Abhira tribe
Encyclopedia
"Ahir" is a Hindu
caste of Indo-Aryan origin, which is subgroup of Yadav. The name Ahir is derived from Abhira, a tribe mentioned several times in inscriptions and the Hindu
sacred books.
Pāṇini, Kautilya and Patanjali
mentioned Ahirs as followers of Bhagwat sect of Hindu religion. Greek historians' reference of Abisares
are thought to be of Abhira Chief. Recent excavations in Nepal and Deccan has revealed that Gupta suffix was common among Abhira kings, and Historian D. R. Regmi, links Imperial Guptas
with Abhira-Guptas of Nepal. The Indian census of 1931 counted 14 million Ahirs.
In the opinion of Dr. Budh Prakash, the name of the State of Haryana
may have been derived from Abhirayana, its ancient inhabitants having been Ahirs. Ahirs ruled the whole of Haryana under the Mogul
rule and later were declared as independent kings.
Max Muller, Christian Lassen, Mrs. Manning and many others have identified Abhira to be Ophir
of Bible, which is the name of a country and also the name of a tribe.
Thakur Deshraj
famous historian has mentioned that "Ahirs along with other tribes made a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan
" and suffered great difficulties in protecting their culture and the land.
The Indian census of 1931 counted 14 million Ahirs.
An inscription of the Saka
era 102. or AD 180, speaks of the grant made by the senapati or commander in chief of the state, who is called an Abhira, the locality being Sunda in Kathiawar
. Another inscription found in Nasik and assigned by Mr. Enthoven to the fourth century speaks of an Abhira king, and the Puranas say that after the Andhrabhrityas the Deccan was held by the Abhiras, the west coast tract from the Tapti to Deogarh
being called by their name. In the time of Samudragupta in the middle of the fourth century the Abhias were settled in Eastern Rajputana
and Malwa. When the Kathi
s arrived in Gujarat in the eighth century, they found the greater part of the country in the possession of the Ahirs. In the Mirzapur District of the United Provinces a tract known as Ahraura is considered to be named after the trive; and near Jhansi
another piece of the country is called Ahirwar. Henry Miers Elliot
states that Ahirs were Raja
s of Nepal
about the Commencement of our era. The fort of Asirgarh
in Nimar bordering Khandesh
is supposed to have been found by one Asa Ahir, who lived in the beginning of the fifteenth century.
tribes (panchajana, panchakrishtya or panchamanusha) mentioned in the Rig Veda (I.54.6, I.108.7, X.62.10). The Mahabharata
, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati
and his queen Devayani
. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler. According to the Vishnu Purana
, the Bhagavata Purana
and the Garuda Purana
Yadu had four sons, while according to the rest of the Puranas he had five sons. The names of his sons are: Sahasrajit (or Sahasrada), Kroshtu (or Kroshta), Nila, Antika and Laghu. The kings between Budha
and Yayati
were known as Somavanshi. According to a narrative found in the Mahabharata
, and the Vishnu Purana
, Yadu refused to exchange his years of youth with his father Yayati. So he was cursed by Yayati that none of Yadu's progeny shall possess the dominion under his father's command. Thereby, he could not have carried on the same dynasty, called Somavamshi. Notably, the only remaining dynasty of King Puru was entitled to be known as Somavamshi. Thereby King Yadu ordered that the future generations of his would be known as Yadavs and the dynasty would be known as Yaduvamshi. The generations of Yadu had an unprecedented growth and got divided into two branches.
King Sasasrajit's descendants were named after his grandson Haihaya and were well known as the Haihayas
. King Kroshtu's descendants had no special name, but were known particularly as the "Yadavas", According to P.L. Bhargava, when the original territory was partitioned between Sahasrajit and Kroshta, the former received the part lying to the western bank of the river Sindhu and the latter received the territory situated along the east bank of the river. King Haihaya was Shatajit's son and Sahasrajit's grandson. King Sahasrajit instituted a new state and a new dynasty and offered the same, by his own will and against his birth right, to be taken care of by his younger brother Kroshta. Thereby, Kroshta officially became the heir of King Yadu.
Consequently, the generations of King Puru
, Paurav or Puruvanshi were the only ones to be known as Somvanshi.
The regions where the Yadu clan settled is not certain, but certain scholars suggest that Yadu clan inherited the territories to the south-west of the Gangetic plains, between the Chambal River
, Betwa and Ken, which correspond to the border areas of present India
n states of Haryana
, Uttar Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh
. The descendants of Yadu tribe (Yaduvanshi) include Krishna
. Yadu-Dynasty belongs to the family deriving from Soma
, identified with the moon god Chandra.Yaduvanshi Kshatriyas were originally "Ahirs".
Several Chandravanshi castes and communities in modern India, such as the Saini
s of Punjab, Ahirs
, Jadaun
Rajput
s, Yaduvanshi Ahirs, Chudasama
, Jadeja
, Jadaun
, Yadavs
, Jadoon
(Pathan
) and Khanzada
claim descent from Yadu.
Genealogical tree of Yadu
According to Dr. Bhau Daji, these Yue-Chi appear to have been the Abhira.
