'Yadav' (
Sanskrit: यादव) is an
Indian caste that claims descent from the clan of
Yadu. Yadavas have been mentioned as one of the ancient Vedic
panchjanya tribes in ancient Dharmic texts.
Yadavs mostly follow
Dharmic religion, and are located in different parts of
India,
Nepal, and
Bangladesh. Traditionally, the Yadavs are classified under the
Kshatriya varna in Hinduism. The Yadavs have been included in the
Other Backward Classes (OBC) category by several state governments in India.
[1]
Origins
In
Hindu mythology, Yadvas are described as the descendants of
Yadu, the eldest son of King
Yayati, whose father removed him from the succession because he rebelled against Yayati's wishes. Yadu and his descendants started ruling in places that are assumed to be referred to in the Hindu scriptures as
Jambudvipa. Later on, the Yadus overthrew many
Puru rulers. According to the
Bhagvad Gita, Yadavas were possessors of great mystical knowledge, as far back as
Manu, and much knowledge was also given to
Surya and
Ikshavaku in far ancient times. According to Dharmic mythology,
Jarasandh,
Kamsa's father-in-law, and king of
Magadha attacked Yadavas to avenge the killing of Kansa. Yadavas had to shift their capital from Mathura (central Aryavart) to
Dwaraka (on the western coast of Aryavart) on the the
Sindhu.
Abhira, which is considered to be a subgroup of Yadava caste today, is assumed to be different from ancient Yadavas. Linkage is obscure and views vary from scholar to scholar. The term was used for cowherds initially but has been extended to include Yaduvanshi and Nandavanshis too by its corrupt version Ahir. Abhira means "fearless" and appear in most ancient historical references dating back to the
Abhira kingdom of the
Saraswati Valley, who spoke Abhiri until the Buddhist period.
[2] Analysis of Hindu scriptural references of the Abhira kingdoms has led some scholars to conclude that it was merely a term used for Holy Yadava Kingdoms. In
Bhagavatam, the
Gupta dynasty has been alled Abhir.
[3]
Stephen Knapp seeks a connection between Yadavas and
Jews. According to him, the
Greeks referred to the Jews as Judeos, or Jah deos or Yadavas, meaning people of Ya or descendants of Yadu, one of the sons of Yayati.
[4]
Ancient Yadava Kingdoms
The modern Yadavas are often linked to
Krishna and several ruling families, such as the ancient kings of
Prayag, the
Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri,the
Vijayanagar kings, the
Nandas, the
Wodeyars of
Mysore, and the
Holkars of Indore.
Through numerous
political parties such as the
Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Republic), Janata Dal (Communal) and Makkal Tamil Desam (
Tamil Nadu), the Yadavs have considerable political influence, especially in the North Indian states of
Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar.
[5] Laloo yadav became the chief minister of bihar and mulayam singh in UP.
Subgroups and clans
Many groups and clans claiming desecent from the ancient
Yadu clan call themselves Yadavs. The major clans among these are:
★
Ahirs (variously called Ahira and Abhira) are divided into clans called ''Khanap'':
★
★ Nandavanshi (Descendants of
Nanda}
★
★ Gwalvanshi (Descendants of
Holy Gwals)
★
★ Dadhor
★
Behera,
Pradhans in Orissa
★ Bhatrajus (
Andhra Pradesh)
★
Dhangars (in
Maharashtra and
Karnataka), divided into 32 clans
★ Edayar (Tamil Nadu)
★ Gaurs (also called ''Goriya'', and mentioned in the
Mahabharata)
★ Gawlis
★ Gouda (Orissa)
★ Jadam
★ Jadon
★
Kalchuri
★
Konars (in
Tamil Nadu and
Kerala)
★
Kurubas or Gollas (in
Karnataka)
★ Krishnauth (claiming direct lineage from
Lord Shri Krishna)
★
Kurubas (
Karnataka)
★
Maniyani (in
Kerala)
★ Manjrauth (linked with Jarasandh)
★ Pradhans
★ Puhanian
★ Rauts
★
Sadgops (in
Bengal)
★ Souryasaini
★ Saini
★ Surabhirs
★
Surasena
★
Taljunghi
★ Thatte
★
Yadavas
★ Yadavulu
★ Yaduvanshi Rajputs
★
★
Jadejas
★
★
Bhattis
Notable Yadavs
:Shree Raje Ratnasing Jadhavrao , Shree Raje Krushnasing
:Shrimant Namdar Sardar Raje Shambhusing Amarsing ewffgJadhavrao
:Shrimant Sau Khashibaisaheb Jadhavrao The Queen of Malegaon
'Mythology'
★
Krishna
★
Neminatha, The 22nd Teerthankar of Jains & cousin of Krishna
★
Vasudeva, father of Krishna
★
Kartavirya_Arjuna (Emperor of Mahismati, also known as Shasrabahu)
★
Kunti, sister of Vasudeva and mother of
Pandavas and
Karna
★
Kansa, a
tyrannical king of
Mathura, who was killed by Krishna
★ Ugrasen, the father of Kansa
'Historical'
★
Kanakadasa
★
Rao Tula Ram (1857 freedom fighter)
★
Pran Sukh Yadav (fought along with Rao Tula Ram Yadav at Nasibpur)
Some scholars, such as
Robert Sewell believe that the rulers of
Vijayanagara Empire were
Kurubas (also known as Yadavas). Many ruling
Rajput clans of India traced their origin to the Yaduvanshi lineage, a major branch of the
Chandravanshi Kshatriyas. These include the
Banaphars and the
Jadejas. The
Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri also claimed descent from the clan of
Krishna, although various experts have put alternative theories about their origin.
