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{{Short description|King in Hinduism}}
{{About|Yadu (legendary king)|the historical Rigvedic tribe|Yadu|the ancient cowherd clan that claimed descent from Yadu|Yadava|the modern community|Yadav|the Burmese form of poetry|Yadu (poetry)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image =
| caption =
| name = Yadu
| dynasty = [[Yadu dynasty|Yaduvamsha]]
| father = [[Yayati]]
| mother = [[Devayani]]
| spouse =
| children = Sahasrajit, Krosta, Nala, and Ripu
| siblings = {{ubl|Turvasu (brother)|[[King Puru|Puru]], Druhyu, and Anu (step-brothers)}}
| region = Hastinapura
| texts = [[Ramayana]], [[Mahabharata]], [[Puranas]]
| successor = Sahasrajit
}}
'''Yadu''' ({{Langx|sa|यदु|translit=Yadu}}) is the founder of the [[Yadu dynasty]] in [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2018-01-18 |title=Yaduvansha, Yaduvaṃśa, Yadu-vansha: 3 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yaduvansha#purana |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> He is described to be the eldest son of King [[Yayati]], and his queen, [[Devayani]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-06-29 |title=Yadu, Yādu: 17 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/yadu |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> He married five daughters of [[Nāga]] king.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-11-14 |title=The Sons of Yadu and Their Conquests [Chapter 38] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485579.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-11-14 |title=An Account of Haryashva [Chapter 37] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485578.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>


{{About|Yadu (legendary king)|the historical Rigvedic tribe|Yadu|the ancient cowherd clan that claimed descent from Yadu|Yadava|the modern community|Yadav|the Burmese form of poetry|Yadu (poetry)}}
== Legend ==
In Hindu texts such as the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', the ''[[Harivamsha]]'' and the [[Purana]]s 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.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jmnm-smZm6oC&pg=PA10 |title=Cultural History from the Vāyu Purāna Issue 2 of Deccan College dissertation series, Poona Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute (India) |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publisher |date=1946 |first=Devendrakumar Rajaram |last=Patil |page=10|isbn=9788120820852 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |first=Romila |last=Thapar |author-link=Romila Thapar |year=1996 |orig-year=1978 |edition=Reprinted |title=Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=81-250-0808-X |pages=268–269}}</ref> Thereby, he could not have carried on the same dynasty, called [[Lunar dynasty|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 [[Yadava]]s and the dynasty would be known as ''Yaduvanshi''. The generations of Yadu had unprecedented growth and got divided into two branches.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
According to a narrative found in the [[Mahabharata]], and the [[Vishnu Purana]], Yadu refused to exchange his years of youth with his father, Yayati, when the latter was cursed with senility by his father-in-law, [[Shukra]]. Thus, he was cursed by Yayati to have his progeny disinherited of the dominion.<ref>{{cite book |first=Romila |last=Thapar |author-link=Romila Thapar |year=1996 |orig-year=1978 |edition=Reprinted |title=Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=81-250-0808-X |pages=268–269}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Yayāti |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242086.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Due to this proclamation, Yadu was replaced by his half-brother, [[King Puru|Puru]], as the heir to the throne of the [[Lunar dynasty|Chandravamsha dynasty]]. Yadu founded his own cadet branch of the dynasty, called the Yaduvamsha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Yadu |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242079.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>


== Descendants ==
== Descendants ==
Sahasrajit's descendants were named after his grandson, Haihaya, and were known as the ''[[Haihayas]]''. King Kroshtu's descendants were often referred to as the ''Yadavas''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pargiter |first=F. E. |year=1972 |title=Ancient Indian Historical Tradition |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |page=87}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Misra |first=V. S. |year=2007 |title=Ancient Indian Dynasties |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |isbn=978-81-7276-413-5 |pages=162–163}}</ref>
The [[Agni Purana]] states that Yadu's lineage was continued by his eldest son, Sahasrajit. Sahasrajit had three sons: Haihaya, Renuhaya, and Haya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2021-11-15 |title=Description of the dynasty of Yadu (yaduvaṃśa) [Chapter 275] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-agni-purana/d/doc1083504.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
 
A historical dynasty called the [[Traikutaka dynasty|Traikutaka]] claimed descent from Haihaya.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vaidya |first=Chintaman Vinayak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7UkzAQAAMAAJ |title=History of Mediæval Hindu India: Circa 600-800 A.D |date=1921 |publisher=Oriental Book Supplying Agency |language=en}}</ref>{{pn|date=April 2024}}


