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{{about|the historical region|the | {{Short description|Ancient Indian region}} | ||
{{about|the historical region|the king in Indian mythology|Shurasena}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}} | {{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}} | ||
{{Infobox country | {{Infobox country | ||
|native_name = | | native_name = | ||
|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Surasena | | conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Surasena | ||
|common_name = Surasena | | common_name = Surasena | ||
|era | | era = [[Bronze Age]], [[Iron Age]] | ||
|government_type = [[Monarchy]] | | government_type = [[Monarchy]] | ||
|year_start | | year_start = c. 700 BCE | ||
|year_end | | year_end = c. 300 BCE | ||
|s1 | | s1 = Nanda Empire{{!}}Magadha | ||
|image_map | | image_map = Mahajanapadas (c. 500 BCE).png | ||
| image_map_alt = | | image_map_alt = | ||
|image_map_caption | | image_map_caption = Surasena and other Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period. | ||
|leader1 = | | leader1 = | ||
|capital = [[Mathura]] | | capital = [[Mathura]] | ||
|common_languages = | | common_languages = [[Sanskrit]], [[Prakrit]] | ||
|religion | | religion = [[Historical Vedic religion]]<br>[[Jainism]]<br>[[Buddhism]] | ||
|currency | | currency = | ||
|title_leader= | | title_leader = [[Maharaja]] | ||
|today | | today = [[India]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}} | {{HistoryOfSouthAsia}} | ||
''' | The kingdom of '''Surasena''' ({{IAST3|Śūrasena}}) was an [[ancient India]]n region corresponding to the present-day [[Braj]] region in [[Uttar Pradesh]], with [[Mathura]] as its capital city. According to the Buddhist text ''[[Anguttara Nikaya]]'', Surasena was one of the sixteen [[Mahajanapadas]] (lit. 'great realms') in the 6th century BCE.<ref>{{harvnb|Raychaudhuri|1972|p=85}}</ref> Also, it is mentioned in the Hindu epic poem [[Ramayana]]. The [[ancient Greek]] writers (e.g., [[Megasthenes]]) refer to the Sourasenoi and its cities, Methora and Cleisobra/Kleisobora .<ref>{{Cite book|last=Majumdar|first=Ramesh Chandra|title=Ancient India|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited|year=1995|isbn=978-81-208-0436-4|location=Delhi|pages=173}}</ref><ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 71">{{harvnb|Raychaudhuri|1972|p=71}}</ref> | ||
== | ==Location== | ||
The Śūrasena state was located on the [[Yamuna|Yamunā]] river, and its capital was the city of [[Mathura|Mathurā]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Raychaudhuri |first=Hemchandra |author-link=Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri |date=1953 |title=Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty |pages=138–143 |url= |location= |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] |isbn=}}</ref> | |||
==Origin== | |||
It is speculated that the Surasena kingdom was established by [[Shurasena|Šúraséna]] on the banks of [[Sarasvati River|Saraswati]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saraswati - AncientVoice |url=https://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/saraswati |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=ancientvoice.wikidot.com}}</ref> The Surasenas claimed their descent from the [[List of ancient Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes|Yadus]] mentioned in the [[Rigveda]]. Surasena was one of the sixteen [[Mahajanapadas]]. The Sura-sena Janapada was occupied by [[Vrishni|Vrishnis]] and Andhakas, branches of the [[Yadu dynasty|Yadu tribe]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jain |first=Ram Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TH4BAAAAMAAJ |title=Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata |date=1970 |publisher=Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Mahabharata and the [[Puranas]] refer to the rulers of the Mathura region as the Yadus or [[Yadava]]s, divided into a number of septs, which include the [[Vrishni]]s.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 128">{{harvnb|Raychaudhuri|1972|p=128}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Singh|2008|p=264}}</ref> The Buddhist texts refer to Avantiputta, the king of the Surasenas in the time of [[Katyayana (Buddhist)|Maha Kachchana]], one of the chief disciples of [[Gautama Buddha]], who spread Buddhism in the Mathura region.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 128"/> | The [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Puranas]] refer to the rulers of the Mathura region as the Yadus or [[Yadava]]s, divided into a number of septs, which include the [[Vrishni]]s.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 128">{{harvnb|Raychaudhuri|1972|p=128}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Singh|2008|p=264}}</ref> The Buddhist texts refer to Avantiputta, the king of the Surasenas in the time of [[Katyayana (Buddhist)|Maha Kachchana]], one of the chief disciples of [[Gautama Buddha]], who spread Buddhism in the Mathura region.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 128"/> | ||
Its capital, [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], was situated on the bank of the river [[Yamuna]], presently a sacred place for the [[Hinduism|Hindus]]. The ancient Greek writers mention another city, named Cleisobora, in this region.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 71"/> | Its capital, [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], was situated on the bank of the river [[Yamuna]], presently a sacred place for the [[Hinduism|Hindus]]. The ancient Greek writers mention another city, named Cleisobora, in this region.<ref name="Raychaudhuri 1972 71"/> | ||