Some early inscriptions, dated 1078 and 1090, have implied that the
Hoysalas of Mysore were also the descendants of the original Yadava clan, by referring to the Yadava ''vamsa'' (clan) as Hoysala ''vamsa''. But there are no records directly linking the Hoysalas to the Yadavas of North India.
[6]
The founder of the
Wodeyar dynasty, Vijaya, also claimed descent from the
Yadu and took on the name Yadu-Raya.
'Politics'
★
Akhilesh Yadav, politician
★
Baleshwar Yadav, politician
★
B.P. Mandal, chair of
Mandal commission and Former Chief Minister of Bihar
★
Babulal Gaur (Former Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh)
★
Chandrapal Singh Yadav, politician
★
Chitra Lekha Yadav, politician
★
Dharam Pal Yadav, criminal turned politician
[7]
★
Devendra Singh Yadav, politician
★
Giridhari Yadav, politician
★
Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav, politician
★
Kailash Nath Singh Yadav
★
Karan Singh Yadav, politician
★
Lalu Prasad Yadav,
RJD chief
★
M. Anjan Kumar Yadav, politician
★
Mulayam Singh Yadav,
Samajwadi Party chief
★
Nand Kishore Yadav, cabinet minister in
Bihar
★
Rabri Devi, former Chief Minister of Bihar (wife of Lalu Prasad)
★
Ramakant Yadav, politician
★
Rambaran Yadav, politician
★
Ram Gopal Yadav, politician
★
Ram Kripal Yadav, politician
★
Ram Singh Yadav, politician
★
Sadhu Yadav, politician
★
Sitaram Yadav, politician
★
Suresh Kalmadi, Indian politician
★
Pappu Yadav, former
RJD politician
★
Umakant Yadav, politician
★
Upendra Yadav, politician
★
Rao Birender Singh,Former C.M. Haryana.
★
Rao Inderjit Singh,M.O.S
★
Rao Balbir Singh , politician
★
Raghu Yadav, politician
★
Dr. Jaswant Singh Yadav, politician
★
Deep Narayan Yadav, politician
'Yadavs of Andhra Pradesh'
★ Raghu Veera Reddy (Minister for Agriculture,Govt. of Andhra pradesh)
★ Dr.A.Chakrapani,Chairman of A.P.Legislative council.
★ Gopinadh.M.L.C.
★ R.Reddappa reddy.M.L.C.
★ Kasani Narayana (Freedom Fighter and Former M.L.A Jangaon, Warangal Dist.-www.kasani.org)
★ Sangamreddy satyanarayana (Former Minister Warangal Dist.)
★ Sri Kanjerla Lakshmi Narayana Yadav (Ex- Minister, A.P. and Founder and Chairman,GITAS)
★ Sri Bandaru Dattatreya (Former M.P. and Present state B.J.P President,A.P.)
★ Janga krishnamurthy (M.L.A,I.N.C.-Guntur dt. )
★ Mudraboina Venkateswara Rao (M.L.A. I.N.C from Gannavaram, Krishna dt.)
★ Kolusu Pardha Saradhi (M.L.A. I.N.C from Vuyyuru, Krishna dt.A.P.)
★ Yanamala Rama Krishnudu (Former finance Minister of A.P. & Former speaker of assembly-T.D.P.)
★ Chenchu Ramaiah-Former M.L.A-I.N.C,Udayagiri,Nellore(Dist.)
★ Chanchal babu Yadav-Former Z.P.Chairperson,Nellore-Dist.
★ Jaipal Yadav (Former M.L.A-T.D.P,Kalwakurthy,Mahbubnagar Dist.)
