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{{Short description|Ancient Indian History}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{otheruses|Abhira (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox former country
| native_name =
| conventional_long_name = Abhira kingdom
| common_name =
| era = Early Mahajanapada (Mahabharata)
| government_type = [[Monarchy]]
| year_start =
| year_end =
| s2 = [[Janapada]]
| image_map = EpicIndia.jpg
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption =
| capital =
| common_languages =
| religion = [[Bhagavata]]
| currency =
| title_leader =
| today = [[Pakistan]]<br />[[India]]
}}

The '''Abhira kingdom''' in the [[Mahabharata]] is either of two kingdoms near the [[Sarasvati river]]. It was dominated by the [[Abhira tribe|Abhiras]], sometimes referred to as Surabhira<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garg |first=Gaṅgā Rām |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w9pmo51lRnYC&dq=%C5%9A%C5%ABr%C4%81bhira&pg=PA113 |title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World |date=1992 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-374-0 |pages=113 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WBKcqBiG_YC&dq=%C5%9A%C3%BAr%C3%A1bhiras&pg=PA133 |title=The Vishnu Purana a System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition Translated from the Original Sanskrit, and Illustrated by Notes Derived Chiefly from Other Puranas by the Late H.H. Wilson: 2 |date=1865 |publisher=Trubner |pages=133 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Edwin T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RXWDwAAQBAJ&q=Gwalas |title=Statistical, descriptive and historical account of the North-western Provinces of India |date=1874-01-01 |publisher=Dalcassian Publishing Company |pages=360 |language=en |quote=The Suras and Abhiras' are associated together in the Mahābhārata and Harivansa and appear to have been a pastoral people in the upper portion of the north-western Panjāb represented by the Ahirs and Gwalas of the present day.}}</ref> also combining both Sura and Abhira kingdoms. Modern day Abhira territory lies within Northern areas of [[Gujarat]] and Southern [[Rajasthan]], India.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India|author=Numismatic Society of India|date=1991|volume=53|issn=0029-6066|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sk1mAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

==Mahabharata==
The [[Sabha Parva|Sabha-parva]] and [[Bhishma Parva|Bhisma-parva]] sections of the [[Mahabharata]] mention the province of [[Abhira tribe|Abhira]], situated near what once was the [[Sarasvati River]] in ancient [[Sind]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Knapp |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJyrQFUI9QkC |title=Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence |date=2000 |publisher=World Relief Network |isbn=978-0-9617410-6-8 |pages=55 |language=en}}</ref> and the place they inhabited was known as [[Abiria|Abhiradesa]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prabhupāda |first=A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami |title=Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: With the Original Sanskrit Text, Its Roman Transliteration, Synonyms, Translation and Elaborate Purports |date=1987 |publisher=Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |isbn=978-0-89213-251-5 |pages=215 |language=en |quote=The kṣatriyas who were afraid of Parasurama and had hidden themselves in the Caucasian hilly regions later on became known as the Abhiras, and the place they inhabited was known as Abhiradeśa.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Naravane |first=Vishwanath S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZTXAAAAMAAJ |title=A Companion to Indian Mythology: Hindu, Buddhist & Jaina |date=1987 |publisher=Thinker's Library, Technical Publishing House |pages=2 |language=en |quote=Abhira (s), A clan of people who were originally Ksha-triyas but were later regarded as degraded because they took to lowly pursuits after settling down in mountainous regions. They migrated to far-off regions because they were afraid of Parashurā-ma, who had vowed to destroy the kshatriyas.}}</ref> Later, for a period of time, they were ruled by [[Yudhishthira|Maharaja Yudhisthira]]. they are prophesied by the [[Markandeya|sage Markandeya]] to rule in the [[Kali Yuga|Kaliyuga]]. [[Vātsyāyana]] also mentions the [[Abhira tribe|Abhira kingdoms]] in the [[Kama Sutra]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sircar |first=Dineschandra |title=Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India |date=1971 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0690-0 |pages=98 |language=en}}</ref> References of Abhira being residents of kingdom ruled by [[Yudhishthira|Yudhisthira]] is found in [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagwatam]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 4 Verse 18|url=http://vedabase.net/sb/2/4/18/en|access-date=2021-11-20|website=vedabase.net|archive-date=19 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819194741/http://vedabase.net/sb/2/4/18/en|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFHRAAAAMAAJ&q=abhiras |title=Ethnic history of Gujarat – Popatlal Govindlal Shah – Google Books |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=18 October 2011|last1=Shah |first1=Popatlal Govindlal }}</ref> Their king Chitra, was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], the son of [[Yudhishthira]] and [[Draupadi]].{{cn|date=February 2024}} They defeated the hero of Mahabharatha war, sparing him when he disclosed the identity of the members of the family of Sri Krishna.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJNHAAAAMAAJ&q=looted+the+train+of+Arjuna%2C |title=Yadavas through the ages, from ... – J. N. Singh Yadav – Google Books |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=18 October 2011|isbn=9788185616032 |last1=Singh Yadav |first1=J. N. |publisher=Sharada Publishing House }}</ref> [[Arjuna]] had killed all [[Kaurava|Kauravas]] and was defeated by [[Gopa (caste)|Gopas]] ([[Abhira tribe|Abhiras]]) was only [[Hari|Hari's]] play.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Söhnen |first1=Renate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J2c6-tAt4vwC |title=Brahmapurāṇa: Summary of Contents, with Index of Names and Motifs |last2=Söhnen-Thieme |first2=Renate |last3=Schreiner |first3=Peter |date=1989 |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |isbn=978-3-447-02960-5 |language=en |quote=Arjuna had killed all Kauravas and was defeated by Abhiras was only Hari's play.}}</ref>

