elephant taming skills, and confidants; he and his mother eventually return to their home, Kauà ÂÃÂmbë.
Udayana is later captured by Pradyota, the King of Ujjayinë. Here, he teaches the lute to Pradyota's daughter, VÃÂsavadattÃÂ, and they fall in love. Eventually they escape to Kauà ÂÃÂmbë, where Udayana's rightful kingship is restored, and they are married. But fearing Udayana is getting soft, and desiring an additional political alliance, Udayana's ministers make him believe that VÃÂsavadattàis dead, and get him married to PadmÃÂvati.
Though he is later reunited with VÃÂsavadattÃÂ, Udayana remains childless from both of his wives. Later, as a boon of Kubera or Lord Shiva per other sources, VÃÂsavadattÃÂ becomes pregnant with NaravÃÂhanadatta (his name means "given by Kubera"), who is fated to become the emperor of the vidyÃÂdharas.
According to the Puranas, the 4 successors of Udayana were , , Niramitra and .
Udayana, the romantic hero of the , the Vina-Vasavadatta, the and many other legends was a contemporary of Buddha and of Pradyota, the king of Avanti. The contains a long account of his conquests. The narrates the event of his victory over the ruler of and restoration of to the throne of . The commentary on the Dhammapada describes the story of his marriage with or , the daughter of Pradyota, the king of Avanti. It also mentions about his two other consorts, , daughter of a Kuru Brahmin and , the adopted daughter of the treasurer Ghosaka. The refers to a peasant girl who became his wife. The of mentions about another queen named , a sister of king of Magadha. The tells us about the marriage of Udayana with , the daughter of , the king of . The narrates a story of romance between him and , an attendant of his chief queen, . The name of his son by his chief queen is Bodhi.