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Yadav

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Yadav is a Hindu caste.

Origin

According to Hindu mythology, Yadvas are descendants of Yadu who was eldest son of Yayati and was banished from ruling by his father because he refused to fulfil the wishes of his father and became a rebel. Yadu and his descendants started ruling in outskirts of the mainland, viz small islands. It is assumed the reference in scriptures of Jambudwepa is in memory of these islands. Later on Yadus entered the mainland overthrowing many Puru rulers.Presently they are known by my names.Gope means mystique stemming from Shiva (Also called Gopeshwar or lord of mysticism) and emulated in Bhagavad Gita, Yaduvanshis are descendants of the ancient Yadavs. Abhir (also known as Abhira or Ahira) means fearless and have got most ancient historical references dating back to Abhira kingdom of saraswati valley,they spoke abhiri(ancient sanskrit) till buddhist period .Some scholars believe Abhira identity was used by Yadava residents of Holy Land (like Saraswati Valley where they lived fearlessly)and separate identity emerged because of their gradual alienation because of many reasons some of which are saraswati going down the earth and fall of Dwarka.Some scholars see connection to jews of these abhira through biblical city ophir.Yadavas were possesors of great mysical knowledge is confirmed in Bhagwad Gita itself which says-same knowledge was given to Manu(first man on earth),surya and ichavaku(ancestor of lord Rama) at very ancient time.It is believed Abhira were the link between eastern and western religions.The Kshatriya religion was propounded by Krishna and no reference is found before him. 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 this religion as revealed in Bhagavad Gita. Prominent members among the ancient Yadavas are:

The legend further states that Jarasandh, Kamsa’s father-in-law, and king of Magadha attacked Yadavas to avenge the killing of Kamsa. Yadavas had to shift their capital from Mathura (central India) to Dwaraka (on the western coast of India) on the Arabian Sea. Yaduvanshis are among the five most ancient Aryan groups of Bharata. They mostly follow Hindu religion, and are located in different parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Major Yadav clans

Major Yadav clans currently include

  • Krishnauth (claiming direct lineage from Krishna)
  • Manjrauth
  • Gaur (also called Goriya, and mentioned in the Mahabharatha) derived from sanskrit "guh" meaning mystical and "ur" meaning home or abode (one who is the abode of mystical powers).
  • Ahirs (variously called Ahira and Abhira) are divided into three major clans:
  1. Yaduvanshi
  2. Nandavanshi
  3. Gwalvanshi

Also Known as

General profile

Yadavas are the single largest community in India, estimated to constitute more than 19% of the Indian population. In terms of sheer numbers, this translates to 200 million people, prompting some people to state that Yadavas are not merely a community but a "nation" in themselves. Through numerous political parties, such as the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), Janata Dal (Secular) and Tamil Makkal Desam (Tamil Nadu), this caste has considerable political influence, especially in the governments of India's most populous states, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.

Yadavs, though being Kshatriyas, in certain parts of India are classified by the respective governments as Other Backward Classes, or OBCs. This classification stems from their prevailing general economic and educational condition. The Yadavas are linked to Krishna and several ruling families, such as the ancient kings of Prayag, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Nandas, the Wodeyars of Mysore and more recently that of Rao Tularam of Haryana, one of the leading figures of the First War of Independence (1857) in India.

Famous Yadavs

  • Lord Krishna
  • Rao Tula Ram (1857 freedom fighter)
  • Veera Pandya Katta Bomman,
  • Jijabai( mother of Shivaji)
  • Rao Balbir Singh(King of haryana)
  • The Wodayars of Karnataka
  • Yadava of Deogiri now Daulatabad
  • Mulayam Singh Yadav, UP politician
  • Laloo Prasad Yadav, Bihar politician
  • Anand Yadav, Marathi writer
  • Rajendra Yadav, Hindi novelist and Editor of "HANS"
  • Raghuvir Yadav
  • Rajpal Yadav
  • B P Mandal,(author:Mandal commission)
  • Babulal Gaur( C.M, Madhya Pradesh)
  • Swami Ramdev (Yoga Teacher)
  • Yogendra Yadav (Well-known psephologist, political scientist and T.V. commentator)
  • N. Raghuveera Reddy Minister AP
  • Suresh Kalmadi President Asian Olympic Association
  • Madhu Yadav Sampati(Partner AvignaSoft, Inc and founder of North America Yadavs Association)
  • Rajesh Yadav

External links

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