Reginald Edward Enthoven believes that Abhiras might have entered India from Afganistan. Indo-Greek king Agathocles
found at Ai-Khanoum
in Afghanistan depict Krishna and Balarama
. The pastoral setting of the stories about Krishna's childhood may have originated in legends of a god worshipped by the Abhira tribe.However Hugh Nevill
says that it is probable the Abhoras on being removed from Mesopotamia
, across the river,may have called themselves Abhira,as we know they did so in Scinde; while the branch in Afganistan are spoked of in the Assyria
n inscription as of "the land of Abhiruz". Ramaprasad Chanda author of "The Indo-Aryan races" says that the Abhiras from whom the Gujaratis of our day have evidently sprung, were Aryan
in speech and belonnged to the Indo-Afgan stock. The Puranic Abhiras, have occupied the territories of Herat
, which is probably a survival of their name, as they are invariably juxtaposed with the Kalatoyakas and Haritas — the peoples of Afghanistan.
Journal of the Department of Pali believes that the Abhiras came to India from some part of eastern Iran
. Skanda Purāṇa also puts Abhiras as one of the tribes of Afganistan.
Rulers of India classified the Ahirs amongst the "martial races" It was a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities like courage,physical strength, fighting tenacity and military strategy.In 1898, the British raised four Ahir companies, two of which were in 95th Russel Infantry. According to historians like Crooke and Risley Ahirs of Mathura and Rajputana
are characterized by tall stature, light brown complexion and finer features.
The Ahirs may be seen to have continued their warrior tradition by their extensive participation in the Indian Army
and police
forces. Since ancient time, as per Mahabharata, Ahirs(Abhiras) have been warriors; some were agriculturists and farmers. They are a subcaste of Dhangar
and are not only found in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western Gujarat, but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Nepal. In Maharashtra, Ahirs comprise a subgroup of the Dhangar caste system of India. Their role The Ahir community are present in large numbers in Terai
, the plains that lie in the southern part of Nepal.
The origin of the Ahir is controversial, with various scholars claiming different origins. Sir William Wilson Hunter
propounded the Scythic Origin view by directly deriving Ahir from Ahi, which means snake in Sanskrit, and saying that snake worship compounded by other cultural facts, suggests scythic origin. However, J. C. Nesfield refutes it by saying that snake worship is not peculiar to scythics but a common practice all over India
, and he also argues that it is absurd to derive Ahir from ahi, a Sanskrit
word, when the original name of the community is Abhira, and Ahir its Prakrit corruption. He is of the view that Ahirs have purely Aryan
origin. One study in Deccan Ahirs have found out existence of Totem
istic septs, which is regarded as a sure sign of being Non-Aryan, seconded by existence of a sect called Romabans, which is the regular corruption of word romak, frequently found in Sanskrit works on astronomy, and identified by Prof. Weber to be the town Alexandria
in Egypt
, from where the science of astronomy was cultivated and from whom people of India borrowed the concepts of astronomy. It is argued that foreign hordes from Romak might have settled in India, and incorporated into Ahirs. Sanskrit scholars in India however, have demurred this suggestion.
Bhagwan Singh Suryavanshi, in his research, claims archaeological research in Deccan has revealed the presence of pastoral people of Neolithic era, who shares many attributes of Abhira. Hence, Abhira might have been present much earlier than what has been postulated so far. Finally he concludes, they spread from Indus to mathura, and migrated southward and eastward. He also claims that similarity of culture and common belief that they are descendant of Lord Krishna
, is the proof that they sprang from a common source.
According to a theory advanced by A. P. Karmakar, Abhiras were a Proto Dravidian tribe, derived from Dravidian Ayir, which means cowherd, he further argues, Aitareva Brahmin refers to Vasah, as the name of people, which in vedic literature means cow.
Finally, he concludes from Padma Purana, where Vishnu
informed Abhiras, "I shall be born among you, O Abhiras, at Mathura in my eighth birth". D. R. Bhandarkar, supports the non-aryan origin theory, by directly relating Krishna, to Rig Veda's "Krishna Drapsah", where he fights Aryan God Indra
. Added to this Karmakar, shows Harivamsa says Yadu
was born of Harynasva and Madhumati, who was the daughter of Madhu. Madhu says all the territory of Mathura belongs to Abhiras. Further, Mahabharata describes Abhira as forming one of the seven republics, Samsaptak Gunas, and as a friend of Matsya
s, a pre-vedic tribe.
s, Abhira kshatriya
s, Abhira vaisyas, Abhira carpentars and Goldsmiths. For example Baradas Abhiras are of Rajput origin. They derive their name from acting as priests of Abhira.
prince styled Ra Graharipu
and Ruling at Vanthali near Junagarh described in the Dyashraya kavya of Hemachandra, describes him both as a Abhira and a Yadav. Further, in their Bardic traditions as well as in popular stories Chudasmas are still called Ahir Ranas. Again, many remains of Khandesh (historical stronghold of abhiras) are popularly believed to be of Gawli Raj, which archaeologically belongs to the Yadvas of Devgiri. Hence, it is concluded that Yadavas of Devagiri were actually Abhiras. Portuguese
Travellers account refers to Vijaynagar Emperors as Kannada Golla (Abhira). First historically traceable Yadav Dynasty are Trikuta
, who were Abhira.
Moreover, there are sufficient number of clans within Ahirs, who trace their lineage from Yadu and Lord Krishna, some of which are mentioned in Mahabharata as Yadav Clans.
Commenting on this Bhandarkar says, Krishna is the Hinduised form of Jesus Christ, whose teachings Abhira have brought from outside, at the beginning of Christian Era, because Krishna is called Christo near Weastern Coast, and Dalliance element in Krishna's life is inspired from traditions of Abhira tribe.
