- Yadav
Infobox caste
caste_name=Yadav
classification=Kshatriya
subdivisions=57 sub-castes/clan s
populated_states=several regions inIndia ,Nepal
languages=Hindi , Tamil, Telugu,Kannada ,Malayalam anddialect s of these languages
religions=Hinduism Yadav or Yadava ( _sa. यादव, "yādava") is an Indian caste that claims descent from
Yadu . Yadavas have been mentioned as one of thepanchjanya tribes in ancientVedic texts.Yadavs generally follow
Vaishnav traditions, shareDharmic religious beliefs, and are located in different parts ofIndia ,Nepal , andBangladesh . Traditionally, the Yadavs are classified under theKshatriya varna in Hinduism . [ [http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com/2006/09/arguments-of-pro-reservation-brigade.html Youth For Equality - Mumbai: Arguments of the pro-reservation brigade and their rebuttals: ] ] [ [http://www.iit.edu/~apansare/history.html Pune-History ] ] [ [http://mahendragarh.8m.com/HISTORY.HTM history ] ] http://www.thomaslessman.com/History/images/East-Hem_1200ad.jpg] [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=u9mS8IbSyu0C&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=yadava+dynasty&source=web&ots=OAgt_RNGpw&sig=YzLEhOwe6aMvuJLY04qBKFI5BFY&hl=en ]Origins
In
Hindu mythology , Yadvas are the descendants ofYadu , the eldest son of KingYayati . Yayati removed Yadu from the succession because he rebelled against Yayati's wishes. Yadu and his descendants ruled inJambudvipa , according to mythology, and later overthrew manyPuru rulers.Fact|date=August 2008According to the
Bhagvad Gita , Yadavas possessed great mystical knowledge, as far back asManu , and much knowledge was also given toSurya andIkshavaku in ancient times. According to Dharmicmythology ,Jarasandh ,Kansa 's father-in-law, and king ofMagadha attacked Yadavas to avenge Kansa's death. Yadavas had to shift their capital from Mathura (central Aryavart) toDwaraka (on the western coast of Aryavart) on the Sindhu.Fact|date=August 2008Yadavas as an ethnic category
According to M.S.A. Rao (an eminent sociologist), Yadava is an ethnic category consisting of several allied castes, which together constitute about one-tenth of the total population of India. These castes are found in different parts of India, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka and are known as the "Ahir" in the Punjab,
Haryana ,Himachal Pradesh ,Delhi ,Uttar Pradesh ,Madhya Pradesh ,Gujarat andRajasthan ; the "Goalas" and "Sadgopa" or Gauda inBengal andOrissa ;Dhangar inMaharashtra ; Yadava inAndhra Pradesh andKarnataka and Idayan andKonar inTamil Nadu . There are also several sub-regional names such as Thetwar andRawat in Madhya Pradesh, and Mahakul (Great Family) in Bihar.Fact|date=August 2008Two things are common to these
cognate castes. First, they claim to be descendants of the Yadu Dynasty (Yadava) to whichLord Krishna belonged. Secondly, many castes in this category have occupations relating tocattle . The Krishna mythology lends a kind of legitimacy to the pastoral occupations relating to cattle, and as the castes following these occupations are to be found in almost all parts of India, the Yadava category encompasses a range of related castes.Fact|date=August 2008Besides this mythical origin of the Yadavas, semi-historical and historical evidence exists for equating the Ahirs with the Yadavas. It is argued that the term Ahir comes from Abhira (Behandarkar, 1911;16), who where once found in different parts of India, and who in several places wielded political power. The Abhiras are equated with Ahirs, Gopas and Gollas, and all of them are considered Yadavas.
