A Historical Glimpse of Yadus ,Yadavas , Yaduvanshis Rajputs of Lunar Race Dynasty in Bharatiya History  

Origin of the Word Rajput 

The KB 4702-4302 (600-1200 A.D ) is a period during which the cultural traditions of ancient Bharata survived on  when politico -cultural , religious-political Invasions were knocking  the door .This period coincides with the emergence of new power ,the “Rajputs “, in Bharatiya history.

The Rajputs were the descendants of ancient Kahatriyas belonging to surya(Solar) and Chandra (Lunar) dynasties."The Rajputs, who came to the front and who , by their heroism diffused such glory on this period of Bharatiya  history could not but have been descendants of Vedic Kshatriyas. None but Vedic Kshatriyas could have fought so valiantly in defence of their ancestral faith. It is ,therefore , natural to infer that those Rajputs were the descendants of ancien Kshatriyas . Their own traditions also declare that they belonged to the well known Surya (Solar )  and Chandra (Lunar) races of Kshatriyas. Thirdly, anthropometric measurements taken at the time of consus of 1901 fully substantiate the claim of Raiputs to Bharatiya  descent" (C.V. Viadya -Early History of Rajputs , p7 ) ." There can be no doubt about the fitness of Rajputs to be classed as Kshatriyas They.were fighters by profession and knew how to shed their blood in defence or the Countary and culture" (Dr D. Sharma - Raj. Through the Ages (p.441).

According to the linguistics the word "Rajput". is derived from 'Rajaputra ' , whach is a very ancient word In Mahabhrata, the word 'Rajputra' has been  mentioned as synonym of Kshatriya as in the following:

Etai Rukmaratha Nama Rajputra Maharatha l
Ratheswastresu Nipuna Nagesucha.Vimsapate ll -

Bhaikshyachrya Tatah Prahustasya (Shudrasya ) Sadharmcharinah ,
Tatha Vaishyasya Rajendra Rajputrasya Chaiva hi .
- Mah , Shanti Parva, Ch. 64.

Panini, the author of Sanskrit grammar also used 'Rajaputra' as a synonym of Kshatriya. (Panini Ashtadhayayee - 4-2-39 and 4-2-41).

After the occupation of Bhárata by Hunas, Shakas, Kushans etc., the Vedic Kshatriyas retained their identity with the word Rajaputra (Rajaput) because these foreign invaders started calling themselves Kshatriyas by merging in the main stream of our country. When these Rajaputras got an opportunity to grab power, they did not miss it and occupied the power under the nomenclature'Rajput'; this is how they were commonly addressed by the masses .

 This period of Bhãratiya history from KB 3702-4302 (600-1200 AD) is an epoch of great many events and kingdothe cultural unity of Bharata remained intact. This is more significant from the point of view of art, architecture and literature.

During this period, we see the rise and fall of Lohanas, Sumras, Rais and Sodhas in Sindh, Nagvanshis and the Karkotas in Kashmir; the dynasty of Katocha's in Trigart (part of Punjab and part of modern Himachal Pradesh); the Chandra Vamsas (Lunar races) of Rampur Bushahar and Kullu etc. of modern Himachal; the Tomars of Delhi; the Rashtrakutas (Rathors) of Kannauj; the Gahadwals of Varanasi; the Ujjainis and Bachchagotis of Bihar; the Pals and Sens of Bengal; the Rajbanshi of Kooch Bihar and Assam; the Ahoms of Assam;

Druhyvanshi of Tripura; the Kesari's, the Somvanshi, the Gangavanshi, the Sulkis of Orissa; the Pratihars, the Parmars of Kannauj and Malwa; the Kachchapghatas (Kachchwahas) of Narwar and Gwalior; the Chahamans of Ajmer; the Bhatis of Jaisalmer; the Guhilots of Mewad; the Chalukyas of Gujarat; the Jadejas of Kachch and Jam Nagar; the Jhalas, the Mohils of Saurashtra; the Kakatiyas of Warangal; the Rashtra-kuts of Maharashtra and Daccan; the Chols and Pandyas of Dakshin Bharata etc.