Ghurye, contradicts this by saying Abhira as a tribe is mentioned in the works of Patanjali, dated 150 BC, by most conservative sources, so they definitely haven't entered at the beginning of the Christian era and possibly their presence goes very far into antiquity. Also, proofs of Extra Marital relationships exists within genealogy of Yadu
s so it is wrong to say Abhira are the source of Dlliance element, and he fails to see the difference between Abhira and the tribe of Krishna.
However, Smith has raised two questions on this synthesis by above scholars. First, If Abhira are Yadavs then why Mahabharata mentions them having abducted wives and children of Krishna and second, why Abhira kings names are after Shiva
and not Vishnu
till as late as 800AD, who is a rival god.
Dr. J.N. Singh Yadav and MSA Rao has contradicted Smith by saying, Those Abhira who abducted Krishna's Wives and Children might be Yadavs who were supporters of Duryodhna, and they also shows there is no rivalry between Shiva
and Krishna
.Mahabharta says that those Abhiras who looted Arjuna were the supporters of the Kauravas.
According to Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur) the Gopas
, whom Krishna had offered to Duryodhana
to fight in his support when he himself joined Arjuna
's side, were no other than the Yadavas themselves, who were also the Abhiras
Hari Singh Bhati on closer inspection of the site of abduction near Indraprastha, as described in Mahabharata, along with Dr. Budh Prakash's identification of Haryana likely to be the post Mahabharata settlement, Abhirayana, of those Abhira, finds concentration of Yaduvanshi Ahirs in that area and says, all Yadvas post Mahabharata were descendants of those Abhira and abducted Vrisni women, hence they are both Abhira and Yadava.
P.A. Karmakar, shows in Padma Purana, Vishnu informs Abhira, saying, "O Abira, I'll be born among you in my eighth incarnation", and concludes Abhira and Yadava is same.
. The Gopas
, whom Krishna
had offered to Duryodhana to fight in his support when he himself joined Arjuna's side, were no other than the Yadavas themselves, who were also the Abhiras. Ramayana refers to Abhiras as Ugradarshana — Mleccha
s and dasyus. The Abhiras also have been described as Vratas. Pnaini mentions these Vratas as robbers. The Abhiras are said to have looted the train of Arjuna
, the Pandava
, when he was returning from Dwaraka being accompanied by some of the members of "Sri Krsna's family after the death of the latter.Abhiras are said to have waylaid Arjuna and deprived him of his treasure and beautiful women somewhere in Punjab. Abhiras who looted Arjuna were the supporters of the Kaurava
s, and in the Mahabharata, Abhir, Gopa, Gopal and Yadavas are all synonyms. They defeated the hero of Mahabharatha war,and did spare him when he disclosed the identity of the members of the family of Sri Krishna.
by sea to the Konkan
and then to Nasik. Abhira rule started about 203 AD following the end of Yajnasri Satakarni's reign and Abhira Isvarasena's accession took place in Saka
151 or 229 ADSakasena was the first abhira king.His inscriptions from Konkan
and coins from Andhra Pradesh
suggest that he ruled over the major part of the warstwhile Satavahana
empire,It followed that Abhira Shivadatta founded the Abhira kingdom after Yajnasri in the Nasik-Konkan area. Indradutta Traikutaka was probably the viceroy of the Abhiras in the Western Coastal regin of their kingdom assumed sovereignty at the end of Vasusena region.
of Abhira country was ruled over by western Kshatrapas
to Saka rulers of western India, who seem to have held sway over the whole realm of Indo-Scythians
of the Greek
geographer Ptolemy
. It is the south-eastern portion of Gujarat near the mouth of the river Narmada
. According to some scholars, it is the Abiria of the Greeks
.
It was lying to the east of the Indus above the insular portion formed by its bifurcation Abiria is Ophir
(Mc Crindle. Ancient India
as described by Ptolemy. Later epigraphic evidences places the Abhira country in the west but the Puran
as seem to locate it in the north.
According to Mahabharatha (II ch. 31) the abhiras lived near the seashore and on the bank of the Saraswati
,a river near Somnath
in Gujarat.
. In Samudragupta's time (c. AD 350) the Abhiras lived in Rajputana and Malava on the western frontier of the Gupta empire. Historian Dineshchandra Sircar thinks of Abiravan between Herat
and Kandahar
which may have been the original home of the Abhiras. Their occupation of Rajasthan
also at later date is evident from the Jodhpur
inscription of Samvat 918, that the Abhira people of the area were a terror to their neighbours, because of their violent demeanour. Abhiras of Rajputana were sturdy and regarded as Mleccha
s, and carried on anti Brahmancial activities.As a result, life and property became unsafe. Pargiter points to the Pauranic tradition that the Yadav
as, while retreating northwards after the Kurukshetra war
from their western home in Dwarka and Gujarat, were attacked and broken up by the rude Abhiras of Rajasthan.
At Osian (about 52 kilometres north-west of Jodhpur) many temples with fine sculptures attract a visitor. Two sculptures particularly attract the visitors — one depicts a daughter of the Abhiras with her charming poise and attractive body.
