TheYadava (lit. 'descended from Yadu')[1][2] , not to be confused withYadav, were an ancientIndian people who believed to have descended fromYadu, a legendary king ofChandravamsha lineage.[3]
The community was formed of variousclans, being theSatvatas,Andhakas,Bhojas,Kukuras,Vrishni,Surasenas, andAbhira who all worshippedKrishna.[4][5][6] They are listed in ancient Indian literature as the segments of the lineage of Yadu (Yaduvamsha).[7] Amongst the Yadava clans mentioned in ancient Indian literature, theHaihayas are believed to have descended from Sahasrajit, elder son of Yadu[8] and all other Yadava clans, which include theChedis, theVidarbhas, the Satvatas, the Andhakas, the Kukuras, the Bhojas, the Vrishnis and the Surasenas are believed to have descended from Kroshtu or Kroshta, younger son of Yadu.[9]
In theMahabharata it is mentioned that when the Yadavas abandonedDvārakā (Dwaraka) andGujarat after the death ofKrishna and retreated northwards underArjuna's leadership, they were attacked and broken up.[10]
It can be inferred from thevamshanucharita (genealogy) sections of a number of majorPuranas that, the Yadavas spread out over theAravalli region,Gujarat, theNarmada valley, the northernDeccan and the easternGanges valley.[11] TheMahabharata and the Puranas mention that the Yadus or Yadavas, a confederacy comprising numerous clans were the rulers of theMathura region.[12] and werepastoral cowherds.[13] TheMahabharata also refers to the exodus of the Yadavas fromMathura toDvaraka owing to pressure from thePaurava rulers ofMagadha, and probably also from theKurus.[14]
At various times there have been a number of communities and royal dynasties of theIndian subcontinent that have claimed descent from the ancient Yadava clans and legendary Yadava personalities, thus describing themselves as the ancient Yadavas.[15][16]
The Haihayas were an ancient confederacy of fiveganas (clans), who were believed to have descended from a common ancestor, Yadu. These five clans are Vitihotra, Sharyata, Bhoja, Avanti and Tundikera. The five Haihaya clans called themselves the Talajanghas[9] According to thePuranas, Haihaya was the grandson of Sahasrajit, son of Yadu.[8] Kautilya in hisArthaśāstra mentioned about the Haihayas.[17] In the Puranas,Arjuna Kartavirya conqueredMahishmati fromKarkotaka Naga and made it his capital.[18]
Later, the Haihayas were also known by the name of the most dominant clan amongst them — the Vitihotras. According to thePuranas, Vitihotra was the great-grandson of Arjuna Kartavirya and eldest son of Talajangha.[9] Ripunjaya, the last Vitihotra ruler ofUjjayini was overthrown by hisamatya (minister) Pulika, who placed his son, Pradyota on the throne.[17][19] TheMahagovindasuttanta of theDighanikaya mentions about an Avanti king Vessabhu (Vishvabhu) and his capital Mahissati (Mahishmati). Probably he was a Vitihotra ruler.[20]
In theBalakanda (70.28) of theRamayana, the Shashabindus are mentioned along with the Haihayas and the Talajanghas.[21] The Shashabindus or Shashabindavas are believed as the descendants of Shashabindu, aChakravartin (universal ruler)[22] and son of Chitraratha, great-great-grandson of Kroshtu.[21]
The Chedis or Chaidyas were an ancient Yadava clan, whose territory was conquered by aKuru king Vasu, who thus obtained his epithet,Chaidyoparichara (the overcomer of the Chaidyas)[23] orUparichara (the overcomer). According to the Puranas, the Chedis were descendants of Chidi, son of Kaishika, grandson of Vidarbha, a descendant of Kroshta.
According to the Puranas, the Vidarbhas or Vaidarbhas were descendants of Vidarbha, son of Jyamagha, a descendant of Kroshtu.[9] Most well known Vidarbha king wasBhishmaka, father ofRukmin andRukmini.[24] In theMatsya Purana and theVayu Purana, the Vaidarbhas are described as the inhabitants of Deccan (Dakshinapatha vasinah).[25]
According to the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII.14), the Satvatas were a southern people held in subjection by the Bhojas.[26] TheSatapatha Brahmana (XIII.5.4.21) mentions that Bharata seized the sacrificial horse of the Satvatas.[27] Panini, in hisAshtadhyayi mentions the Satvatas also as being of theKshatriya gotra, having asangha (tribal oligarchy) form of government[28] but in theManusmriti (X.23), the Satvatas are placed in the category of theVratya Vaishyas.[29]
According to a tradition, found in theHarivamsa (95.5242-8), Satvata was a descendant of the Yadava kingMadhu and Satvata's son Bhima was contemporary withRama. Bhima recovered the city of Mathura from theIkshvakus after the death of Rama and his brothers. Andhaka, son of Bhima Satvata was contemporary withKusha, son of Rama. He succeeded his father to the throne of Mathura.[30]
TheAndhakas, theVrishnis, theKukuras, theBhojas and theSurasenas are believed to have descended from Satvata,[31] a descendant ofKroshtu.[9] These clans were also known as the Satvata clans.