M.S.A Rao further states that the
Allahabad iron pillar inscription of Samudragupta (fourth century A.D) mentions the Abhiras as one of the tribal states of west and south west India, who paid homage to the emperor (churn, 1943:81). A fourth century (A.D) inscription found inNashik speaks of an Abhira king, and there is proof that in the middle of the fourth century the Abhiras were settled in eastern Rajputana and Malwa. Similarly, when the Kathis arrived in Gujarat in the eighth century, they found the greater part of the country in the possession of the Ahirs. TheMirzapur district of the United Provinces has a tract known asAhraura , named after the Ahir, and nearJhansi , another piece of country was called Ahirwar. The Ahirs were also kings of Nepal at the beginning of the Christian era.Khandesh and theTapti valley were other regions where they were kings.This indicates that the Abhiras, who rose to political prominence in the second century B.C., had a chequered political career until the fourteenth century A.D when their importance was over-shadowed by the
Mughals , but even during the Mughal period the Ahir and Gollaraja hs were a power to be reckoned with. The Gavlis rose to political power inDeogarh , on theChhindwara Plateau in the central provinces. The Saugar traditions trace the Gavli supremacy to a much later date, as the tracts of Etawa and Khurai are held to have been governed by chieftains till the close of the seventeenth century (Russell, 1916:II, 20).Abhira , which is considered to be a subgroup of the Yadava caste today, may be unrelated to the ancient Yadavas. Linkage is obscure and views vary from scholar to scholar. The term was used for cowherds initially but has been extended to include Yaduvanshi and Nandavanshis too by its corrupt version Ahir. Abhira means "fearless" and appears in most ancient historical references dating back to theAbhira kingdom of the Saraswati Valley, who spoke Abhiri until the Buddhist period. [ [http://www.viewzone.com/matlock.html Ancient Indian and Hebrew Language Connection? ] ] Analysis of Hindu scriptural references of the Abhira kingdoms has led some scholars to conclude that it was merely a term used for Holy Yadava Kingdoms. InBhagavatam , the Gupta dynasty has been alled Abhir. [ [http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/articles/33_two_more.htm (33) Two more attempts of Jones to destroy the Divinity of Sanskrit language and to mutilate Bhartiya history ] ]Dialects
Although the Abhiras constituted a distinct ethnic group, they spoke diverse regional dialects. The language of the Ahirs was known as Ahirani in Khandesh, resembling
Marathi . While the Ahirs of Kathiawad and Kachh have a dialect which resembles Gujarathi (Bhandarkar, 1911:17). Abhira "bhasha" is in fact considered to be "Apabhransha". In the ninth century B.C., it had become the language of the people, and was spoken fromSaurashtra , and Shastri (1967) proves that poetry was composed in the language around the sixth century B.C. Suryavamsi (1962:14-15) mentions the following two dialects in addition to the ones above--Gaddi , which is currently the dialect spoken in Gadderan, on the outskirts of theChamba andKangra hills, and Gandi, spoken in some parts ofMadhya Pradesh . Abhiri as a dialect has been recorded by Sanskrit poets such as Bharata and Dandin. Yadav (1916:15), notes that the dialect the people of Ahirwal inHaryana speak , has a resemblance toRajasthani , and Grierson,(1916:9) considers Ahirwati a branch of eastern Rajasthani and westernHindi .Legends of the cowherd Krishna and his dances with cowherdesses are mentioned in the
Sangam classics. The term "Ayarpati" (cowherd settlement) is found in "Cilappatikaram" (Iyer, 1950). It is argued that the term "Ayar" has been used for the Abhiras in ancient Tamil literature, and V. Kanakasabha Pillai (1904) derives Abhira from theTamil word "Ayir" which also means cow. He equates the Ayars with Abhiras, and Suryavamsi (1962:17-18) treats this as evidence of migration of the Abhiras to the south in the first century A.D.Thus, linguistic evidence is used to support the argument that the Abhiras spread to different parts of India, and that they retained different but related cultural traditions. The most common denominator, as was pointed out earlier, was a descent from the Yadu dynasty and their association with cattle. ["Social Movements and Social Transformation" by M.S.A. Rao (The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1979. page: 123,124,125,127,128)]
Religious Seats of Yadavas
Besides chiefdoms and "jagirs", the Yadavas had "peethams" (seats) granted to them by virtue of their religious powers. For instance, there were fourteen seats ("peethams") among the Yadavas of
Warangal according to a "sanad" 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 Kutub Shahi in A.D. 1560 the rights of the yadavas were acknowledged and recognized, and the name Golkonda was substituted for Manugal.Fact|date=August 2008According to the charter awarded by the Sultan Abdulla of Kutub Shahi in 1071 Hijri, 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 Gollas and two classes of shepherds (Kuruba Gollas). Kondiah, although a follower of Basaveshwara (Lingayat), was the head of the Yadava "Peethams". Perhaps the Gollas at this time were under the influence of Veerasaivism, although they were incorporated into the Yadava category. [ SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION By M.S.A. Rao, The Macmillan Company of India Ltd, p-128-129.]