The Abhiras did not stop in Rajasthan; some of their clans moved south and west reaching Saurastra and Maharastra and taking service under the Satavahanas and the Kshatrapas. Also founded a kingdom in the northern part of the Maratha
country, and an inscription of the ninth year of the Abhira King Ishwarsena
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste of Indo-Aryan origin, which is subgroup of Yadav. The name Ahir is derived from Abhira, a tribe mentioned several times in inscriptions and the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
sacred books.
History
Patañjali
Patañjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice. According to tradition, the same Patañjali was also the author of the Mahābhāṣya, a commentary on Kātyāyana's vārttikas on Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī as well as an unspecified work of medicine .In...
mentioned Ahirs as followers of Bhagwat sect of Hindu religion. Greek historians' reference of Abisares
Abisares
Abisares , called Embisarus by Diodorus, was an Indian king of abhira descent beyond the river Hydaspes, whose territory lay in the mountains, sent embassies to Alexander the Great both before and after the conquest of Porus in 326 BC, although inclined to espouse the side of the latter...
are thought to be of Abhira Chief. Recent excavations in Nepal and Deccan has revealed that Gupta suffix was common among Abhira kings, and Historian D. R. Regmi, links Imperial Guptas
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
with Abhira-Guptas of Nepal. The Indian census of 1931 counted 14 million Ahirs.
In the opinion of Dr. Budh Prakash, the name of the State of Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
may have been derived from Abhirayana, its ancient inhabitants having been Ahirs. Ahirs ruled the whole of Haryana under the Mogul
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
rule and later were declared as independent kings.
Max Muller, Christian Lassen, Mrs. Manning and many others have identified Abhira to be Ophir
Ophir
Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.- Citations :...
of Bible, which is the name of a country and also the name of a tribe.
Thakur Deshraj
Thakur Deshraj
Thakur Deshraj was a social worker, journalist, nationalist, freedom fighter and author of many books. He was from Rajasthan state in India. He was revenue minister in the princely state of Bharatpur....
famous historian has mentioned that "Ahirs along with other tribes made a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
" and suffered great difficulties in protecting their culture and the land.
The Indian census of 1931 counted 14 million Ahirs.
An inscription of the Saka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
era 102. or AD 180, speaks of the grant made by the senapati or commander in chief of the state, who is called an Abhira, the locality being Sunda in Kathiawar
Kathiawar
Kathiawar or Kathiawad is a peninsula in western India, which is part of the Saurashtra region on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on...
. Another inscription found in Nasik and assigned by Mr. Enthoven to the fourth century speaks of an Abhira king, and the Puranas say that after the Andhrabhrityas the Deccan was held by the Abhiras, the west coast tract from the Tapti to Deogarh
Deogarh
Deogarh may refer to:* Debagarh, Orissa, also known as Debagarh, a city in Debagarh District, India* Deoghar, Jharkhand, also known as Deogharh, a city in India, home to the Vaidyanath temple...
being called by their name. In the time of Samudragupta in the middle of the fourth century the Abhias were settled in Eastern Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
and Malwa. When the Kathi
Kathi (caste)
The Kathi are a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. Kathi is also a big gotra of Yaduvanshi Ahirs of Haryana. Also inter-marriage between the Ahir and the Kathi is an old phenomenon.Kathi tribe is named as Catti or Cat'hi and has been named as 36 royal races by James Tod.-History...
s arrived in Gujarat in the eighth century, they found the greater part of the country in the possession of the Ahirs. In the Mirzapur District of the United Provinces a tract known as Ahraura is considered to be named after the trive; and near Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
another piece of the country is called Ahirwar. Henry Miers Elliot
Henry Miers Elliot
Sir Henry Miers Elliot was an Indian civil servant and historian.Elliot was the third son, one of the fifteen children, of John Elliot, colonel commandant of the Westminster volunteers, by a daughter of John Coakley Lettsom, M.D...
states that Ahirs were Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
about the Commencement of our era. The fort of Asirgarh
Asirgarh
Asirgarh Qila is an Indian fortress situated in the Satpura Range, about 20 km north of the town of Burhanpur, in Burhanpur District of Madhya Pradesh state. The fortress commands a pass through the Satpuras connecting the valleys of the Narmada and Tapti rivers, one of the most important...
in Nimar bordering Khandesh
Khandesh
Khandesh is a region of central India, which forms the northwestern portion of Maharashtra state.Khandesh was the terminal territorial part under the rule of Mughals. The Start of Deccan region demarcated by the boundary of Khandesh....
is supposed to have been found by one Asa Ahir, who lived in the beginning of the fifteenth century.
Opinion of historians
Yadu is one of the five Indo-AryanIndo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...
tribes (panchajana, panchakrishtya or panchamanusha) mentioned in the Rig Veda (I.54.6, I.108.7, X.62.10). The Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati
Yayati
Yayati was a Puranic king and the son of king Nahusha and one of ancestors of Pandavas. He was a great scholar of Vedas. He had five brothers, Yati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. He had two wives, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the priest of Asuras ....
and his queen Devayani
Devayani
Devayani is an Indian film actress. She starred in numerous Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, along with a few Hindi films and one Bengali film. She received the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for her performances in the films Kadhal Kottai and Surya Vamsam...
. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler. According to the Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
, the Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
and the Garuda Purana
Garuda Purana
Garuda Purana is one of the Puranas which are part of the Hindu body of texts known as smriti. It is a Vaishnava Purana and its first part contains a dialog between Vishnu and Garuda, the King of Birds...
