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* [[Dibang]],TV Journalist,NDTV
* [[Dibang]],TV Journalist,NDTV
* Rai Saheb Professor Parmanand (Secretary of UP board for high school and intermediate education in 1940's)
* Rai Saheb Professor Parmanand (Secretary of UP board for high school and intermediate education in 1940's)
* [[Madan Mohan Upendra (Yadav)]], (poet, Mathura,UP)


=== Film ===
=== Film ===

Revision as of 15:32, 28 May 2009

"Yadavas" redirects here. For the Yadava dynasty, see Ahir.
यादव/Yadav
ClassificationChandravanshi Kshatriya
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesHindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam,Oriya, Marathi and dialects of these languages
Populated statesNorthern India, Western India, Central India , South India
SubdivisionsAhir,Dhangars,Jadon,Bhati,Maniyani,Konar,Gaur,Jadeja,etc. 57 sub-castes/clans
Sri Krishna

Yadav or Yadava (Sanskrit: यादव, yādava) is an Indian caste that claims descent from Yadu. Yadavas have been mentioned as one of the panchjanya tribes in ancient Vedic texts. In the Indian history particularly with reference to the Vedic Period the Yadavs had a great past,a glorious past and Yadavs were known for their bravery and diplomatic wisdom.[1][2] Yadavs are said to be "naturally" predisposed to fight. The yadav-kshatriyas are not only considered to have predisposition to fight,but also to govern.[3][4]

Yadavs generally follow Vaishnav traditions, share Dharmic religious beliefs, and are located in different parts of India and Nepal. Traditionally, the Yadavs are classified under the Kshatriya varna in Hinduism.Yadavas/Ahir and their allied castes are the single largest community in India, estimated to constitute more than 11% of the Indian population.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Yadav Origin

Kesu Kalan and Miskin,
"Lord Krishna in the Golden City"
(Dwaraka), from the Harivamsha, ca. 1600, during Akbar's reign. Freer Gallery

In Hindu mythology, Yadvas are the descendants of Yadu, the eldest son of King Yayati. Yayati removed Yadu from the succession because he rebelled against Yayati's wishes. Jarasandh, Kansa's father-in-law, and king of Magadha attacked Yadavas to avenge Kansa's death. Yadavas had to shift their capital from Mathura (central Aryavart) to Dwaraka (on the western coast of Aryavart) on the Sindhu.[14] [15] Yadu was a legendary Hindu king, believed to be an ancestor of the god Krishna, who for this reason is sometimes referred to as Yadava. Since Krishna is said to have been brought up among Ahirs, who were herdsmen, the surname Yadav is popular among them. In Maharashtra, this name is found among the Marathas.[16]

See also: krishna

Abhira Origin

India during the period of Mahabharata.
India during the period of Mahabharata.

Ahir caste widespreads in northern and central India. Considerable historical interest attaches to this caste, because its members are thought to be identical with the Ābhīras of Sanskrit literature,[17][18] who are mentioned repeatedly in the great epic the Mahābhārata. Some scholars contend that these cattlemen, scattered over southern Rājasthān and Sind (now part of Pakistan), played a role of importance in the early development of the god Krishna as the cowherd, which has continued to be a significant aspect of the Krishna legend.[19] They today claim descent from Krishna and were a powerful race of nomad cowherds from eastern or central Asia who entered India from the Punjab in large hordes about the same time as the Sakas and the Yuechis in the first or second century BC and gradually spread over large parts of Northern, Eastern and Central India.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 the Abhira kingdom of the Saraswati Valley, who spoke Abhiri until the Buddhist period.[20] 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. In Bhagavatam, the Gupta dynasty has been called Abhir.

Other views are that they came from Syria or Asia Minor about the beginning of the Christian era; were Dravidians; sprang from the Aayars of Tamil Nadu; lived in India long before the Aryan invasion; were descendants of the Yadavas of the Lunar Dynasty of Pururavas Aila; and that their original habitat was the region between the Sutlej and the Yamuna from where they migrated beyond Mathura in the East and beyond Gujarat and Maharashtra in the South. The earliest Scythians who entered the northern regions of South Asia were from this group. Historians derive "Ahir" from "Avar". [21][22][23][24]

Avar warrior with captive.[25]

The name of the State of Haryana may have been derived from its ancient inhabitants: Abhirayana. The name `Abhira` may stem from a-bhira meaning fearless.[26] [27] Ahir's have common gotras with the Jats (eg,Nirwan,Dagar,Dahiya, Atri etc). Bhatti Rajputs are descendents of Yaduvansh,and Sidhu & Barar Jats are descendents of Bhatti Rajputs.[28] [29]

See also: Abhira Kingdom

Yadavs of Haryana

At the beginning of the Christian era, the invading Scythians and Kushans forced most of them out of their land to lower Rajasthan in the Arbuda (Aravali region). In Marubhumi (Marwar), Saurashtra and Maharashtra they served the local rulers and established their own rule. Ishwarsena, a great Ahir general, became master of Western Deccan in place of the famous Satava-hanas. He took the title of Rajan and an era was named after him. His descendants continued to rule for nine generations.