Political influence
Through numerous political parties such as the
Samajwadi Party , Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Republic), Janata Dal the Yadavs have considerable political influence, especially in the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan162006/editpage1617482006115.asp] Laloo Yadav became the chief minister of Bihar and Mulayam Singh in UP.Many groups and clans claiming descent from the ancient Yadu clan call themselves Yadavs. The major clans among these are:
*
Ahirs (variously called Ahira and Abhira) are divided into clans called "Khanap":
** Nandavanshi (descendants of Nanda}
** Gwalvanshi (descendants ofHoly Gwals )
** Dadhor
** Bhragudev (Central UP )
** Sandilya (Central UP)
** Gosia (Central UP)
** Nirvan (Western UP Chaubisa)
*Behera ,Pradhans ,Mohakud ,Mahakud ,Khillar ,Das in Orissa
* Adhikari [Bengal and Orissa]
*Bharwad in Gujarath
* Bhatrajus (Andhra Pradesh)
*Dhangar s (in Maharashtra and Karnataka), having 108 clans
*Edayar (Tamil Nadu)
* Gaurs (also called "Goriya", and mentioned in the Mahabharata)
* Gawlis
* Gadri / Gadariya
* Gaddi
* Golla
* Gouda (Orissa)
*Jambavas
*Jadon
*Kalchuri
*Konar (Yadava) ( _ta.கோனார் (in Tamil Nadu andKerala )
*Kurubas or Gollas (in Karnataka)
* Krishnauth (claiming direct lineage fromLord Shri Krishna )
*Kurubas (Karnataka)
* Kondayankotth-Tirunelveli-Tamilnadu
*Maniyani ,Ayar,Mayar and Nair (in Kerala)
* Manjrauth (linked with Jarasandh)
* Mandal & Bhagat (Bihar)
*Oraon
* Pradhans
* Puhanian
* Rauts
*Sadgops (in Bengal)
*Saini (Shoorseni/Surasena /Shaursaini) [ King Shoorsena identified as the leader of Yadu clan: "Formerly, Shoorsena (Surasena), the chief of the Yadu dynasty, had gone to live in the city of Mathura. There he enjoyed the places known as Mathura and Shoorsena (Surasena)" (SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Translation: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada & others, Cantos 10, Chapter Seventeen - The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi's Son, verse 27)] [Yudhisthra identifies Shoorsena as his grandfather , and Krishna's father, Vasudeva, as his maternal uncle in Srimad Bhavat Purana : "Is my respectable grandfather Shoorsena in a happy mood? And are my maternal uncle Vasudeva and his younger brothers all doing well?" (SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Translation: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada & others, Chapter Eleven, Lord Krsna's Entrance into Dvaraka, verse 26) ] [ Descendants of Shoorsena identified as a distinct Yadava clan and Krishna's kinsmen: "Assisted by the descendants of Bhoja, Vrsni, Andhaka, Madhu, Shoorsena, Dasarha, Kuru, Srnjaya and Pandu, Lord Krsna performed various activities." (SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa , Translation: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada & others, Cantos 9, Chapter Twenty-four Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead, verse 63)] [Krishna identified as Shoorseni(Shoorsaini): "Foremost among all the Shoorsenis , the powerful one, Krishna, residing at Dwaraka , will rule and protect the whole earth after vanquishing all her lords, conversant as he will be with the science of polity."( Mahabharata, Book 13, Chapter 147) ] [ First wave of Shoorseni (Yadava) or Saini migration to Punjab (West of Mathura) : "The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Shoorsenis"(Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 14) ] [ Prince Arjuna settles some more Shoorseni (Yadava) in Punjab : "As soon as Krishna died, the parijata tree and the assembly hall named Sudharma returned to heaven. The kali era began. And the city of Dvaraka was swallowed up by the sea, with the exception of Krishna’s own dwelling. Arjuna settled some of the Yadavas in Punjab." ( Visnu Purana , Section 5) ] [ An account of a Shoorseni or Saini General leading a Rajput force as late as 14 Century CE : "The rai was in affright, and sent for Gurdan Saini, who was the most experienced warrior amongst the 40,000 rawats under the rai, and had seen many fights among the Hindus. "Sometimes he had gone with the advance to Malwa ; sometimes he had gone plundering in Gujarat." The Saini took 10,000 rawats with him from Jhain, and advanced against the Turks, and, after a severe action, he was slain..." (Excerpted from Amir Khusro's Ghurratu-L-Kamal , The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians",Henry Miers Elliot and John Dowson, pp 541)]* Sassedran( Kerla)
* Surabhirs
*Taljunghi
* Thatte
*Yadava s
* Yadavulu
*Jadeja
*Bhati
*Banaphar
*Servai , Tamil Nadu
*Vadukayar , Tiruvnelveli in Tamil Nadu
* Deshwal (some city in U.P)of the major groups called castes many bear names derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice, for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gauli, derived from a Sanskrit word for cow. The names of the shepherd castes seem to be derived from words meaning sheep. Such is at least the case with Gadaria from 'gadar', on old Hindi word for sheep. Many others of these major groups called castes bear merely tribal or ethic names. Such are for example: Arora, Gujar, Lohana, Bhatia, Mina, Bhil, Dom, Oraon, Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha, Gond, Khond, etc. [ "Caste And Race In India" by G.S. Ghurye (an eminent sociologist) Popular Prakashan 2004 reprint page: 31,32,33.]
