Kingdom of Surasena
c. 700 BCE–c. 300 BCE
Surasena and other Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period.
Capital	Mathura
Common languages	Sanskrit,Prakrit
Religion	Historical Vedic religion Jainism Buddhism
Government	Monarchy
Maharaja
Historical era	Bronze Age,Iron Age
• Established	c. 700 BCE
• Disestablished	c. 300 BCE
Succeeded by Magadha
Today part of	India

The kingdom ofSurasena (IAST:Śūrasena) was anancient Indian region corresponding to the present-dayBraj region inUttar Pradesh, withMathura as its capital city. According to the Buddhist textAnguttara Nikaya, Surasena was one of the sixteenMahajanapadas (lit. 'great realms') in the 6th century BCE.^[1] Also, it is mentioned in the Hindu epic poemRamayana. Theancient Greek writers (e.g.,Megasthenes) refer to the Sourasenoi and its cities, Methora and Cleisobra/Kleisobora .^[2][3]

The Śūrasena state was located on theYamunā river, and its capital was the city ofMathurā.^[4]

It is speculated that the Surasena kingdom was established byŠúraséna on the banks ofSaraswati.^[5] The Surasenas claimed their descent from theYadus mentioned in theRigveda. Surasena was one of the sixteenMahajanapadas. The Sura-sena Janapada was occupied byVrishnis and Andhakas, branches of theYadu tribe.^[6]

TheMahabharata and thePuranas refer to the rulers of the Mathura region as the Yadus orYadavas, divided into a number of septs, which include theVrishnis.^[7][8] The Buddhist texts refer to Avantiputta, the king of the Surasenas in the time ofMaha Kachchana, one of the chief disciples ofGautama Buddha, who spread Buddhism in the Mathura region.^[7]

Its capital,Mathura, was situated on the bank of the riverYamuna, presently a sacred place for theHindus. The ancient Greek writers mention another city, named Cleisobora, in this region.^[3]

Archaeological excavations at Mathura show the gradual growth of a village into an important city. The earliest period belonged to thePainted Grey Ware culture (1100–500 BCE), followed by theNorthern Black Polished Ware culture (700–200 BCE). Mathura derived its importance as a center of trade due to its location where thenorthern trade route of theGangetic Plain met with the routes toMalwa (central India) and thewest coast.^[9]

• 
  Saurasena coin, 400–300 BCE.

1. Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972),Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty, Calcutta: University of Calcutta{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link).
2. Singh, Upinder (2008),A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Delhi: Pearson Education,ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link).

• Mahajanapadas
• Mahabharata
• Yadava kingdoms
• Rigvedic tribes
• Indo-Aryan peoples
• Iron Age countries in Asia
• Iron Age cultures of South Asia
• Ancient peoples of India
• Places in Hindu mythology
• Regions of Haryana
• Regions of Rajasthan
• Regions of Uttar Pradesh

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