For centuries the Ahirs were eclipsed as a political power in Haryana until the time of the Pratihara dynasty. In time they became independent rulers of Southwest Haryana.[26] Although the Ahirs and Yadavas form one group, the former are an important community of Haryana, but numerically they constitute less than 10% of the total population.[26][30] Most of them live in the region around Rewari, Narnaul,Mahendragarh and Gurgaon which is therefore known as Ahirwal or the abode of Ahirs.[26]

Ahir Raj in Rewari

A majority of Ahirs occupy the Rewari Thesil of Gurgaon district.When Shershah Suri fought against Mughal chief, Humayun, the Ahir ‘Khap’ helped Humayun under the leadership of Rao Rura Singh. When Humayun occupied the throne of Delhi again he made Rao Rura Singh the Chief of a Pargana and the Head Quarters of the Pargana was named Rewari. During the reign of Mughals the Ahir State remained as their trust-worthy friend and Rao Tej Singh made a name with them. In 1803 Lord Lake reduced the power and position of the Mughals and captured the Ahirs State which was at that time ruled by Puran Singh. Rao Tula Ram was born in 1825. When he was thirteen, Rao Puran Singh died. Rao Tula Ram was very courageous. He increased his power and territory. Bahadur Shah Zafar was a fast friend of Rao Tula Ram. Raja Mahar Singh of Balabgarh was the administrator and defender of Delhi during the mutiny of 1857. Rao Raja Tula Ram was very active in the area of Rewari and Narnaul and inflicted a crushing defeat to the Britishers.

When the forces of Jaipur, Patiala, Jind and Kapurthala arrived to the help of Britishers, Rao Tula Ram had to leave Rewari, Kanund, and Narnaul. But he did not lose heart and made an alliance with Scindia and Tatiya Tope to continue fighting. A conference of the revolutionaries was called and Rao Raja Tula Ram was appointed to seek help from foreign countries. Rao Tula Ram reached the shore in disguise. He went Basra to by sea and met the Russian envoy and Khaddiv(?) and then reached Iran. He was given a royal reception but was refused help. After that he came to Kabul and struggled for six years. raising the united army of Pathans and the Indian revolutionaries. Luck and life did not favour him and he died. The Amir of Kabul sent his ashes to Rewari with two Sardars.[28]

See also: Rao Tula Ram

In 1150, Vighararaja IV, a Chauhan from Rajasthan forced them to become his feudatories. In 1181 they were defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan but only after they had put up a tough resistance.

Some scholars seek yadav and Jews connection. According to Stephen Knapp, the Greeks referred to the Jews as Judeos, or Jah deos or Yadavas, meaning people of Ya or descendants of Yadu, one of the sons of Yayati.[14][2] It is also regarded that the basis of the Kabbalah, the book of Jewish mystical concepts, as described in The Holy Kabbalah by Arthur Edward Waite, is linked with Vedas. Yadavas were possessors of great mystical knowledge is confirmed in Bhagvad Gita itself which says same knowledge was given to Manu (first man on earth), Surya and Ikshavaku (ancestor of Lord Rama) at very ancient time. It is believed Abhira were the link between eastern and western religions. There are compelling proofs of both mauryan and Guptas being Abhirs.[31][32] The Kshatriya religion was propounded by Krishna,[33][34][35] and no reference is found before him.[36] We only find Rajnya as the term alternatively used for it (Bhagwad Gita is emaciated form of hidden knowledge—Gope—which has its root in Shiva). Later on, many Kshatriyas were made based on the philosophy of yadavanshis as revealed in Bhagavad Gita.[35] [37]

Ancient Yadava Kingdoms

Ceramic goblet from Navdatoli, Malwa, 1300 BCE.