Several castes and communities in modern India, such as the [[Saini]]s of Punjab Province,<ref>{{cite book |title=People of India: Haryana |page=430 |first1=Kumar Suresh |last1=Singh |first2=Madan Lal |last2=Sharma |first3=A. K. |last3=Bhatia |author1-link=Kumar Suresh Singh |publisher=Manohar Publishers |year=1994}}</ref> [[Ahir]]<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEP-ceGYsnYC&pg=PA91 |title=Peasants and Monks in British India |publisher=University of California Press |date=1996 |first=William R. |last=Pinch |page=91 |isbn=978-0-520-91630-2}}</ref>or [[Yadav]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fe88AAAAMAAJ&q=Yadu | title=History of the Jats | year=1967 | publisher=Jaitly Painting [sic] Press, foreword, 1968 | access-date=1 Aug 2007| page=110}}</ref><ref name="Mitra2005">{{cite book |author=Sudipta Mitra |title=Gir Forest and the Saga of the Asiatic Lion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J0rME6RjC1sC&pg=PA83 |access-date=7 August 2017 |year=2005 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-183-2 |pages=83–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu |first=T. |last=Padmaja |page=34}}</ref> [[Chudasama dynasty|Chudasama]],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EANuAAAAMAAJ&q=chudasama+Yadu |title=Marriage, hierarchy and identity in ideology and practice: an anthropological study of Jhālā Rājpūt society in western India, against a historical background, 1090–1990 A.D. |last=Jhala |first=Jayasinhji |date=1991 |publisher=Harvard University |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=be-7CwAAQBAJ&q=chudasama+Yadu&pg=PA56 |title=Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert |last=Kothiyal |first=Tanuja |date=2016 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-08031-7 |language=en}}</ref> claim descent from Yadu.
According to Historian T Padmaja, the [[Abhira people|Abhiras]] migrated to [[Tamil Nadu]] and established their kingdoms and some of the inscriptions there mentions their descendant from the Yadu lineage.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzgaS1wRnl8C&pg=RA1-PA34|title=Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu|last=Padmaja|first=T.|date=2002|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-398-4|pages=34|language=en}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Samba (Krishna's son)]]
* [[Raghu]]
* [[Ikshvaku]]
* [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]]
* [[Krishna]]
* [[Rama]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Ancient peoples]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indo-Aryan peoples]]
[[Category:Kings in Indian mythology]]
[[Category:Mahabharata]]

Latest revision as of 13:34, 18 November 2025


This article is about Yadu (legendary king). For the historical Rigvedic tribe, see Yadu. For the ancient cowherd clan that claimed descent from Yadu, see Yadava. For the modern community, see Yadav. For the Burmese form of poetry, see Yadu (poetry).

Yadu
SuccessorSahasrajit
TextsRamayana, Mahabharata, Puranas
RegionHastinapura
Personal information
Parents
Siblings
  • Turvasu (brother)
  • Puru, Druhyu, and Anu (step-brothers)
ChildrenSahasrajit, Krosta, Nala, and Ripu
DynastyYaduvamsha

Yadu (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is the founder of the Yadu dynasty in Hinduism.[1] He is described to be the eldest son of King Yayati, and his queen, Devayani.[2] He married five daughters of Nāga king.[3][4]

Legend[edit | edit source]

According to a narrative found in the Mahabharata, and the Vishnu Purana, Yadu refused to exchange his years of youth with his father, Yayati, when the latter was cursed with senility by his father-in-law, Shukra. Thus, he was cursed by Yayati to have his progeny disinherited of the dominion.[5][6] Due to this proclamation, Yadu was replaced by his half-brother, Puru, as the heir to the throne of the Chandravamsha dynasty. Yadu founded his own cadet branch of the dynasty, called the Yaduvamsha.[7]

Descendants[edit | edit source]

The Agni Purana states that Yadu's lineage was continued by his eldest son, Sahasrajit. Sahasrajit had three sons: Haihaya, Renuhaya, and Haya.[8]

A historical dynasty called the Traikutaka claimed descent from Haihaya.[9][page needed]

According to Historian T Padmaja, the Abhiras migrated to Tamil Nadu and established their kingdoms and some of the inscriptions there mentions their descendant from the Yadu lineage.[10]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (18 January 2018). "Yaduvansha, Yaduvaṃśa, Yadu-vansha: 3 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  2. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (29 June 2012). "Yadu, Yādu: 17 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  3. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (14 November 2020). "The Sons of Yadu and Their Conquests [Chapter 38]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  4. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (14 November 2020). "An Account of Haryashva [Chapter 37]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Thapar, Romila (1996) [1978]. Ancient Indian Social History: Some Interpretations (Reprinted ed.). Orient Longman. pp. 268–269. ISBN 81-250-0808-X.
  6. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Yayāti". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  7. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Yadu". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  8. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (15 November 2021). "Description of the dynasty of Yadu (yaduvaṃśa) [Chapter 275]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  9. ↑ Vaidya, Chintaman Vinayak (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: Circa 600-800 A.D. Oriental Book Supplying Agency.
  10. ↑ Padmaja, T. (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu. Abhinav Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-7017-398-4.
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