Yadu had four sons, while according to the rest of the Puranas he had five sons. The names of his sons are: Sahasrajit (or Sahasrada), Kroshtu (or Kroshta), Nila, Antika and Laghu. The kings between Budha
Budha
In Hindu mythology, Budha is the name for the planet Mercury, a son of Chandra with Tara or Rohini. He is also the god of merchandise and protector of Merchants....
and Yayati
Yayati
Yayati was a Puranic king and the son of king Nahusha and one of ancestors of Pandavas. He was a great scholar of Vedas. He had five brothers, Yati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. He had two wives, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the priest of Asuras ....
were known as Somavanshi. According to a narrative found in the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, and the Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
, Yadu refused to exchange his years of youth with his father Yayati. So he was cursed by Yayati that none of Yadu's progeny shall possess the dominion under his father's command. Thereby, he could not have carried on the same dynasty, called Somavamshi. Notably, the only remaining dynasty of King Puru was entitled to be known as Somavamshi. Thereby King Yadu ordered that the future generations of his would be known as Yadavs and the dynasty would be known as Yaduvamshi. The generations of Yadu had an unprecedented growth and got divided into two branches.
King Sasasrajit's descendants were named after his grandson Haihaya and were well known as the Haihayas
Haihayas
The Haihayas were an ancient confederacy of five ganas , who claimed their common ancestry from Yadu. According to the Harivamsha Purana...
. King Kroshtu's descendants had no special name, but were known particularly as the "Yadavas", According to P.L. Bhargava, when the original territory was partitioned between Sahasrajit and Kroshta, the former received the part lying to the western bank of the river Sindhu and the latter received the territory situated along the east bank of the river. King Haihaya was Shatajit's son and Sahasrajit's grandson. King Sahasrajit instituted a new state and a new dynasty and offered the same, by his own will and against his birth right, to be taken care of by his younger brother Kroshta. Thereby, Kroshta officially became the heir of King Yadu.
Consequently, the generations of King Puru
Puru
The Purus were a tribe, or a confederation of tribes, mentioned many times in the Rigveda, formed around 3180 BCE. RV 7.96.2 locates them at the banks of the Sarasvati River. There were several factions of Purus, one being the Bharatas...
, Paurav or Puruvanshi were the only ones to be known as Somvanshi.
The regions where the Yadu clan settled is not certain, but certain scholars suggest that Yadu clan inherited the territories to the south-west of the Gangetic plains, between the Chambal River
Chambal River
The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning...
, Betwa and Ken, which correspond to the border areas of present India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n states of Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. The descendants of Yadu tribe (Yaduvanshi) include Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. Yadu-Dynasty belongs to the family deriving from Soma
Soma
Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
, identified with the moon god Chandra.Yaduvanshi Kshatriyas were originally "Ahirs".
Several Chandravanshi castes and communities in modern India, such as the Saini
Saini
Saini is a Rajput descent caste of India. 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...
s of Punjab, Ahirs
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
, Jadaun
Jadaun
The Jadaun are a clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs found in North India and Pakistan.-Origins:...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s, Yaduvanshi Ahirs, Chudasama
Chudasama
The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. The Chudasama dynasty,originally of Abhira clan from Sindh. The disambiguition of the name Chudasama means, Chuda-Sama, 'Chuda' is an Indian word used for big bangles which are normally worn on the wrist of Indian women and...
, Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
, Jadaun
Jadaun
The Jadaun are a clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs found in North India and Pakistan.-Origins:...
, Yadavs
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
, Jadoon
Jadoon
The Jadoons are one of the largest Pashtun tribes in Pakistan. They originate from Jallalabad and are now located in the southern Hazara Division area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhuwa, Pakistan, partly in Gadoon area in Swabi on the southern slopes of Mahaban Mountains, and partly in Abbottabad District...
(Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
) and Khanzada
Khanzada
The Khanzada, or Khanzadah, is a subdivision of Rajputs, now found mainly in the Rajasthan, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh of India; and Sindh, Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Khanzadahs, the royal family of Muslim Jadon Rajputs, accepted Islam on their association with the Sufi Saints...
claim descent from Yadu.
Genealogical tree of Yadu
According to Dr. Bhau Daji, these Yue-Chi appear to have been the Abhira.
Reginald Edward Enthoven believes that Abhiras might have entered India from Afganistan. Indo-Greek king Agathocles
Agathocles
Agathocles , , was tyrant of Syracuse and king of Sicily .-Biography:...
found at Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum or Ay Khanum , was founded in the 4th century BC, following the conquests of Alexander the Great and was one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom...
in Afghanistan depict Krishna and Balarama
Balarama
Balarama , also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra and Halayudha, is the elder brother of the divine being, Krishna in Hinduism. Within Vaishnavism Hindu traditions Balarama is worshipped as an Avatar of Vishnu, and he is also listed as such in the Bhagavata Purana...
. The pastoral setting of the stories about Krishna's childhood may have originated in legends of a god worshipped by the Abhira tribe.However Hugh Nevill
says that it is probable the Abhoras on being removed from Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
, across the river,may have called themselves Abhira,as we know they did so in Scinde; while the branch in Afganistan are spoked of in the Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n inscription as of "the land of Abhiruz". Ramaprasad Chanda author of "The Indo-Aryan races" says that the Abhiras from whom the Gujaratis of our day have evidently sprung, were Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
in speech and belonnged to the Indo-Afgan stock. The Puranic Abhiras, have occupied the territories of Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, which is probably a survival of their name, as they are invariably juxtaposed with the Kalatoyakas and Haritas — the peoples of Afghanistan.