Yadava/Ahir 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 and Rajasthan; the "Goalas" and "Sadgopa" or Gauda in Bengal and Orissa; Dhangar in Maharashtra; Yadava and Kurubas in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Idayan and Konar in Tamil Nadu. There are also several sub-regional names such as Thetwar and Rawat in Madhya Pradesh, and Mahakul (Great Family) in Bihar.[citation needed]

Two things are common to these cognate castes. First, they claim to be descendants of the Yadu Dynasty (Yadava) to which Lord Krishna belonged. Secondly, many castes in this category have occupations relating to cattle. 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.[citation needed]

Besides 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.Vātsyāyana also mentions the Abhira kingdoms in the Kama Sutra.[38][39][40] Ahir’s also ruled beyond the geographical borders of present day India, as king of the hilly terrain of Nepal. Eight kings of the first Ahir dynasty ruled Nepal, the first being Bhuktaman and the last Yaksha Gupta. Owing to pastoral disputes, this dynasty was then replaced by another Ahir dynasty. This second Ahir dynasty had a succession of three kings, they were Badasimha, Jaymati Simha and Bhuban Simha and their rule ended when the Kirati invaders defeated Bhuban Simha, the last Ahir king of Nepal.[41]

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 in Nashik 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. The Mirzapur district of the United Provinces has a tract known as Ahraura, named after the Ahir, and near Jhansi, another piece of country was called Ahirwar. The Ahirs were also kings of Nepal at the beginning of the Christian era. Khandesh and the Tapti 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 Golla rajahs were a power to be reckoned with. The Gawlis rose to political power in Deogarh, on the Chhindwara Plateau in the central provinces. The Saugar traditions trace the Gawli 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).

Yaduvanshi Rajputs

Rajputs from Yadav Dynasty
Subdivisions: Bhatis,Jadeja,Kharbad,Khagar, Hamirpur, Jadon ,Sighel Rajput( Kashyap gotriya) found in Azamgarh .Thikans in Aligarh,Awagarh of Etah.
Languages: Hindi, Rajasthani, Marathi and dialects of these languages

The word Yadu became Jadu and later on Jadav/ Jadon or Yadav.Krishna being a gopi led to the popular belief that all cowherd castes like Ahir,Golla,Mandal etc were Yadavs.The Nand Baba, in whose house lord Kishna spent his childhood, was the friend of Vasudeva a Yaduvanshi[42] and the father of Lord Krishna.

Temple of Radha and Krishna in Barsana,(Mathura)yadavs go there for Blessings
File:Sursen.jpg
A portrait of Maharaja Šúraséna a Yadav King.

Yaduvanshi is one of the sub-divisions of Chandravanshi Rajputs.[43], and should not be confused with Yadavs.In vedic books of ancient times there is no mentioning of Rajputs,The first Rajputs kingdoms are attested in the 6th century.[44] During early Mahabharata time it was only chandravansh which was formed by Lord Krishna and yadavs were rulers at that time.[45] Chandravanshi rajputs came into picture centuries later.Descent from the moon that is implied by Chandravanshi Rajput/Yadava origin signifies their arrival from the middle-east which is in the west (the direction in which the moon rises) of India. The Chandra descendants claim descent from the Lunar Dynasty .[46][47][48] Yadav clan directly claiming descent from Yadu in the great epic Mahabharat, however it has now lost it's rajput status[49] by the merger of allied ahir castes which falls into Other Backward Class.[50][51] The fact that Lord Krishna was born to Yadu kshatriyas was the son of Vasudeva and Devaki and for fear of being killed by Kansa of Mathura, Vasudeva had taken him to his friend Nanda Baba and his wife Yasoda who belonged to Ahir caste they became his followers and used to rever the Lord Krishna. The Ahirs believe that their ancestors walked together with Lord Krishna.[52] Ahirs synonyms are Yadav and Rao Sahab. Rao Sahab is only used in Ahirwal region consisting of territories of few villages of Delhi,Southern Haryana & Behrod area of Alwar district (Rajasthan).Historically,Ahir laid the foundation of Ahir Batak town which was later called Ahrora and Ahirwar in Jhansi district in A.D.108.Rudramurti Ahir became the chief of the Army and later on, the king. Madhuriputa, Ishwarsen and Shivdatta were well known kings from the lineage who mingled with Yadav Rajputs,[53][54] Ahirs were exclusively found in northern Alwar and Jaipur.They worship Dahmi Mata and go to her shrine at the time of jadula (head shaving ceremony of the child)and gathjoda(after marriage,to get the blessings of the deity). Likewise, Biladi Mata, Shyamji,Shivji,Ram and other gods and goddesses of Hindu religion are worshipped by the Ahirs with great reverence and devotion.[27]

[55]

See also: List of Dhangar clans in India
See also: Rajput Clans
See also: Kshatriya
See also: Dhangar

