- Abhira Kingdom
Sura and
Abhira were mentioned as two kingdoms where the riverSaraswati existed only as a dried up river bed during the time ofKurukshetra War . They were sometimes referred to as Surabhira also, combining both Sura and Abhira kingdoms. After the fall of the Dwaraka federation, whenArjuna was taking theYadav women of Dwaraka toIndraprastha , the Abhira tribes attacked him and took away the women and all the wealth.References of Abhiras in
Mahabharata Nakula's military campaigning to the west
*MBh 2.31
"Nakula, lead his campaign from
Indraprastha to the western regions, to collect tribute forYudhisthira 'sRajasuya sacrifice."Nakula , thePandava general, brought under subjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala.Markandeya's prediction of powerful tribes in the future
*MBh 3.187
"Sage
Markandeya explains toYudhisthira about the rise of western tribes, and their influence on Bharata Varsha or Ancient India"The Andhhas, the Sakas, the Pulindas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the Valhikas and the Abhiras, then become (in
Kali Yuga , which is future forYudhisthira ), possessed of bravery and the sovereignty of the earth.Abhiras in the List of Kingdoms of Bharata Varsha
*MBh 6.9
In "Bhishama Parava", while narrating to
Dhritarashtra the names of theMountain s,River s,Province s etc of Bharata Varsha, Sanjaya includes the Abhiras in the list of its provinces and seems to locate them somewhere between the Mallas, Valhikas and the Aprantas (6,9).i.e. "....the Valhikas , the Vatadhanas, the Abhiras, the Kalajoshakas; the Aparantas, the Parantas, the Pahnabhas, the Charmamandalas; the Atavisikharas, the Mahabhutas....."
In the same Parava, there is also reference to the "Sudra-Abhiras" who are listed among the
tribe s of north such as theYavanas , theChinas , theKambojas , the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes, the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas (Kulutas), theHuna s, and the Parasikas, the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas, theDaradas , the Kasmiras, the Khasiras, theBharadvaja s, and the diverse tribes ofKirata s, the Tomaras, the Hansamargas, and the Karamanjakas etc (6.9)Participation in the Kurukshetra War
*MBh 7.20
Bhutasarman, and Kshemasarman, and the valiant Karakaksha, and the Kalingas, the Singhalas, the Easterners, the Sudras, the Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas, the Yavanas, the
Kambojas , the Hangsapadas, the Surasenas, the Daradas, the Madras, and the Kalikeyas, with hundreds and thousands of elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers were stationed at its neck of the military formation formed by theKaurava generalDrona inKurukshetra War .Impact of Bhargava Rama on Abhira tribe
*MBh 14.29
Dravidas and Abhiras and Pundras, together with the Savaras, became fallen to low status, though those men who had Kshatriya duties assigned to them in consequence of their birth, falling away from those duties due to fear of
Bhargava Rama .Attack of Abhiras on Arjuna and the people of Dwaraka
*MBh 16.7
"Arjuna rescued the women and children and a few soldiers from Dwaraka Island as it sank into the sea. They were heading from Dwaraka to
Indraprastha , along a road parallel to the course ofSaraswati River . Then the Abhiras attacked them."Then those men, with hearts overwhelmed by cupidity, those Abhiras of ill omen, assembled together and held a consultation. They said, Here there is only one bowman,
Arjuna . The cavalcade consists of children and the old. He escorts them, transgressing us. The warriors (of the Vrishnis) are without energy. Then those robbers, numbering by thousands, and armed with clubs, rushed towards the procession of the Vrishnis (theYadava clan of Dwaraka), desirous of plunder.*MBh 16.8In
Arjuna 's very sight thousands of Vrishni ladies were carried away by the Abhiras of the country of the five waters.Balarama's pilgrimage along Saraswati River
*MBh 9.37
Then
Balarama proceeded to Vinasana where theSarasvati River hath become invisible in consequence of her contempt for the Sudras, the Abhiras. And since the Sarasvati, in consequence of such contempt, is lost at that spot, the Rishis, for that reason, always name the place as Vinasana. Having bathed in that tirtha of the Sarasvati, the mightyBala Rama then proceeded to Subhumika, situated on the excellent bank of the same river.See also
#
Kingdoms of Ancient India
#Sudra Kingdom
#Saraswati References
*
Mahabharata ofKrishna Dwaipayana Vyasa , translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
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