Inspite of so many kingdoms and dynasties, Bhãrata remained united through the strong threads of Bháratiya culture. A glimpse of one of the important  Yaduvanshis /Yadava  ( Jadons ) Lunar Race Rajput Dynasty being given here--

 Classicaly ,Yadu ,or Yadava , - a tribe of Rajputs of the Chandravanshi division , who  profess to trace their origin in a direct line from Lord Shri Krishna .The Yadus are a well known historical clan . Tod says that Yadu was the most illustrious of all the tribes . It is not clear , even according to legendary tradition , what ,if any ,connection the Yadus had with Buddha , but Krishna is held to have a prince of this tribe and founded Dwaraka in Gujarat with them ,in which locality he is afterwards supposed to have been killed .

Bhattis of Jaisalmer--

Tod states that the Yadu after the death of Krishna , the deified hero of this dynasty and their expulsion from Dwaraka , many of them ,including two of his sons ,proceeded northwards beyond the Indus and settled there . One of their descendants,  Gaj ,  is said to have built a fort called Gajni ( identified by Tod as the Ghazni of Afghanistan ,but believed by Cunningham to be in the vicinity of Rawalpindi ) ; but being defeated and killed in a battle with the king of Khorasan , his followers were driven southward into Punjab , where Salivahan established a new capital, which he called after himself , and which has been identified with Sialkot . This chief subsequently defeated the Indo-Scythians in a decisive battle near Kahror ,within 60 miles of Multan .So great was the fame of this victory that the conqueror assumed the title of Sakari ,or ‘foe of the Sakas (Scythians ) , and further to commemorate the event established the Saka era from the date of the battle ( A.D.78 ) ,an epoch which is still in general use throughout India .Salivahan’s grandson , Bhatti ,was a renowned warrior who conquered many of the neighbouring chiefs  ,and form him the tribe now takes the name of Bhatti Jadon  .Subsequently , the Bhatis were gradually driven southwards till ,crossing the Sutlej , they took refuge in the Indian desert which has since been their home.

Here they came into contact withvarious Rajputs clans , such as the Butas and Chunns ( both extinct ) , the Barahas ( now Musalmans ) ,the Langahas ,and Sodhas and Lodras ( both branches of Parmaras ) .Their first capital was Tannote  still in Jaisalmer territory ,which was founded about the middle of the eighth century ,but being ousted from this ,Deoraj ,the first chief to assume the title of Rawal , built Deogarh or Deorawar in 853 A.D, now called Derawar in Bahawalpur territory , and established himself there .Shortly afterwards , the capital was changed to Lodorva , an immense city with twelve gates taken from the Lodra Rajputs  ,the ruins of which lie 10 miles west –by –north of Jaisalmer town was , however , ill adapted for defence , so Jaisal sought for a stronger place and founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer in 1156 The chief has the title of Maharawal .

Bhattis are paramount in Jaisalmer ,Bikaner ,Jodhpur .They form a large part of the population of certain parts of Punjab ,Hariyana and Uttar Pradesh .Bhattis are undoubtedly related etymologically to the Jadons but have now overshadowed the parent stem by their numerical importance.Bhattis are also found in Nahan and Rampur Bushahar states in Himachal Pradesh.

Jadhavas of Devagiri-

At a later date a Yadava kingdom existed in the Deccan , with its capital at Devagiri or Daultabad and its territory lying between that place and Nasik  .Mr Smith states that these Yadava kings were descendants of feudatory nobles of the Chalukya kingdom , which embraced parts of western India and also Gujrat .

The last quarter of the 12th century AD the Yadavas of Devagiri came into prominence. They had previously been ruling over Seunadesha (Khandesh) as feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The founder of the family was Dridhaprahara, the son of Subahu. His capital was Shrinagara as stated in the Vratakhanda, while from an early inscription it appears to have been Chandradityapura, which is identified with the modern Chandor in the Nasik district. His son and successor was Seunachandra, from whom the country ruled over by him came to be known as Seunadesha. This corresponds to modern Khandesh. It comprised the country extending from Nasik to Devagiri.King Seunachandra established city called Seunpur/Sindiner (sinnar). From a stone inscription found at Anjaneri near Nasik it appears that there was a minor branch of the Yadava family ruling at Anjaneri.