History works of Smith and James Tod can be relied in this regard. Moreover, in the records of British empire, Ahirs are sub-castes of Yadav clan.[56] As per the most authentic 1931 Census condcuted by the British Indian Government in India, which was the only census conducted on the basis of castes prevalent in India at that time. As per Rig veda and Various Purans and many historical works available in India, Yaduvanshi and Chandravanshi[57] are Yadus( Jadon found in western UP, Jadeja of Gujrat, Bhatis of Rajsthan, jharejas, Banaphars of Mahobas, Dabi ( Rajsthan) Kharbad Rajput of Udaipur; Khagar of Atri Gotra found in districts of jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalon of UP, Hoysal of Dwar samudra whose capital was Belapur, , Sighel Rajput( Kashyap gotriya) found in Azamgarh district of UP and Chhapra, Bhagalpur, Mujjafarpur district of Bihar are some of the Yaduvanshi Rajputs and are recongnised as such by all the Rajput castes/clans in India.Yaduvanshi Rajputs in UP have Thikans in Aligarh,Awagarh of Etah UP, Somna,Hasnagarh, Kole ( Aligarh), Secunderabad, Shamasabad, Ghiror and mustafabad in Mainpuri.[58] Raja Balwant Singh of Awagarh, a Jadon Rajput, set up Raja Balawant Singh College in Agra and helped Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore in setting up Shantinketkan University. Dullipsingh of Jamnagar after whom is named Dulip trophy in Cricket, Ranjitsingh after whom is named Ranjit trophy in Crciket are Yaduvansi Rajputs of Jadeja[59]/ Jadon clan of Rajputs and are classified as one of 36 clans of Rajputs in the history and in his work by James Tod also. [58]

Yayati's first wife Devayani bore a son named Durvasu ( or Rigvedic Turvasus tribe. The descendents of Durvasu are called Durvasu Rajputs and Chandravanshi. Yayati's second wife Sharmishta gave birth to eldest son named Drahayu. The Descendents of his are called Drahayu Rajputs who ruled in Bengal, Assam and Tripura and still found there. Anu Rajputs who are descendents of Anu, second son of Sharmistha, second wife of Yayati, set up Ushinar shivi, Kakaya pradesh etc.As per annals and government records of British period. [28]

See also: Bharatpur,_India

Classification of Yadavs

  • Gwal Bansi - These are the gwalas(children who used to play with Yadav king Lord Krishna) & are considered the lowest of the three. They are spread out in Bihar to Bengal.From some decades they are fighting with Bhumihars (land owners) for their right to cultivate their own land for farming.

Jaisalmer under Yaduvanshi Bhati king

Rawal Jaisal laid the foundation stone of Jaisalmer in 1156 A.D. He hailed from the Yadav and Rajput kin group.[60] His Yadav descent can be traced back to the Mahabharata and the Rajputs were famed for courage and gallantry.The city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to which, Lord Krishna, the head of the Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata that a remote descendent of the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled in 1156 AD when Rawal Jaisal, abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new capital Jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta Hill.[61] [62] [63]

See also: Bhati
Left king porus and Right Alexander the great

Pune under Yadav Dynasty

With the downfall of the Rashtrakutas which ruled Pune from the 8th century AD to the middle of the 10th century.It went under the control of the Yadavs.The Yadavs ruled Maharashtra from 10th century AD to the end of the 13th century. Singhania, the Yadav ruler was a lover of literature and art. Sant Dnyaneshwar, a Bhakti saint lived during this period. The Yadav rule came to an end with the coming of Ala-ud-din Khilji.

See also: devagiri

Saini or Surasena Yadav history

Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. They claim descent from Yaduvanshi Rajputs [64][65] of the Yaduvanshi [66][67] Surasena[4] lineage, originating from Yadav King Shoorsen, who was the grandfather of both Krishna and the legendary Pandava warriors. Sainis relocated to Punjab from Mathura and surrounding areas over different periods of time.[68][69]

Dynastic background of Porus: a 'Sourasenoi' or Shoorsaini Yadav king

Ancient Greek traveller and ambassdor to India, Megasthenes, also came across this clan in its glory days as the ruling tribe with its capital in Mathura. There is also now an academic consensus that the ancient king Porus, the celebrated opponent of Alexander the Great, belonged to this once most dominant Yadav sept. [70][71][72] King Porus was said to be "5 cubits tall", either the implausible 2.3 m (7½ ft) assuming an 18-inch cubit, or the more likely 1.8 m (6 ft) if a 14-inch Macedonian cubit was meant.[73] There were no known Hindu textual sources regarding Porus indicating the tribe or ethnic group he belonged to. Several ethnic groups in the Indian subcontinent have tried to claim him as their own ancestor. However, the academic consensus seems to be that he was a Yadava or Yaduvanshi king.[74][75][76] Col. Tod was the proponent of this view which was also held by Dr. Ishwari Prashad, another renowned historian.[58]

Col. Tod went on further to specifically point out Shoorsainis as the Puru tribe whose king was called Porus, the legendary Indian adversary of Alexander the Great:

Puru became the patronymic of this branch of the Lunar race. Of this Alexander's historians made Porus. The Suraseni of Methoras (descendants of the Soor Sen of Mathura) were all Purus, the Prasioi of Megasthenes...