★ Nomula Narsimhaiah{M.L.A, C.P.M, Nakrekal Nalgonda dt.}
★ Gundeboina Rammurthy Yadav (Former MLA Chalakurty, Nalgonda, AP)
★ Papaiah Yadav (Former minister,Nalgonda Dist.-I.N.C)
★ Dr.Paleti Rama Rao Yadav-Former Minister,Chirala,Prakasham-Dist.
★ Katari Eswar Kumar (Former minister,Krishna-Dist.-I.N.C)
★ C.Krishna Yadav-Former Minister
★ Talasani Srinivas Yadav (Former Minister A.P.)
★ Palla Simhachalam (Former M.L.A.,Andhra pradesh)
★ Ramakrishna (Former M.L.A.,Anantapur dt.A.P.-C.P.I)
★ Anjan kumar Yadav (M.P. Secunderabad.A.P.)
★ S.Ramachandra Reddy (former M.P. Hindupur Anantapur dt.)
★ Parthasaradhy ( former M.P. Hindupur Anantapur dt.)
★ Kolusu Pedda Reddiah (former M.P. from Machilipatnam Krishna dt. Andhra pradesh)
★ kukkala Nageswara Rao (Zilla parishad chair person,Krishna dt. Andhra pradesh)
★ Katam Aruna (Zilla parishad chairperson, prakasham dt.A.P.)
★ Karumuri Nageswararao (Zilla parishad chairperson West Godavari)
★ R V Ramana Krishna Yadav (Founder Sattabharat, India)
★ Sri Danduboyina Peraiah (Former M.L.A., Andhra Pradesh)
★ Sri Katari Satyanarayan Rao Yadav (Former M.L.A., Andhra Pradesh)
'Military'
★
Namdev Jadav(Victoria Cross recipient)
★
Pran Sukh Yadav, military commander in Anglo-Sikh wars
★
Umrao Singh(Victoria Cross recipient, World War II, Burma Front)
★
Yogendra Singh Yadav (
Param Vir Chakra recipient, Kargil War)
★
Babru Bhan Yadav (
Maha Vir Chakra recipient, 1971 Indo-Pak War)
★
Dr K Sanjeeva Rayudu Yadav (
Capt AMC Army Doctor and Professor of Surgery Indo-China War)
'Sports'
★
Abhishek Yadav, India National football striker/Mumbai FC Striker
★
Hemulal Yadav, cricketer
★
Jai Prakash Yadav, cricketer
★
Jyoti Yadav, cricketer
★
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, India's first individual Olympic medalist
★
Shivlal Yadav, cricket player
★
Vijay Yadav, cricket player
★
Dharmendra Yadav, Boxer 1990 Commonwealth Medal winner
★
Simhachalam, billiards &snooker player of andhra pradesh and also a international referee in billiards
'Artists / Writers'
★
Poonam Yadav (
Singer )
★
Anand Yadav (
Marathi writer)
★
Parbhu Dayal Yadav, artisan
★
Raghubir Yadav (Film Actor)
★
Rajendra Yadav (
Hindi novelist and Editor of "HANS")
★
Rajpal Yadav (Film Actor)
'Other'
★ Mrinal Yadava (Drummer, Borrowed Season)
★
Santosh Yadav, mountain climber
★
Swami Ramdev (Yoga Teacher )
★ Dr. Jhillu Singh Yadav, Director, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (Hyderabad)
★ Dr. M. Gopalakrishna Yadav, Former CMD Indian Bank, Politician (Chennai)
★ K.R.KASIYADAV POLITICIAN (RJD)TAMILNADU
★ G.RAVIYADAV (SUPER PRINTING PRESS) CHENNAI
★ S.SAKTHUKUMARYADAV (JAYAVARSHINI ENTERPRISES) TIRUNELVELI
Footnotes and references
1. Commission for Other Backward Classes
2. http://www.viewzone.com/matlock.html
3. http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/articles/33_two_more.htm
4. http://www.stephen-knapp.com/death_of_the_aryan_invasion_theory.htm
5. http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan162006/editpage1617482006115.asp
6. Calling it poetic fancy, William Coelho, author of ''Hoysala Vamsa'', 1950, argues that there is no evidence of even a tradition that traces back their lineage to one of Northern origin. S.U. Kamath argues that it was a common practice in royal families of medieval South India to build puranic genealogies-Suryanath U. Kamath, ''A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present'', 2001, Jupiter books, MCC, (Reprinted 2002), p122
7. Who is D P Yadav? A Dossier
External links
★
Yadav Network
★
Family Tree: The Descendants of Pururava
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