Journal of the Department of Pali believes that the Abhiras came to India from some part of eastern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Skanda Purāṇa also puts Abhiras as one of the tribes of Afganistan.
History
The BritishBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
Rulers of India classified the Ahirs amongst the "martial races" It was a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities like courage,physical strength, fighting tenacity and military strategy.In 1898, the British raised four Ahir companies, two of which were in 95th Russel Infantry. According to historians like Crooke and Risley Ahirs of Mathura and Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...
are characterized by tall stature, light brown complexion and finer features.
The Ahirs may be seen to have continued their warrior tradition by their extensive participation in the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
forces. Since ancient time, as per Mahabharata, Ahirs(Abhiras) have been warriors; some were agriculturists and farmers. They are a subcaste of Dhangar
Dhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
and are not only found in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western Gujarat, but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Nepal. In Maharashtra, Ahirs comprise a subgroup of the Dhangar caste system of India. Their role The Ahir community are present in large numbers in Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
, the plains that lie in the southern part of Nepal.
Origin
William Wilson Hunter
Sir William Wilson Hunter KCSI CIE was a Scottish historian, statistician, a compiler and a member of the Indian Civil Service, who later became Vice President of Royal Asiatic Society.-Early life and education:...
propounded the Scythic Origin view by directly deriving Ahir from Ahi, which means snake in Sanskrit, and saying that snake worship compounded by other cultural facts, suggests scythic origin. However, J. C. Nesfield refutes it by saying that snake worship is not peculiar to scythics but a common practice all over India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and he also argues that it is absurd to derive Ahir from ahi, a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word, when the original name of the community is Abhira, and Ahir its Prakrit corruption. He is of the view that Ahirs have purely Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
origin. One study in Deccan Ahirs have found out existence of Totem
Totem
A totem is a stipulated ancestor of a group of people, such as a family, clan, group, lineage, or tribe.Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem...
istic septs, which is regarded as a sure sign of being Non-Aryan, seconded by existence of a sect called Romabans, which is the regular corruption of word romak, frequently found in Sanskrit works on astronomy, and identified by Prof. Weber to be the town Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, from where the science of astronomy was cultivated and from whom people of India borrowed the concepts of astronomy. It is argued that foreign hordes from Romak might have settled in India, and incorporated into Ahirs. Sanskrit scholars in India however, have demurred this suggestion.
Bhagwan Singh Suryavanshi, in his research, claims archaeological research in Deccan has revealed the presence of pastoral people of Neolithic era, who shares many attributes of Abhira. Hence, Abhira might have been present much earlier than what has been postulated so far. Finally he concludes, they spread from Indus to mathura, and migrated southward and eastward. He also claims that similarity of culture and common belief that they are descendant of Lord Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, is the proof that they sprang from a common source.
According to a theory advanced by A. P. Karmakar, Abhiras were a Proto Dravidian tribe, derived from Dravidian Ayir, which means cowherd, he further argues, Aitareva Brahmin refers to Vasah, as the name of people, which in vedic literature means cow.
Finally, he concludes from Padma Purana, where Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
informed Abhiras, "I shall be born among you, O Abhiras, at Mathura in my eighth birth". D. R. Bhandarkar, supports the non-aryan origin theory, by directly relating Krishna, to Rig Veda's "Krishna Drapsah", where he fights Aryan God Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
. Added to this Karmakar, shows Harivamsa says Yadu
Yadu
Yadu is one of the five Indo-Aryan tribes mentioned in the Rig Veda . The Mahabharata, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati and his queen Devayani. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler...
was born of Harynasva and Madhumati, who was the daughter of Madhu. Madhu says all the territory of Mathura belongs to Abhiras. Further, Mahabharata describes Abhira as forming one of the seven republics, Samsaptak Gunas, and as a friend of Matsya
Matsya
Matsya was the first Avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. The great flood finds mention in Hindu mythology texts like the Satapatha Brahmana, where in the Matsya Avatar takes place to save the pious and the first man, Manu and advices him to build a giant boat.-The Legend:According to the Matsya...
s, a pre-vedic tribe.
Abhira jatis
The Abhiras split into both varna and jati categories; there were Abhira brahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, Abhira kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s, Abhira vaisyas, Abhira carpentars and Goldsmiths. For example Baradas Abhiras are of Rajput origin. They derive their name from acting as priests of Abhira.
Languages
Abhira bhasha is in fact considered to be Apabhransha. In the 9th century BC., 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 6th century BC.Links with Yadava
Besides scriptural evidences, historical and semi-historical evidence is available for equating Ahirs with Yadav. The term Ahir comes from Abhira (Bhandarkar, 1911;16), who where once found in different parts of India, and who in several places wielded political power. Ancient Sanskrit classic, Amarkosa, calls gwal, gopa and ballabh to be the synonym of Abhira.A ChudasamaChudasama
The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. The Chudasama dynasty,originally of Abhira clan from Sindh. The disambiguition of the name Chudasama means, Chuda-Sama, 'Chuda' is an Indian word used for big bangles which are normally worn on the wrist of Indian women and...
prince styled Ra Graharipu
Ra Graharipu
Ra Graharipu was an Abhira king and ruler of Saurastra. He had a good relationship with Lakha, the son of King Phula of Kutch, and other kings such as Turks. Somnath Temple was under the Graharipu. He also fought Mularaja Solanki in A.D 961 and was also known as Chudasama...
