Yaduvanshi Rajputs

Yaduvanshi Rajputs is a term used for describing various Rajput groups claiming descent from ancient Yadus. Some rulers of Rajasthan were originally Yaduvanshi Rajputs, the descendants of Krishna. Madhuriputra, Ishwarsena and Shivdatta were well known Ahir kings from this lineage who mingled with Yaduvanshi Rajputs.[1] The Khanzadas of Tijara also claim descent from the Yaduvanshi Rajputs.[2] Chudasamas and Raijadas are descendants of the Samma-Yadavas of Nagar-Samai in Sindh, who came over from Sindh probably in 9th century.[3] Mysore has been ruled by a Hindu dynasty that claimed to be descended from an offshoot of the Yadava dynasty line.[4][5]

Painting of Jahal, sonbai and Devat Bodar, an Ahir,[6][7] who is killing his own son Uga to save Ranavghan

History

According to the Mausala Parva (7.185-253) of the Mahabharata, as well as a number of Puranas, a few years the Kurukshetra War, all Yadava (Satvata) clans of Dvaraka were virtually extinguished due a fratricidal war. Both Balarama and Krishna died soon after this war. After the strife ended, Dvaraka was abandoned and the Yadavas retreated northwards. On the way, they were attacked and by the Abhiras or Ahirs who took the side of Kauravas by the order of Lord Krishna in the land of the five rivers (present-day eastern Punjab). Later, son of Kritavarma became ruler of Mrittikavati and grandson of Yuyudhana became ruler of the territory near the Sarasvati River. The rest of the surviving Yadavas took refuge in Indraprastha. Vajra, grandson of Krishna was installed as their king.[8]

Vajra is mentioned as the great-grandson of Krishna in the Vishnu Purana. According to a section of this text (IV.15.34-42), he was the son of Aniruddha and Subhadra.[9] But according or another section (V.32.6-7), he was the son of Aniruddha and Usha, daughter of Bana and granddaughter of Bali.[10] Bahu (or Pratibahu) was his son and Sucharu was his grandson.[9] Elsewhere in this text (V.38.34), he was mentioned as installed as king in Mathura instead of Indraprashta.[11]

The narrative of the Yadava fratricidal war is also found in two Jataka tales of the Pali Buddhist canon: the Ghata Jataka and the Samkicca Jataka. According to the Ghata Jataka, Vasudeva, Baladeva and eight other Andhaka-Venhu (probably, a corrupt form of Andhaka-Venhi, Pali equivalent to Sanskrit Andhaka-Vrishni) brothers seized Dvaravati 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. The Samkicca Jataka mentions that the Andhaka-Venhus killed each other.[12] Kautilya also in his Arthaśāstra (I.6.10) mentioned about the destruction of Vrishni clan because of their foolhardiness.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Singh, K. S. (1 January 1998). People of India: Rajasthan. Popular Prakashan. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-81-7154-766-1. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  2. ↑ India. Office of the Registrar General (1969). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  3. ↑ Singh, Virbhadra (1994). The Rajputs of Saurashtra. Popular Prakashan. p. 35. ISBN 978-8-17154-546-9.
  4. ↑ Interaction of cultures: Indian and western painting, 1780-1910 : the Ehrenfeld collection
  5. ↑ G.R. Josyer (1950). History of Mysore and the Yadava dynasty. G.R. Josyer. pp. 98,311.
  6. ↑ Christian Mabel Duff Rickmers (1972). The Chronology of Indian History, from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century Issue 2 of Studies in Indian history. Cosmo Publications, Original from the University of California. p. 284.
  7. ↑ James Burgess (1876). Report on the Antiquities of Kâthiâwâd and Kachh: Being the Result of the Second Season's Operations of the Archaeological Survey of Western India, 1874-75. India Museum,. p. 164.
  8. ↑ Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.284.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wilson, Horace Hayman (tr.) (1840). The Vishnu Purana. London: John Murray. p. 440.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Horace Hayman (tr.) (1840). The Vishnu Purana. London: John Murray. p. 591.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Horace Hayman (tr.) (1840). The Vishnu Purana. London: John Murray. p. 615.
  12. ↑ Sullivan, Bruce M. (1990). Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa and the Mahābhārata: A New Interpretation. New York: E. J. Brill. pp. 103–4. ISBN 90-04-08898-9.
  13. ↑ Rangarajan, L.N. (ed. & tr.) (1992). The Arthashastra, New Delhi: Penguin, ISBN 0-14-044603-6, p.144