— James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan [77]

More than one scholar have opined that king Porus, known for his legendary bravery, belonged to Shoorsaini Yadav tribe also based on the fact that his vanguard soldiers carried the image of Lord Krishna (Herakles as per Greeks) on their banners. Lord Krishna was both the ancestor and patron deity of Shoorsainis or 'Sourasenoi' . [71][72][78][79]

See also: Porus

Yadavs in Maratha

Daulatabad Fort -- Devagiri (Deogiri).

The Seuna, Sevuna or Yadava dynasty (850 - 1334) was an Indian dynasty, which at its peak ruled a kingdom stretching from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers, including present-day Maharashtra, north Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh, from its capital at Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad in Maharashtra).

File:Shree Raje Ratnasing Jadhavrao , Shree Raje Krushnasing ( Da.jpg
Shree Raje Ratnasing Jadhavrao, Shree Raje Krushnasing

Yadav - Jadhav – Jadhavrao

Yadav traces their origin from Rajput clan who supposed to be Lord Krishna's Descendant and further they converted into Jadhav due to language and Some Jadhav who served Sultanets referred as Rao title called as Jadhavrao.As pre record Jadhav are the descendent of yadav or Chandervanshi rajput. Bhosle / Bhonsle, Ranas, Yadhavas, Nimbalkars come under the category of Marathas.

See also: jijabai
See also: Jadhav

Yadavs found in South India

Konar

Konar or Idaiyar or Tamil Yadavar[80] is a caste from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a sub-division of Yadava community. They are also known as Ayars. Konars are distributed throughout the state of Tamil Nadu. They are one of the ancient Tamil castes.[81]

Konar in ancient literature

Ilango Adigal had mentioned Konars of Madurai in his Tamil epic Silapathikaram, which is considered to be one of the five famous epics of Tamil literature. According to this epic, they gave accommodation for Kannagi. They occupied grasslands known as Mullai in Ancient Tamil country. Konars traditionally raise cows, goats and sheeps and sell milk.[82][83]

Maniyani

(Kolaya, Ayar, Mayar, Maniyani and Iruman)[84]

Maniyani is a caste of Kerala that claims descent from Krishna. The Maniyani are the Kshatriyas of Kerala, India. Maniyanis are also known as kola- aya(kolayars).They are the Yadavas of Kolathnadu and Thulunad.[85] They are seen in Kannur and Kasargod Districts.Ayar is a common surname for Yadavas through out India.They settled in north Kerala about 3000 years back. Kola is the name of Yadava clan who settled in North Kerala Southern Karnataka.[86]

Variations in Caste status

File:Mandal3b.jpg
B. P. Mandal statue in Patna, Bihar [2]

In 300 BC ahirs refused to accept brahmanism they were diplomaticlly given the second place among kshatriyas and so brahmans favored those aryan kshatriyas who accepted their hegemony and allowed them to play a role in the politics to rule the kingdoms i.e. brahmanical system in society.Ahirs were later renounced as shudras by brahmans,shudras varna was developed by brahmins to punish tyrannical kshatriyas.[87][88][89] Around 320 BC after the invasion and retreat of Alexander of Greek empire in the north west plains of India from failure of his army to fight the various small kingdoms of India. Chandragupta Maurya of Maurya tribe (a branch of yadus) with the help of brahman (chankya) who had defeated the Magadha brahmans against bulk army of chandravanshi aryans and destroyed the currupt Brahmanical system flourishing in the maghad also defeated generals of alexander settled in gandhara (Kamboja kingdom of aryan mahajanpad) which is called as Afganistan now. Chandragupt later adopted the buddhism way of life.[90]

All groups included in the Yadav category belonged to the “clean castes”, though their actual status varied from area to area. The Ahirs of Delhi, Punjab and parts of UP had a status equal to that of Rajput and Jats with whom, according to Rao, they shared commensual relations. In places where the Ahirs were owner-cultivators they ranked immediately after Brahmins and Baniyas but where they were small owner-cultivators or tenants (and Thakurs, the main landowning group), they moved lower down the caste hierarchy (below Thakurs, Baniyas and Bhumihar Brahmins. In areas where the Ahirs and Gollas were cowherds and milksellers they were given a still lower ranking.

To improve their status,Yadavs at the turn of the century not only began to claim Kshatriya status but also to adopt Arya Samaj practices in a big way. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar witnessed widespread jenevo movements in the first two decades of the 20th century as Yadavs began to don the sacred thread in accordance with Arya Samaj practices. These years also saw the sprouting of Arya mandirs, pracharaks, priests and schools in many parts of India.