According to theAshtadhyayi (IV.1.114) ofPanini, the Andhakas were of theKshatriya gotra, having asangha (tribal oligarchy) form of government[28] In theDrona Parva (141.15) of theMahabharata, Andhakas were categorized as theVratyas (deviators from orthodoxy).[14] According to the Puranas, the Andhakas were the descendants of Bhajamana, son of Andhaka and grandson of Satvata.[9]
According to theMahabharata, the allied army of the Andhakas, the Bhojas, the Kukuras and the Vrishnis in theKurukshetra War was led byKritavarma, son of Hridika, an Andhaka.[31] But, in the same text, he was also referred as a Bhoja of Mrittikavati.[26]
According to theAitareya Brahmana (VIII.14), the Bhojas were a southern people, whose princes held the Satvatas in subjection. TheVishnu Purana (IV.13.1-61) mentions the Bhojas as a branch of the Satvatas.[26] According to this text, Bhojas of Mrittikavati were descendants of Mahabhoja, son of Satvata.[32] However, according to a number of other Puranic texts, the Bhojas were descendants of Babhru, grandson of Satvata.[9] In theAdi Parva of theMahabharata (85.3533) and in a passage of theMatsya Purana (34.30) the Bhojas are mentioned as themlecchas.[citation needed] Another passage of theMatsya Purana (44.69) describes them as pious and the performers of the religious rites.[26]
Kautilya in hisArthaśāstra (XI.1.5), describes the Kukuras as a clan, havingsangha (tribal oligarchy) form of government, whose leader uses the title ofrājā (rājaśabdopajīvinah).[33] According to theBhagavata Purana, the Kukuras occupied the territory aroundDwarka. The Vayu Purana mentions that the Yadava rulerUgrasena belonged to this clan (Kukurodbhava).[34] According to the Puranas, Ahuka, an Kukura, had two sons by aKashi princess, Ugrasena and Devaka. Ugrasena had nine sons and five daughters,Kamsa being the eldest. Devaka had four sons and seven daughters,Devaki was one of them.Kamsa usurped the throne of Mathura after imprisoning Ugrasena. But later he was killed byKrishna, son of Devaki, who re-installed Ugrasena to the throne.[35]
The Nashik Cave Inscription of Gautami Balashri mentions that her sonGautamiputra Satakarni conquered the Kukuras. TheJunagadh Rock Inscription ofRudradaman I includes the Kukuras in the list of the peoples conquered by him.[34]
The Vrishnis are mentioned in a number ofVedic texts, which include theTaittiriya Samhita (III.2.9.3), theTaittiriya Brahmana (III.10.9.15), theSatapatha Brahmana (III.1.1.4) and theJaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana (I.6.1).[12] The Taittiriya Samhita and the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana mention about a teacher, Gobala belonging to this clan.[36]
Although, Panini, in hisAshtadhyayi (IV.1.114) includes the Vrishnis in the list of the clans of theKshatriya gotra, having asangha (tribal oligarchy) form of government,[28] but in theDrona Parva (141.15) of theMahabharata, the Vrishnis, like the Andhakas were categorized as theVratyas (apsotates). In theShanti Parva (81.25) of theMahabharata, the Kukuras, the Bhojas, the Andhakas and the Vrishnis are together referred as asangha, and Vasudeva Krishna asSanghamukhya (seignor of thesangha)[14] According to the Puranas, Vrishni was one of the four sons of Satvata.[9] Vrishni had three (or four) sons, Anamitra (or Sumitra), Yudhajit and Devamidhusha. Shura was son of Devamidhusha. His sonVasudeva was father of Balarama and Krishna.[31]
According to the Harivamsa (II.4.37-41), the Vrishnis worshipped goddessEkanamsha, who, elsewhere in the same text (II.2.12), described as daughter ofNandagopa.[37] TheMora Well Inscription, found from a village near Mathura and dated to the early decades of the Common era records the installation of the images of the five Vrishniviras (heroes) in a stone shrine by a person, named Tosha. These five Vrishni heroes have been identified withSamkarshana,Vasudeva,Pradyumna,Aniruddha and Samba from a passage in the Vayu Purana (97.1-2).[38]
A unique silver coin of the Vrishnis was discovered fromHoshiarpur,Punjab. This coin is presently preserved in theBritish Museum,London.[39] Later, a number of copper coins, clay seals and sealings issued by the Vrishnis were also discovered from Sunet, nearLudhiana.[40]
The Shaineyas are believed to have descended from Shini, son of Anamitra, son of Vrishni. In theMahabharata and the Puranas, the most notable Shaineya wasYuyudhana, son of Satyaka and grandson of Shini. He was a contemporary of Krishna. According to the Puranas, Asanga and Yugandhara were his son and grandson respectively.[31]
A number of Puranas mentionAkrura, a Vrishni, as the ruler of Dvaraka.[41] His name is found in theNirukta (2.2) as the holder of the jewel.[42] In the Puranas, Akrura is mentioned as the son of Shvaphalka, who was great-grandson of Vrishni[31] and Gandini. In theMahabharata, theBhagavata Purana and theBrahma Purana, he was mentioned as the keeper of theSyamantaka, the most well-known jewel of the Yadavas.[42][43] According to the Puranas Akrura had two sons, Devavant and Upadeva.[31]
