The Yadava (lit. 'descended from Yadu'[1][2]) were an ancient Indian people who believed to be descended from Yadu, a legendary king of Chandravamsha lineage.
The community was formed of various clans, being the Abhira, Andhaka, Vrishni, and Satvatas, who all worshipped Krishna.[3][4][5][6][7] They are listed in ancient Indian literature as the segments of the lineage of Yadu (Yaduvamsha).[8] At various times there have been a number of communities and royal dynasties of the Indian subcontinent that have claimed descent from the ancient Yadava clans and legendary Yadava personalities, thus describing themselves as the Yadavas.[9][10] The Yadavas of the Mahabharata period were known to be the followers of Vaishnavism, of which Krishna was the leader: they were Gopas (cowherd) by profession, but at the same time they held the status of the Kshatriyas, participating in the battle of Kurukshetra. The present Ahirs are also followers of Vaisnavism.[11][12]
In the Mahabharata it is mentioned that when the Yadavas (though belonging to the Abhira group) abandoned Dvārakā (Dwaraka) and Gujarat after the death of Krishna and retreated northwards under Arjuna's leadership, they were attacked and broken up.[13]
Amongst the Yadava clans mentioned in ancient Indian literature, the Haihayas are believed to have descended from Sahasrajit, elder son of Yadu[14] and all other Yadava clans, which include the Chedis, the Vidarbhas, 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.[15]
It can be inferred from the vamshanucharita (genealogy) sections of a number of major Puranas that, the Yadavas spread out over the Aravalli region, Gujarat, the Narmada valley, the northern Deccan and the eastern Ganges valley.[16] The Mahabharata and the Puranas mention that the Yadus or Yadavas, a confederacy comprising numerous clans were the rulers of the Mathura region.[17] and were pastoral cowherds.[18] The Mahabharata also refers to the exodus of the Yadavas from Mathura to Dvaraka owing to pressure from the Paurava rulers of Magadha, and probably also from the Kurus.[19]
In the time of Periplus(C 80 AD) the very area called by Ptolemy Larike was called Abiria. It seems that the Abhiras of Gujurat were the Rastrikas of Asoka and the Yadavas of Mahabharatha
In the Harivamsa, the Yadava kingdom called Anaratta is described as mostly inhabited by the Abhiras(Abhira-praya-manusyam)
surrounding territories round about Mathura mainly consist of Abhiras(Abhira-praya). Later it is said that all the races of Anhdakas, Vrisnis, etc. belonged to this race of Yadu. If this be so, it is evident that Krshna belonged to a race which included the race of Abhiras
The Yadavas of the Mahabharata period were known to be the followers of Vaisnavism, of which Krsna was the leader: they were gopas (cowherd) by profession, but at the same time they held the status of the Ksatriyas, participating in the battle of Kurukshetra. The present Ahirs are also followers of Vaisnavism.
The fact that the Yadavas were pastoral in their habits is distinctly proved by the fact that Krishna's sister Subhadra when she was taken away by Arjuna is described as having put on the dress of a Gopi or female cowherd. It is impossible to explain this fact unless we believe that the whole tribe was accustomed to use this dress. The freedom with which she and other Yadava women are described as moving on the Raivataka hill in the festivities on that occasion also shows that their social relations were freer and more unhampered than among the other Kshatriyas. Krishna again when he went over to Arjuna's side is said in the Mahabharata to have given in balance for that act an army of Gopas to Duryodhana. The Gopas could have been no other than the Yadavas themselves.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search