This was accompanied by major changes in the life-style of the Yadavs. They began to follow Vedic life cycle ceremonies conducted by Arya priests. There was renewed emphasis on their Kshatriya identity and their links with Lord Krishna. Yadavs emerged as major protectors of cattle and the celebration of Janmashtmi (Krishna’s birthday) became a major event in their social and religious life.

Yadavs all over the country were quick to respond to the forces of change unleashed by British rule. At the opening of the century itself their regional associations concerned themselves with establishing educational institutions and seeking modern employment opportunities for their castemen. In Punjab, western UP, and Madhya Pradesh, Yadavs turned mainly to the army for employment. In Punjab they even petitioned the government in the 1880’s for recruitment of Ahirs into the army.

All-India Yadav Mahasabha

[3]

The emergence of an English-educated elite among the Yadavs led to the formation of the All-India Yadava Mahasabha in 1923 in Allahabad. The AIYM immediately engaged itself in two issues. It appealed to its castemen in all regions to add “Yadav” to their names and at the same time launched on a major programme of social reform. In fact as early as 1911, regional caste groups had been petitioning the Census Commissioner to change their caste name from Golla, Ahir etc., to Yadav. The regional organisation of the Gollas of Hyderabad, the Hyderabad Rashtra Yadav Mahajana Samajam, for example, appealed to the Census Commission that their caste names of Golla, Gowli, Gollawar and Ahir be changed to Yadava.[91]

All India Yadav Mahasabha is also pressing Indian government for the formation of Yadav regiment in Indian Army after they showed their bravery in the 1965 indo-china war,In 1966 the AIYM held it's annual conference in Etawa, with Mulayam Singh Yadav as chairman of the reception committee and Rao Birender Singh the scion of the Rewari dynasty as president.[92] [93] [94] After Independence, the Yadavs have emerged as the leaders of the Other backward classes.Prof: Rao’s study of the Yadava elite in the various States (based on the members and supporters of the All India Yadav Sabha and not on those of the rival All India Yadav Mahasabha) reveals the growth of varied business and professional groups within the caste category. Heading the list are businessmen who comprise roughly 21 per cent of the elite. They include dairy owners, contractors, tobacco and timber merchants, wholesale grass dealers. owners of engineering firms and other industries as well as restaurant owners. They are followed by the large farmers who comprise around 21 per cent of the Yadav elite. Politicians (MPs, MLAs, ministers, municipal councillors, district board members, office-bearers of political parties) constitute 17 percent of the elite and school and college teachers, doctors. vaids. lawyers and engineers together another 20 percent.

Yadav Martyrs

File:Victoria Cross Medal Ribbon & Bar.jpg
The prestigious Victoria Cross, awarded for exceptional valour "in the face of the enemy".

Yadav community has served the Indian armed and defense forces and laid their life to safeguard the mother nation. Some prominent combat where brave Ahir soldiers have laid their life to defend mother India are the Indo-china war, kargil war,[95][96] Akshardham[97][98] and Parliament attacks.[99]

Rao Tula Ram made life miserable for the East India Company by openly siding with the sepoys in the 1857 Uprising. The prestigious Victoria Cross, awarded for exceptional valour "in the face of the enemy".

During the Burma Campaign of the Second World war, Havildar Umrao Singh,[100][101] a gunner, won the Victoria Cross; which is a world–wide symbol of the recognition of the highest form of bravery in the face of the enemy; in hand to hand combat with the Japanese infantry, when its do or die squads raided his gun position, in the Kaladan Valley. He killed ten of them with his bare hands armed only with the gun bearer (a heavy metallic tool) they found him exhausted and bleeding in the morning but still alive amidst a pile of Japanese corpses littered around the gun, which, remarkably, was found to be still fit for immediate firing.