Seunadeva of this branch made some grant to a Jain temple. Seunadeva calls himself Mahasamanta and evidently was dependent on the main branch. This family ruled over a small district of which Anjaneri was the chief city. there were many noteworthy rulers in the Yadava dynasty . In 1294 AD Ala-ud-din Khalji invaded the kingdom of Ramachandra and suddenly appeared before the gates of Devagiri. Ramachandra was taken unawares and could not hold out long. He had to pay a heavy ransom to the Muslim conqueror. He continued, however, to rule till 1310 AD at least; for the aforementioned Purushottampuri plates are dated in that year. He was succeeded by his son Shankaragana some time in 1311 AD. He discontinued sending the stipulated tribute to Delhi. He was then defeated and slain by Malik Kafur. Some time thereafter, Harapaladeva, the son-in-law of Ramachandra, raised an insurrection and drove away the Muhammedans, but his success was short-lived. The Hindu kingdom of Devagiri thus came to an end in 1318 AD. 

Chudasamas,Sarvaiyas and Rayzadas-

The modern traditions of the Chúdásamá clan trace their origin to the Yadava race and more immediately to the Samma tribe of Nagar Thatha in Sindh. The name of the family is said to have been derived from Chúdáchandra the first ruler of Vanthali.

The date of the Chúdásamá settlement at Vanthalf is usually fixed on traditional evidence, at about A.D. 875, but there is reason to think that this date is rather too early. In the first place it is worthy of notice that Chúdichandra, the traditional eponym of the family, is in the Tuhfat-ul-Kirám made a son of Jádam (Yádava) and only a great-grandson of Krishna himself, a fact which suggests that, if not entirely mythical, he was at all events a very distant ancestor of Múlaraja's opponent Grahári, and was not an actual ruler of Vanthalif. As regards Grahári's father Visvavaráha and his grandfather Múlarája, there is no reason to doubt that they were real persons, although it is very questionable whether the Chúdásamás were settled in Káthiáváda in their time. In the first place, the Morbi grant of Jáikadeva shows that the Jethvás had not been driven southwards before A.D. 907.

Secondly Dharanivaráha's Vadhván grant proves that the Chápa family of Bhinmal were still supreme in Kathiáváda in A.D. 914: whereas the Tarikh-i-Tahiri's account of the Chúdásamá conquest of Kacch implies that the Cháwaras, who must be identified with the Chapas of Bhinmal, were losing their power when the Chúdásamás captured Gúntri, an event which must have preceded the settlement at Vantball in Kathiáváda. Beyond the fact that maharaja Solanki transferred the capital to Anahilaváda in A.D. 942, we know nothing of the events which led to the break-up of the Bhinmal empire. But it is reasonable to suppose that between A.D. 920 and 940 the Chápas gradually lost ground and the Chúdásamás were able first to conquer Sindh and then to settle in Kathiyawad.

Jadejah of Kutch & Bhuj-

The Jareja Rajputs of Sind and Kutch are another branch of the Yadus . They now claim descent from Jamshid , the Persian hero , and on this account , Colonel Tod states , the title of their rulers is Jam .The Jam Lakha Phulani , son of Jara ,from whom the clan takes it's name.Lakha is said to have completed the conquest of Kutch in the year 1320A.D.Their states are Jamnagar ,Morvi ,Dhrol ,Rajkot , Gondal ,Virpur ,Kotda , Sangani and 13 Chieftains shiks like Bhadwa ,Pal , Khirasara etc.

Yaduvanshi Wodiyars Rajputs of Mysore-

The origion is traced to the heroes of a chivalrous exploit ,Vijayaraj and Krishnaraj ,two young Kshatriyas   of Yaduvanshi lunar race  came to the South in very early times from Dwarka in Kathiawar .Of these   ,appear to have settled in the Ashtragram division of the Mysore dominions towards the close of the 14th century .On arriving at Hadi-nad or Hada-nad ( called Hadana by Wilkes , but now known as Hadinaru ) , a few miles south-east of the present city of Mysore  , they learned that the chief of the place * who was also a Kshatriya of Yadava descent had wandered away in a state of mental derangement ; and that the neighbouring chief of Karugahalli ,who was of inferior caste  ,taking advantage of the defence less condition of the family , had demanded the only daughter of the house in marriage .

To this , a consent had been given under compulsion , and arrangement unwillinghly made for the ceremony .The two brothers espoused the cause of the distressed maidan , and having secreated themselves with some followers , fell upon the chirf and his retinue while seated at the banquet and slew them .Marching at once on Karugahalli they surprised it , and returned in triumph to Hadanad .The girl became the willing bride of Vijayaraj who took the title of ODEYAR or WODEYAR ( Lords ) and assumed the Government of Hadanad and Karugahalli .