and Ruling at Vanthali near Junagarh described in the Dyashraya kavya of Hemachandra, describes him both as a Abhira and a Yadav. Further, in their Bardic traditions as well as in popular stories Chudasmas are still called Ahir Ranas. Again, many remains of Khandesh (historical stronghold of abhiras) are popularly believed to be of Gawli Raj, which archaeologically belongs to the Yadvas of Devgiri. Hence, it is concluded that Yadavas of Devagiri were actually Abhiras. Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Travellers account refers to Vijaynagar Emperors as Kannada Golla (Abhira). First historically traceable Yadav Dynasty are Trikuta
Trikuta
Trikuta is a three peaked mountain in Hindu Mythology. We find its references in the Sundarkand chapter of the Ramayana and its location is believed to be in Lanka. Sreemad Bhagwatam further tells us that it contains a nice garden called Rumak, constructed by Varuna, and it also contains a...
, who were Abhira.
Moreover, there are sufficient number of clans within Ahirs, who trace their lineage from Yadu and Lord Krishna, some of which are mentioned in Mahabharata as Yadav Clans.
Commenting on this Bhandarkar says, Krishna is the Hinduised form of Jesus Christ, whose teachings Abhira have brought from outside, at the beginning of Christian Era, because Krishna is called Christo near Weastern Coast, and Dalliance element in Krishna's life is inspired from traditions of Abhira tribe.
Ghurye, contradicts this by saying Abhira as a tribe is mentioned in the works of Patanjali, dated 150 BC, by most conservative sources, so they definitely haven't entered at the beginning of the Christian era and possibly their presence goes very far into antiquity. Also, proofs of Extra Marital relationships exists within genealogy of Yadu
Yadu
Yadu is one of the five Indo-Aryan tribes mentioned in the Rig Veda . The Mahabharata, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati and his queen Devayani. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler...
s so it is wrong to say Abhira are the source of Dlliance element, and he fails to see the difference between Abhira and the tribe of Krishna.
However, Smith has raised two questions on this synthesis by above scholars. First, If Abhira are Yadavs then why Mahabharata mentions them having abducted wives and children of Krishna and second, why Abhira kings names are after Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and not Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
till as late as 800AD, who is a rival god.
Dr. J.N. Singh Yadav and MSA Rao has contradicted Smith by saying, Those Abhira who abducted Krishna's Wives and Children might be Yadavs who were supporters of Duryodhna, and they also shows there is no rivalry between Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
.Mahabharta says that those Abhiras who looted Arjuna were the supporters of the Kauravas.
According to Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur) the Gopas
Gopas
Lord Krishna was a Gopa.Amarakosha gives Ballava as well as Abhira as synonym for Gopa. Gopas were kinsmen and armymen of Vasudeva Krishna, they were allied with Kauravas, due to a pact made between Vasudeva Krishna, Arjuna and Duryodhana...
, whom Krishna had offered to Duryodhana
Duryodhana
In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, Emperor of the world at that time which means Emperor of India or Bharatvarsha as it was known at that time, cousin and the chief...
to fight in his support when he himself joined Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
's side, were no other than the Yadavas themselves, who were also the Abhiras
Hari Singh Bhati on closer inspection of the site of abduction near Indraprastha, as described in Mahabharata, along with Dr. Budh Prakash's identification of Haryana likely to be the post Mahabharata settlement, Abhirayana, of those Abhira, finds concentration of Yaduvanshi Ahirs in that area and says, all Yadvas post Mahabharata were descendants of those Abhira and abducted Vrisni women, hence they are both Abhira and Yadava.
P.A. Karmakar, shows in Padma Purana, Vishnu informs Abhira, saying, "O Abira, I'll be born among you in my eighth incarnation", and concludes Abhira and Yadava is same.
Abhira and Arjuna fight
Abhiras are mentioned as warriors in support of DuryodhanaDuryodhana
In the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, Emperor of the world at that time which means Emperor of India or Bharatvarsha as it was known at that time, cousin and the chief...
. The Gopas
Gopas
Lord Krishna was a Gopa.Amarakosha gives Ballava as well as Abhira as synonym for Gopa. Gopas were kinsmen and armymen of Vasudeva Krishna, they were allied with Kauravas, due to a pact made between Vasudeva Krishna, Arjuna and Duryodhana...
, whom Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
had offered to Duryodhana to fight in his support when he himself joined Arjuna's side, were no other than the Yadavas themselves, who were also the Abhiras. Ramayana refers to Abhiras as Ugradarshana — Mleccha
Mleccha
Mleccha , also spelt as Mlechchha, people of foreign extraction in ancient India. Mleccha was used by the Aryans much as the ancient Greeks used barbaros, originally to indicate the uncouth and incomprehensible speech of foreigners and then extended to their unfamiliar behaviour...
s and dasyus. The Abhiras also have been described as Vratas. Pnaini mentions these Vratas as robbers. The Abhiras are said to have looted the train of Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
, the Pandava
Pandava
In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu , by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Although, Karna is told by Lord Krishna that according to the laws and ethics he is the first son of Kunti making...