In the Indo-China War of 1962, the Ahirs (almost all of them hailing from the Ahirwal region of Southern Haryana) of 13 Kumaon Regiment set an unparallel example in the military history of Aryavart by defending their position at Rezang La in Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir. The battle of Rezang La, a ridge overlooking the strategic Chushul plains in Ladakh, to defend the highest air strip in the world located at 16,000 feet—just across the Chinese claim line—is one of the most glorious chapters in the history of the Bharatiya army and has been compared by some Bharatiya military historians with the famed Battle of Thermopylae. In the final phase of the Indo-China War of 1962, where Bharatiya units typically offered little resistance while being routed by attacking PLA forces, the Ahir Charlie Company from 13 Kumaon, set a rare example of raw courage,bravery and dedication by literally fighting to the last man. Of the 120 defenders, only three survived, all seriously wounded. The rest, their dead bodies were discovered after the winter, frozen, mostly holding their weapons but with no ammunition. According to some accounts, several jawans, having run out of ammunition, came out of the pickets and charged the enemy with bare hands—Lance Naik Ram Singh killing several Chinese soldiers after lifting and hitting them against the rocks. It is also believed that these jawans inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. Of the 120 soldiers, 114 were Yadavas from Ahirwal region ofHaryana,Rajasthan & Delhi. On this horrific battle, Major-General Ian Cardozo, in his book Param Vir, Our Heroes In Battle writes,“When Rezang La was later revisited dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons... every single man of this company was found dead in his trench with several bullet or splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical orderly had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him... Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the (mortar) section was overrun.” General T.N. Raina said"You rarely come across such example in the annals of world military history when braving such heavy odds, the men fought till the last bullet and the last man. Certainly the Battle of Rezang La is such a shining example." General K S Thimayya remarked,"I had said many years ago that the Army must have a Ahir Regiment. The supreme sacrifice of the Charlie Company has fulfilled my expectations. I hope a suitable memorial will be built in Ahirwal in their memory so that the generations to come may seek inspiration from the immense courage and valour of their forefathers." The heroes who were awarded the Vir Chakra in 1962 defending Rezang La were Jemadar Surja,Jemadar Hari Ram,Naik Hukum Chand (posthumous), Naik Gulab Singh Yadav, Lance-Naik Singh Ram (posthumous), Sub. Ram Kumar and Sub.Ram Chander. All hailed from the Ahirwal region. [37] [102] [103]

There is a small memorial for dead soldiers in Rezang La, which reads:

How can a man die better,
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And temples of his gods.
To the sacred memory of the Heroes of Rezang La,
114 Martyrs of 13 Kumaon who fought to the Last Man,
Last Round, Against Hordes of Chinese on 18 November 1962.
Built by All Ranks 13th Battalion, The Kumaon Regiment.

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 from Saurashtra, 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 the Chamba and Kangra hills, and Gandi, spoken in some parts of Madhya 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 in Haryana speak, has a resemblance to Rajasthani, and Grierson,(1916:9) considers Ahirwati a branch of eastern Rajasthani and western Hindi.

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 the Tamil wordAyir which also means cow. He equates the Ayars with Abhiras, and Suryavanshi (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.[104]

Religious Seats of Yadavs

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 when Bhagyanagar 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.[citation needed]

According 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.[105]

Political influence

File:Laluprasadyadav.jpg
Lalu Prasad at a political rally in January 2007, at Kesariya, Bihar, India.

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.[106] Laloo Yadav became the chief minister of Bihar and Mulayam Singh in UP and in Karnataka Siddaramaiah became the Deputy chief minister for two terms.

Yadav Subgroups

Ancient Migration Route of Yadavas

Many groups and clans claiming descent from the ancient Yadu clan call themselves Yadavs. The major clans among these are:

Some of the major groups derived from the principal professions they follow or the crafts they practice, for example, the cattle-breeding group takes the significant name of Gawli, 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, Gujjar, Lohana, Bhatia, Meena, Bhil, Dom, Oraon,Munda, Santal, Koch, Ahir, Mahar, Nayar, Maratha,Gond, Khond, etc.[116]

Notable Yadavs

Mythology

Krishna being carried over river Yamuna by Vasudeva just after his birth on Janmashtami

Historical

Jijabai
A statue of Jijabai and young Shivaji
  • Wodeyar Dynasty of Mysore, Karnataka.
  • Ananda Konar (yadav ruler in Tamilnadu 1200AD he build chengi fort).
  • Krishna Konar (yadav ruler in krishnakiri in tamilnadu).
  • King Katamaraju (Andhra Pradesh).
  • Jamin Alagumuthu kone(small king of kattalankulam in tamilnadu 1st freedom fighter of south India).
  • VeeraPandya Kattabomman (1857 Freedom Fighter-The Ideal King)
  • Rao Balbir Singh (King of Haryana)

Ancient Yadav Empires and Rulers

Some scholars, such as Robert Sewell believe that the rulers of Vijayanagara Empire were Kurubas (also known as Yadavas).[117]

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-.[118] However, J.N. Singh Yadav, a famous historian, gives the following account in his 'YADAV'S 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.[119]

The founder of the Wodeyar dynasty, Vijaya, also claimed descent from the Yadu and took on the name Yadu-Raya.