==Abhira kingdom of Mathura==
In the south was [[Mathura]], the powerful kingdom of the fearless cow-herding [[Abhira tribe]] ruled by King [[Ugrasena]], the maternal grandfather of [[Krishna]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Geraets |first=Wil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FV4oDwAAQBAJ |title=The Wisdom Teachings of Harish Johari on the Mahabharata |date=2011-05-18 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-59477-932-9 |language=en |quote=In the south was Mathura, the powerful kingdom of the fearless cow-herding Abhira tribe ruled by King Ugrasena, the maternal grandfather of Krishna.}}</ref>

==Abhira kingdom of Maharashtra==
The [[Abhira dynasty|Abhiras]] established a large kingdom in Maharashtra, succeeding the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]], which included [[Nasik]], Aparanta, Lata, [[Khandesh]] and [[Vidarbha]].<ref name="auto">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA129| title= Some Early Dynasties of South India| publisher= Motilal| work= History | date= 1974 | author= Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya| pages=129| isbn= 9788120829411}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JggZAQAAIAAJ&q=Khandesa| title= Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 1 | publisher= Cosmo Publications | work= Geography | author= Subodh Kapoor | pages=2| isbn= 9788177552980 | year= 2002 }}</ref><ref name="nagpur">{{cite book |title=Central Provinces District Gazetteers- Nagpur |url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nagpur%20District/history.html#.}}</ref>

==Abhira kingdom of Saurashtra==
The [[Abhira people|Abhiras]] began to rule in Southern and western [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] from the second half of the 10th century A.D. Their capital was Vamanshtali, modern [[Vanthali]] nine miles west of [[Junagadh]]. They became very powerful during the reign of [[Graharipu]] who defeated the [[Saindhava|Saindhavas]] and the [[Chaulukya dynasty|Chaulukyas]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA344|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|author=Sailendra Nath Sen|date=1 January 1999|publisher=New Age International|isbn=978-81-224-1198-0|pages=344|quote=The Abhiras began to rule in Southern and western Sourashtra from the second half of the 10th century A.D their capital was vamanshtali, modern vanthali nine miles west of Junagadh. They became very powerful during the reign of [[Graharipu]] who defeated the Saindhavas and the Chaulukyas.|access-date=3 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Ramesh Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bnZDAAAAYAAJ |title=Ancient India |date=1964 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |pages=303 |language=en |quote=The Abhiras grew very powerful during the reign of Graharipu in the middle of the 10th century A.D. He had his capital at Vāmanasthali, now represented by Abhiras the village Vanthali, 9 miles west of Junagadh.}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Abiria]]
* [[Abhira dynasty]]
* [[Abhira people]]
* [[Mahajanapadas]]
* [[Yadava–Abhira Wars]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]], ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', 1883–1896.
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Yadava kingdoms]]

Abhira kingdom - Revision history

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