Notable Yadavs
Mythology
*
Lord Krishna , was born in the dynasty of Yadu and was known as king of Yadavas
*Balram , Elder brother of Lord Krishna
*Neminatha , The 22nd Teerthankar of Jains & cousin of Krishna
*Vasudeva , father of Krishna
*Kartavirya Arjuna (Emperor of Mahismati, also known as Shasrabahu)
*Kunti , sister of Vasudeva and mother ofPandavas andKarna
*Kansa , a tyrannical king ofMathura , who was killed by Krishna
*Ugrasen, the father of KansaHistorical
*
Kanakadasa
* Yadava Dynasty (Deogiri now Daulatabad)
* Wodeyar Dynasty of Mysore, Karnataka
* Hoyasala Dynasty of Karnataka
* King Katamaraju (Andhra Pradesh)
* VeeraPandya Kattabomman (1857 Freedom Fighter-The Ideal King)
* Rao Balbir Singh (King of haryana)
*Jijabai (mother of ChhatrapatiShivaji )
*Rao Tula Ram (1857 freedom fighter)
*Pran Sukh Yadav (fought along with Rao Tula Ram Yadav at Nasibpur)Some scholars, such as
Robert Sewell believe that the rulers of Vijayanagara Empire wereKurubas (also known as Yadavas). [ A FORGOTEN EMPIRE (vijayanagar), By Robert Sewell, Asian Educational Services, 13th reprint(2006), p-23.]Some early inscriptions, dated 1078 and 1090, have implied that the Hoysalas of Mysore were also the descendants of the original Yadava clan, by referring to the Yadava "vamsa" (clan) as Hoysala "vamsa". But there are no records directly linking the Hoysalas to the Yadavas of North India. Calling it 'poetic fancy', William Coelho, author of "Hoysala Vamsa", 1950, argues that there is no evidence of even a tradition that traces back their lineage to one of northern origin. S.U. Kamath argues that it was a common practice in royal families of medieval South India to build puranic genealogies- [Suryanath U. Kamath, "A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present", 2001, Jupiter books, MCC, (Reprinted 2002), p122] . However, J.N. Singh Yadav, a famous historian, gives the following account in his 'YADAVAS THROUGH THE AGES', " The Hoysalas ruled illustriously for over three centuries and have left in the country imperishable monuments of art and culture. They were family of kings who ruled over practically the whole of the kannada country at the height of their power. They scheduled the hill tribes known as Malepas in the Western Ghats and they assumed the title 'Maleparoleganda'. The account of their origin can be traced in some of their inscriptions. They claimed Sosevura (Sasakapura of Sanskrit writers) as their birthplace. This place has been identified with Angadi of Mudigere Taluk in chikamanglura district. It has been mentioned as the seen of the incident between Sala and the tiger. When Sala,' an ornament of the Yaduvamsa' (Yaduvamsojvala tilakan) was worshiping the goddess Vasantike of Sasakapura, a tiger came from the forest. The holiman Sodutta, who was there gave him his fan saying 'Poysala(Strike, Sala). Sala killed the tiger. From that time the name of Poysala become the designation of the Yadava kings (E.C. VOL. VI, Cm. 20.). Almost the same account, though differing in certain details, is found in many of their inscriptions. According to annother version, when Sala was hunting along the slopes of the Sahya mountains (or the Western Ghats), he was astonished to see a hare (SKt. Sasa) pursuing a tiger, while he was walking alone saying to himself, 'This is heroic soil', a holy muni near by, being afraid of the tiger, called out 'Poy-Sala' and before it could proceed the length of a span Sala slew it with his sword (E.C., VOL. V, PART I B1. 171.). It is after this incident that the place came to be known as Sasakapura. [ YADAVAS THROUGH THE AGES (From ancient period to date), VOL I, P-236, By J.N. Singh Yadav, 1992, Sarada publishing house Delhi-110052.]
The founder of the
Wodeyar dynasty, Vijaya, also claimed descent from the Yadu and took on the name Yadu-Raya.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.