Archaeological excavations at Mathura show the gradual growth of a village into an important city. The earliest period belonged to the [[Painted Grey Ware culture]] ( | Archaeological excavations at Mathura show the gradual growth of a village into an important city. The earliest period belonged to the [[Painted Grey Ware culture]] (1100–500 BCE), followed by the [[Northern Black Polished Ware]] culture (700–200 BCE). Mathura derived its importance as a center of trade due to its location where the [[Grand Trunk Road|northern trade route]] of the [[Gangetic Plain]] met with the routes to [[Malwa]] (central India) and the [[Western India|west coast]].<ref name="Singh2008">{{cite book|author=Upinder Singh|title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA281|year=2008|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-81-317-1120-0|pages=281, 336}}</ref> | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Saurasena coin.jpg|Saurasena coin, 400–300 BCE. | |||
Saurasena coin.jpg | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 62: | Line 60: | ||
| given1 = Upinder | | given1 = Upinder | ||
| year = 2008 | | year = 2008 | ||
| | | isbn = 978-81-317-1677-9 | ||
| title = A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century | | title = A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century | ||
| publisher = Delhi: Pearson Education | | publisher = Delhi: Pearson Education | ||
| Line 81: | Line 79: | ||
[[Category:Iron Age countries in Asia]] | [[Category:Iron Age countries in Asia]] | ||
[[Category:Iron Age cultures of South Asia]] | [[Category:Iron Age cultures of South Asia]] | ||
[[Category:Ancient peoples]] | [[Category:Ancient peoples of India]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Places in Hindu mythology]] | ||
[[Category:Regions of Haryana]] | [[Category:Regions of Haryana]] | ||
[[Category:Regions of Rajasthan]] | [[Category:Regions of Rajasthan]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:27, 25 October 2025
Kingdom of Surasena | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 700 BCE–c. 300 BCE | |||||||
.png) Surasena and other Mahajanapadas in the post-Vedic period. | |||||||
| Capital | Mathura | ||||||
| Common languages | Sanskrit, Prakrit | ||||||
| Religion | Historical Vedic religion Jainism Buddhism | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Maharaja | |||||||
| Historical era | Bronze Age, Iron Age | ||||||
• Established | c. 700 BCE | ||||||
• Disestablished | c. 300 BCE | ||||||
| |||||||
| Today part of | India | ||||||
| Outline of South Asian history |
|---|
_without_national_boundaries.svg) |
The kingdom of Surasena (IAST: Śūrasena) was an ancient Indian region corresponding to the present-day Braj region in Uttar Pradesh, with Mathura as its capital city. According to the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya, Surasena was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas (lit. 'great realms') in the 6th century BCE.[1] Also, it is mentioned in the Hindu epic poem Ramayana. The ancient Greek writers (e.g., Megasthenes) refer to the Sourasenoi and its cities, Methora and Cleisobra/Kleisobora .[2][3]
Location[edit | edit source]
The Śūrasena state was located on the Yamunā river, and its capital was the city of Mathurā.[4]
Origin[edit | edit source]
It is speculated that the Surasena kingdom was established by Šúraséna on the banks of Saraswati.[5] The Surasenas claimed their descent from the Yadus mentioned in the Rigveda. Surasena was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas. The Sura-sena Janapada was occupied by Vrishnis and Andhakas, branches of the Yadu tribe.[6]
History[edit | edit source]
The Mahabharata and the Puranas refer to the rulers of the Mathura region as the Yadus or Yadavas, divided into a number of septs, which include the Vrishnis.[7][8] The Buddhist texts refer to Avantiputta, the king of the Surasenas in the time of Maha Kachchana, one of the chief disciples of Gautama Buddha, who spread Buddhism in the Mathura region.[7]
Its capital, Mathura, was situated on the bank of the river Yamuna, presently a sacred place for the Hindus. The ancient Greek writers mention another city, named Cleisobora, in this region.[3]
Archaeological excavations at Mathura show the gradual growth of a village into an important city. The earliest period belonged to the Painted Grey Ware culture (1100–500 BCE), followed by the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (700–200 BCE). Mathura derived its importance as a center of trade due to its location where the northern trade route of the Gangetic Plain met with the routes to Malwa (central India) and the west coast.[9]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Saurasena coin, 400–300 BCE.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 85
- ↑ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1995). Ancient India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. p. 173. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 71
- ↑ Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta. pp. 138–143.
- ↑ "Saraswati - AncientVoice". ancientvoice.wikidot.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ↑ Jain, Ram Chandra (1970). Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Raychaudhuri 1972, p. 128
- ↑ Singh 2008, p. 264
- ↑ Upinder Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. pp. 281, 336. ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972), Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty, Calcutta: University of Calcutta
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link). - Singh, Upinder (2008), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Delhi: Pearson Education, ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link).
External links[edit | edit source]
Template:Historical regions of North India