, when he was returning from Dwaraka being accompanied by some of the members of "Sri Krsna's family after the death of the latter.Abhiras are said to have waylaid Arjuna and deprived him of his treasure and beautiful women somewhere in Punjab. Abhiras who looted Arjuna were the supporters of the Kaurava
Kaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
s, and in the Mahabharata, Abhir, Gopa, Gopal and Yadavas are all synonyms. They defeated the hero of Mahabharatha war,and did spare him when he disclosed the identity of the members of the family of Sri Krishna.
Abhiras in Deccan
From 203 to 270 the Abhiras ruled over the whole of deccan as a paramount power.In deccan Abhiras were the immediate successors of the Satavahanas.Rule of Konkan
Abhira king Isvarasena of Nasik Inscription XV. was one of the Abhira conquerors of the Andhras who took from them to west Deccan.A migration of Abhiras from Ptolemy's Abiria in Upper Sindh through SindhSindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
by sea to the Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
and then to Nasik. Abhira rule started about 203 AD following the end of Yajnasri Satakarni's reign and Abhira Isvarasena's accession took place in Saka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
151 or 229 ADSakasena was the first abhira king.His inscriptions from Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
and coins from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
suggest that he ruled over the major part of the warstwhile Satavahana
Satavahana
The Sātavāhana Empire or Andhra Empire, was a royal Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar and Prathisthan in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward...
empire,It followed that Abhira Shivadatta founded the Abhira kingdom after Yajnasri in the Nasik-Konkan area. Indradutta Traikutaka was probably the viceroy of the Abhiras in the Western Coastal regin of their kingdom assumed sovereignty at the end of Vasusena region.
Rule of Gujarat
Abhiras lived in the desert; but later they gradually pushed towards the south,In the 1st and 2nd centuries AD; Aberia or the abhira country lay not far from Saurastra. AbiriaAbiria
Abiria was a region in Sindh, Pakistan described by Classical authors, mainly Ptolemy. It covers the area east of the Indus River Delta and is apparently named for the Abhira people, presumably in residence of the region....
of Abhira country was ruled over by western Kshatrapas
Western Kshatrapas
The Western Satraps, Western Kshatrapas, or Kshaharatas were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India...
to Saka rulers of western India, who seem to have held sway over the whole realm of Indo-Scythians
Indo-Scythians
Indo-Scythians is a term used to refer to Sakas , who migrated into Bactria, Sogdiana, Arachosia, Gandhara, Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, from the middle of the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE....
of the Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
geographer Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
. It is the south-eastern portion of Gujarat near the mouth of the river Narmada
Narmada River
The Narmada , also called Rewa is a river in central India and the fifth largest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third largest river that completely flows within India after Ganges and Godavari...
. According to some scholars, it is the Abiria of the Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
.
It was lying to the east of the Indus above the insular portion formed by its bifurcation Abiria is Ophir
Ophir
Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.- Citations :...
(Mc Crindle. Ancient India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as described by Ptolemy. Later epigraphic evidences places the Abhira country in the west but the Puran
Puran
Puran Puran Tehsil is a sub-division and tehsil of Shangla District in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan....
as seem to locate it in the north.
According to Mahabharatha (II ch. 31) the abhiras lived near the seashore and on the bank of the Saraswati
Saraswati
In Hinduism Saraswati , is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as His Shakti....
,a river near Somnath
Somnath
The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed...
in Gujarat.
Abhiras of Rajputana
The Abhiras were a strong and powerful people with well-built bodies and originally lived in the desert. Mahabharata (IX, 37, 1) locates the Abhiras in western Rajputana where the river Sarasvati disappears. and north eastern SindSindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. In Samudragupta's time (c. AD 350) the Abhiras lived in Rajputana and Malava on the western frontier of the Gupta empire. Historian Dineshchandra Sircar thinks of Abiravan between Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
and Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
which may have been the original home of the Abhiras. Their occupation of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
also at later date is evident from the Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
inscription of Samvat 918, that the Abhira people of the area were a terror to their neighbours, because of their violent demeanour. Abhiras of Rajputana were sturdy and regarded as Mleccha
Mleccha
Mleccha , also spelt as Mlechchha, people of foreign extraction in ancient India. Mleccha was used by the Aryans much as the ancient Greeks used barbaros, originally to indicate the uncouth and incomprehensible speech of foreigners and then extended to their unfamiliar behaviour...
s, and carried on anti Brahmancial activities.As a result, life and property became unsafe. Pargiter points to the Pauranic tradition that the Yadav
Yadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
as, while retreating northwards after the Kurukshetra war
Kurukshetra war
According to the Indian epic poem Mahābhārata, a dynastic succession struggle between two groups of cousins of an Indo-Aryan kingdom called Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas, for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in the Kurukshetra War in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of...
from their western home in Dwarka and Gujarat, were attacked and broken up by the rude Abhiras of Rajasthan.
At Osian (about 52 kilometres north-west of Jodhpur) many temples with fine sculptures attract a visitor. Two sculptures particularly attract the visitors — one depicts a daughter of the Abhiras with her charming poise and attractive body.
The Abhiras did not stop in Rajasthan; some of their clans moved south and west reaching Saurastra and Maharastra and taking service under the Satavahanas and the Kshatrapas. Also founded a kingdom in the northern part of the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
country, and an inscription of the ninth year of the Abhira King Ishwarsena
Ishwarsena
Ishwarsena was the founder of the Abhira dynasty and he started an era which later became known as the Kalachuri-Chedi era. He and his descendants whose names do not occur in the Puranas seem to have ruled over a large territory in deccan. He took the title of Rajan and an era was named after him....
.