The Yadus or Yadavas had been one of the five Janas of the ancient India. They played an important part in the field of culture, religion, philosophy, history and development of the sub-continent. They gave thinkers like Yadu, Krishna, his philosophy of Gita, of action and devotion; Neminatha, the twenty-second tirthankara of the Jainas; mighty empires, new pastures upto the Central Asia for the advancement of religion, culture and arts. They carried the vedic ideology and culture to the farthest point of South India. They contributed significantly to the cultural advancement of the North equally, patronised art and culture, defended the country from the foreign onslaughts and established republican system of governance much before the Greeks. They constructed strong forts magnificent palaces, places of worship, canals, dams and roads founded cities and capitals, cultivated new pastures and introduced a system of agriculture and animal husbandry. They were the defenders of various faiths and the country.
The Yadavas have been known by different nominatures or sub-names, such as Cholas, Cheras, Haihayas, Satvatas, Andhakas, Vrsnis, Tundikeras, Pandyas, Kalacuris, Rastrakutas, Jadejas, Palas, Guptas, Abhiras, Ahiras, Idiyans, Wodeyars, Pallavas, Hoysalas, etc., etc. It has been a riddle for the scholars to recognize all these branches of this great community and to give a comprehensive and connected account of the Yadavas of different regions and times. This study is the first attempt to delineate a comprehensive history of the Yadavas from ancient times up to, the modern period. It is a concentrated effort to trace the historical origin of the Yadavas, their expansion, their place in the polity, society and culture, their contribution to different aspects of socia, cultural and agriculture, political and cultural life and trade and industry of the sub-continent. The author after a deep and concentrated study of the Vedas, the Puranas, the Upanisadas, mythology, history and allied literature has produced this scientific study of a people who constitute the single largest community of India. Though the Yadavas have adopted many religions, and even castes, this study focuses its lens mainly on the Yadavas who are 'Hindus'. The area of the study has been mainly the political boundaries of India, though, at times, these have been crossed whenever it was necessary for the topic. The present work is a pioneer study of the subject and shall inspire scholars to use it as a source and reference book. |