One Suradevaraya , a descendant of Bhojaraya of the Yadava dynastry ruling in Muttra (Mathura ) came to the country of Karnatic and established a principality in Mysore through the blessings of Chamundeswari Devi.The gotra of this family was Gautama (Ramakrishna Rao , Annals of Mysore ,Part I,P.6 to 7 ).

Yadavas / Yaduvanshis. of Bayana-Tahangarh- Karauli and United Provinces-
     
 The name Yadu has in other parts of India been corrupted into Jadon .But the title of Jadon is now exclusively applied to the tribe which appears never  to have strayed far from the limits of the ancient Suraseni , and they consequently find them still in considerable numbers in that neighbourhood  .Tod gives the pre-eminence among Rajputs clans to the Jadons ar Jadus or Jaduvansis as they are indifferently called.They claim descent from Buddha ,and ultimately  from the moon ,as they pride in calling themselves of Lunar race.That the Jadons were at a very early period of their history one of the leading clan s in Upper India is evident from their wide distribution and the traces of their power which are still to be found .Anterior to the Christian era ,they were the rulers in and about Delhi ,Muttra and the sacred shrine of Dwaraka ,and they appear to have met the Greek Invasion with courage but not with  much success.In the present day they are the ruling race in the small Rajput state Karauli .Raja of Karauli is the head of the great Jadon clan .

Probably the first historical personage in the pedigree is Bijaipala , who built the fort of Bayana in 995 A.d.Arjun Deo ,in 1348A.D , established the State and founded the karauli town in Rajputana .The large tract South of the Chambal , called after them Yaduvati or Jaduvati .The state of Karauli on the Chambal is now their chief independent possession The family banner is coloured yellow .The Karauli family all bear the distinguishing appellation of ‘Pal ‘ in token that they , as descendants of Shri Krishna , are Protectors  (Pal ) of cow , where the Lion ( Singh ) does not respect the sacred animal .

Some of the tribe , or at least professedly of the tribe , are Zamindars in the United Provinces –as the proprietors of the Talukas of Awa-Misa in Jalesar paragana , Umargarh , Okhara ,Narkhi ,Neemkhera ,Jaundhari in Etah district ,Somna,Birpura ,Gabhana, Kora-Rustampur ,  Ashrafpur Jalal ,Mangrauli ,  Panchon ,Baranadi , Banwaripur in Aligarh , and Kotila in firojabad pargana formerly in Agra district .These are many of them also found in Fattehabad and Shumsabad of Agra , Mustafabad and Ghiror in Mainpuri ; Suhar and Arecny in Muttra , Sohnuh in Gungaon ; and in Kole , Hasangarh , Gorai ,Jalali , Akrabad ,Sikandra rao and Khair in Aligarh .They are considered spirited farmers .The Jadons of Jewar in  Bulhandshahr are distinguished by the title of Chhokarzada .Porch ,Bangars , Baresiri  , Jaiswar and Jasawat  are self-styled Jadons are found in some regions of Agra ,Mathura and poarch Jadons  in Mendu ,Hasayan ,Daryapur in Hathras district .The jadons are also found in some districts of Bundelkhand like Mahoba ,Banda ,Hamirpur ,Jalaun , Etawa , Kanpur and Kaushambi  etc.They are also found in Munger ,Bhagalpur , Banka districts of Bihar .

Gurgaon , with the rest of the territory known as Mewat , formed in early  times part of an extensive kingdom ruled over by Rajputs of the Jaduvansi or Jadon tribe .The Jadon power was broken by Muhammad Ghori in1196A.D; but for two centuries they sturdily resited the Muhammadan domination , and the history of the district is a record of incursions of the people of Mewat into Delhi territory and of punitive expeditions undertaken against them .Under Firoz Shah III the Jadons were converted to Islam ; and Bahadur Khan or Bahadur Nahar took a prominent part in the intesting struggles that followed the invasion of Timur , founding the family of the Khanzadas , members of which ruled Mewat in partial independence of the Delhi empire .Babar annexed Mewat , and from this time the power of the Kkanzadas rapidly decline . Jadons are also found in Hosangabad ,whither they emigranted after Akber,s conquests on the Narmada . Several of the Jat tribes are also said to be Jadons and the Sinsinwar jats of Bharatpur are predominant among them one.

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Auther- Dr. Dhirendra Singh Jadaun 
Village- Larhota 
Distt.- Hathras (U.P) 
Principal- Govt Girls College, Sawai Madhopur (Raj) 322001