According to S.C.Raychoudhary (author of Social, Cultural and Economic History of India), a noted historian, "The Pandya kingdom generally associated with the Pandus of the Mahabarata covered the districts of Madura and Tinnivelly as well as certain portions of south Travancore."[120]

Dr.V. Manickam in his path-breaking work Kongu Nadu gives an expanded version of his doctoral thesis submitted to the university of Madras as follows,"It was noted that the pastoral people(Ayar) of the mullai land in Kongu formed the major component of the Vellalar community of the medieval period.It is Dr.V. Manickam thesis that the Vellalar of Kongu were nothing but the pastoral people of Kongu, of course,with some additions (p-553). However, We come across references to Idaiyar of kiranur, alias Kolumam Konda Cholanallur (SII : 5:283), Kon from the same place (SII : 5: 265,267,269), and Yatavar in two epigraphs from Chevur (Eye Copy 94,98). Further, there are also references to Tiruvayappadi nattar, which indicate the supra-local activities of the herdsmen discussed in chapter 15. The presence of the herdsmen, with the titles as found in the macro region, may be explained as survivors of the pastoral people of the pre-chola period who were reluctant to integrate themselves in the new setup or new additions.[121]

Yadavs who fought the Mumbai Terrorists

  • Jullu Yadav RPF Head Constable[122]

International Figures

Swami Ramdev
File:Swami ramdev.jpg
Ram Baran Yadav

State Level Figures

Distinguished Armymen and Gallantry award winners

Sports

Artists / Writers / Journalists/Academician

Film

See also

http://www.yadavmahasabha.org/

Paravai Muniyamma -Artiste and singer of Tamil village songs Konampaddi Rathinam -Tamil Dramatist Kallapaddi Sinkaram -Tamil Flim Actor Senthamarai -Tamil Flim Actor Jay Pee Alagar -Tamil Film Director

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  91. ^ http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/audience.nsf/(docid)/0879F8EFAD3A0BE3652569410032A35C
  92. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=bgpEIb4tNjgC&pg=PT15&lpg=PT15&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=k0G33Om2lM&sig=H7A19J5gPGFjNwwCsYtP3LmgsZk&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10
  93. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nJMs-r0FY50C&pg=PA450&lpg=PA450&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=i3p0QaaSxf&sig=wDaQDhs--LfWY8B3mAfv0C89P3w&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#PPA450,M1
  94. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nJ7BbRExrhkC&pg=PA235&lpg=PA235&dq=yadav+regiment&source=bl&ots=-AYlHn5w0W&sig=MFt5j839Fsp6BQX-RvzrAKTe1U0&hl=en&ei=TpLpSfe8B4XK-AbL_piQAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#PPA235,M1
  95. ^ http://ikashmir.net/kargilheroes/blood.html
  96. ^ http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=141931
  97. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahir
  98. ^ http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/03jan27/national.htm
  99. ^ http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072154050400.ht
  100. ^ http://www.creativeuttarakhand.com/cu/hottopics/rewari-motor.html
  101. ^ http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbumraos.htm
  102. ^ http://www.creativeuttarakhand.com/cu/hottopics/rewari-motor.html
  103. ^ http://www.haryana-online.com/WarHeroes/ahirs_in_1962_war.htm
  104. ^ Social Movements and Social Transformation by M.S.A. Rao (The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1979. page: 123,124,125,127,128)
  105. ^ SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION By M.S.A. Rao, The Macmillan Company of India Ltd, p-128-129.
  106. ^ http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan162006/editpage1617482006115.asp
  107. ^ http://www.jatland.com/home/Gotras/N
  108. ^ http://yadavvivah.com/yadav_gotra
  109. ^ 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)
  110. ^ 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)
  111. ^ 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)
  112. ^ 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)
  113. ^ 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)
  114. ^ 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)
  115. ^ 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)
  116. ^ Caste And Race In India by G.S. Ghurye (an eminent sociologist) Popular Prakashan 2004 reprint page: 31,32,33.
  117. ^ A FORGOTEN EMPIRE (vijayanagar), By Robert Sewell, Asian Educational Services, 13th reprint(2006), p-23.
  118. ^ Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, 2001, Jupiter books, MCC, (Reprinted 2002), p122
  119. ^ YADAVAS THROUGH THE AGES (From ancient period to date), VOL I, P-236, By J.N. Singh Yadav, 1992, Sarada publishing house Delhi-110052.
  120. ^ Social, Cultural and Economic History of India [Earliest times to present times] by Raychoudhary, Surjeet publications, seventh reprint 2002, p102
  121. ^ KONGU NADU (A History upto A.D 1400),(p-553,559), By Dr.V. Manickam, Makkal Veliyedu,Chennai-2.
  122. ^ http://www.yadavmahasabha.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/limit,6/limitstart,0/
  123. ^ http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_43WPogPAvRc/R_TGGD0M75I/AAAAAAAABSE/8sHxVIxM0lw/s320/manisha_yadav_miss_india2008.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dhaka-pic.blogspot.com/2008/04/manisha-yadav-top-most-popular.html&h=307&w=262&sz=19&tbnid=rbxVsI4nncvq4M::&tbnh=117&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyadav&hl=en&usg=__3rYIgSmSAqu7AdVkDTUkeW7uz-0=&ei=lv32SdCBNNKY-gbh7uiqDw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image
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