According to theMausala Parva (7.185-253) of theMahabharata a few years after theKurukshetra War, Andhaka-Vrsni Yadava clans of Dvaraka were destroyed due to a fratricidal war.[44] BothBalarama andKrishna died soon after this war. Later, son of Kritavarma became ruler of Mrittikavati and grandson of Yuyudhana became ruler of the territory near theSarasvati River. The rest of the surviving Yadavas took refuge inIndraprastha. Vajra, great-grandson of Krishna was installed as their king.[45]
Vajra is mentioned as the great-grandson of Krishna in theVishnu Purana. According to a section of this text (IV.15.34-42), he was the son ofAniruddha and Subhadra.[46] But according or another section (V.32.6-7), he was the son of Aniruddha and Usha, daughter of Bana and granddaughter ofBali.[47] Bahu (or Pratibahu) was his son and Sucharu was his grandson.[46] Elsewhere in this text (V.38.34), he was mentioned as installed as king in Mathura instead of Indraprastha.[48]
The narrative of the Yadava fratricidal war is also found in twoJataka tales of thePali Buddhist canon: theGhata Jataka and theSamkicca Jataka. According to theGhata Jataka, Vasudeva, Baladeva and eight otherAndhaka-Venhu (probably, a corrupt form ofAndhaka-Venhi,Pali equivalent to Sanskrit Andhaka-Vrishni) brothers seizedDvaravati and killed its king Kamsa. Later, these brothers fought amongst themselves and except Vasudeva and Baladeva everybody died. Vasudeva and Baladeva also died soon after. TheSamkicca Jataka mentions that theAndhaka-Venhus killed each other.[49] Kautilya also in hisArthaśāstra (I.6.10) mentioned about the destruction of Vrishni clan because of their foolhardiness.[50]
According to a modern historian,Romila Thapar, thekinship system of the Yadavas shows traces ofmatrilineal structure, which is found from the mention of their cross-cousin marriages. This is particularly prohibited in theIndo Aryan kinship system.[51] The Vishnu Purana mentions that Krishna married Rukmini, a Vidarbha princess. His son Pradyumna married Rukmavati, daughter ofRukmi, brother of Rukmini. Pradyumna's son Aniruddha married Rochana, granddaughter of Rukmi.[46]
TheBuddhist andJaina texts list 16 powerful states (shodasha mahajanapada), which flourished in the early 6th century BCE. Shurasena was one of such states mentioned in theAnguttara Nikaya, a Buddhist text. The capital of the Shurasenas was Mathura, which was also known as Madura.[52]Megasthenes (c. 350 – 290 BCE) mentions that the Sourasenoi (Shurasenas), who lived in the Mathura region, worshippedHerakles, by which he may have meantVasudeva Krishna, the Indian god bearing the closest resemblance to Herakles. The worship of Vasudeva Krishna seems to have originated in the Mathura region.[53]
A number of traditions exist regarding the origin of the Shurasenas. According to a tradition, found in theLinga Purana (I.68.19), Shurasenas were descendants of Shurasena, son of Arjuna Kartavirya. According to another tradition found in theRamayana (VII.62.6) and the Vishnu Purana (IV.4.46), the Shurasenas were descendants of Shurasena, son ofShatrughna, brother of Rama.[30] According to theDevibhagavata Purana (IV.1.2), Shurasena was father of Vasudeva, father of Krishna.[54]Alexander Cunningham in hisAncient Geography of India states that because of Surasena, his grandfather, Krishna and his descendants were known as the Surasenas.[55]Bhasa, in hisBalacharita mentions that the mother of Kamsa was a Shurasena (Shaurasenimata).[56]
Besides chiefdoms andjagirs, thepeethams (seats) granted to them by virtue of their religious powers. For instance, there were fourteen seats (peethams) among theWarangal according to asanad granted in 1425 (Shaka Samvat), by Sree Pratapa Rudra, Maharaja of Warangal, to Sree Kondiah Guru, as the head of the fourteen seats. Subsequently whenBhagyanagar was founded by Sultan Abdulla of Qutub Shahi in AD 1560 the rights of the[who?] were acknowledged and recognized, and the name Golkonda was substituted for Manugal.[57] According to the charter awarded by theSultan Abdullah ofQutb Shahi dynasty in 1071Hijri, Kondiah built the fort for the sultan by using his charisma in resolving the mystery of the site, and also discovered for him gold coins buried underground. In return, the sultan gave him the Charter conferring upon Kondiah the rights and privileges due to the head of the fourteen seats, and of twelve classes of and two classes of Kondiah, although a follower of, was the head of thePeethams. Perhaps the at this time were under the influence of although they were incorporated into the category.[58]
In the time of Periplus (c. 80 AD) the very area called byPtolemy Larike was calledAbiria. It seems that the Abhiras of Gujurat were the Rastrikas ofAsoka and the Yadavas ofMahabharatha.