Yaudheya

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Yaudheya (Brahmi script: š‘€¬š‘…š‘€„š‘‚š‘€¬) or Yoddheya Gana (Yoddheya Republic) was an ancient military ganasangha (republic) based in the Eastern region of the Sapta Sindhu, in modern day Haryana. The word Yaudheya is a derivative of the word from yodha meaning warriors[2][3] and according to Pāį¹‡ini, the suffix '-ya', was significant of warrior tribes,[4] which is supported by their resistance to invading empires such as the Kushan Empire and the Indo-Scythians.[5] Rudradaman I of the Western Satraps notes in his Junagadh rock inscription that the Yaudheyas were 'heroes among all Kshatriya' and 'were loath to surrender'. They were noted as having a republic form of government, unique from other Janapadas which instead maintained monarchies.[6]

Geography

According to Anant Sadashiv Altekar, numismatic evidence indicates that the territorial dominion of the Yaudheyas extended from Bahawalpur in the South-West to Ludhiana in the North-West, encompassing Delhi in the South-East and Saharanpur in the East.[7] However, his research suggests that the Yaudheyas comprised not just one unified entity, but rather three separate republics. In addition to the aforementioned region, another republic was situated in Northern Rajasthan while a further one existed in Northern PaƱcāla.[8] He describes the capital as being situated in modern-day Rohtak.[9]

The Bijayagarh pillar inscription of the Yaudheyas, discovered in the Bharatpur district, also serves as further evidence that reinforces the Yaudheyas establishing and maintaining territory within Northern Rajasthan.[10] According to Alexander Cunningham the Yaudheyas likely had a significant presence in southern Rajasthan during the Western Satraps invasion, suggesting that contact between the two would not have been possible otherwise.[11]

History

Vedic era

File:Late Vedic Culture (1100-500 BCE).png
Late Vedic Culture (1100-500 BCE)

The Yaudheyas emerged as an entity following the decline of the Kuru Kingdom (c. 1200 BCEā€“c. 525 BCE). The Yaudheyas would eventually encompass the land formerly belonging to the Kurus, including their former capitals Indraprastha, Hastinapur, and ĀsandÄ«vat. The Kuru Kingdom which was the prominent power in the Vedic age fell in importance when compared to the other Mahajanapadas.

The earliest references of the existence of the Yaudheyas is in Pāį¹‡ini's Ashtadhyayi (V.3.116-17 and IV.1.178) of (c.500 BCE) and the Ganapatha. In his works the Yaudheyas are mentioned as ayudha-jivin sanghas i.e., a community living by the profession of arms.[2]

Mauryan Empire (4th BCE - 2nd BCE)

File:Yaudheya on coinage.jpg
The name "Yaudheya" (Brahmi script: š‘€¬š‘…š‘€„š‘‚š‘€¬) on coinage

The Yaudheyas were incorporated into the Maurya Empire by Chandragupta Maurya. They also annexed the Pauravas. Chandragupta, under the tutelage of Chanakya, won over local kingdoms and republics in Punjab before conquering the Nanda Empire. Chandragupta heavily relied on the Yaudheya Gana in his campaigns.[12] His military had a high representation of the Yaudheya Gana and similar republicans. Additionally, Yaudheya elites and chiefs were appointed in imperial positions.

File:Bijayagadh inscription of the Yaudheyas.jpg
Bijayagadh inscription of the Yaudheyas. The undated inscription reads "Perfection has been attained! Of the Maharaja and Mahasenapati, who has been made the leader of the Yaudheya tribe,... and having asked the settlement, headed by the Brahmins, as to the health of (their) bodies etc..., writes "There is ....."."[13]

As recorded in the Bijoygarh inscription commissioned around Ashoka's reign, the Yaudheya-gana-puraskrta appointed a chief who held the title of Maharaja-Senapati.[12] This chief of the Yaudheya republic was appointed the Mahasenapati (Field Marshal) for the Mauryan Army. The Arthashastra written by Chanakya described the field marshal as adept in all modes of warfare (sarvayudha), all weapons (praharana), possessing modesty and restraint (vidyavinita), and capable of controlling all four wings of the army (chaturangini sena).

Indo-Greek Empire (c. 150 BCE - c. 100 BCE)

Following the decline of the Mauryan Empire the Western Punjab was captured by the Indo-Greek Kingdom. However, it was not until the reign of Menander I that the Eastern Punjab supposedly came under their dominion. Subsequently, a series of conflicts ensued between the Indo-Greek successors and various Eastern Punjab republican entities. The Trigarta Kingdom, for instance, minted their own coins, indicating their independent status. Meanwhile, the Yaudheyas and Arjunayanas emerged victorious through military prowess, achieving triumph through the sword which is stated on their minted coinage.[14]

File:Yaudheya coinage circa 2nd century CE.jpg
Coinage of the Yaudheyas circa 2nd century CE[15]

Western Satraps (2nd century CE)

File:SixHeadedKarttikeyaYaudheyaCoin.jpg
Six-headed Karttikeya (Shanmukha Karttikeya) on a Yaudheya coin, 1-2nd century CE. British Museum.[1]

During the second century CE, the Yaudheya gana confronted the Indo-Scythians but they were defeated by Rudradaman I.[16]

The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman (c. 150 CE)[17] acknowledged the military might of the Yaudheyas "who would not submit because they were proud of their title "heroes among the Kshatriyas"", although the inscription claims that they were ultimately vanquished by Rudradaman.[18][19]

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Rudradaman (...) who by force destroyed the Yaudheyas who were loath to submit, rendered proud as they were by having manifested their' title of' heroes among all Kshatriyas.

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Alexander Cunningham proposes that Rudradaman's victory over the Yaudheyas was likely plundering expedition rather than a claim of political control, as he does not assert their territory as part of his own kingdom.[21]

Kushan Empire (c.130 CE - c.180 CE)

File:Huvishka Maaseno.jpg
Coin of Kushan ruler Huvishka (152-192 CE), featuring Maaseno, the incarnation of the Karttikeya of the Yaudheyas

It is thought that the Kushans then became suzerains of the Yaudheyas when they endeavored to hold the Mathura area.[22] An indication is the fact that the Kushan ruler Huvishka featured Maaseno on his coins, the Kushan incarnation of the Hindu god Karttikeya, or Skanda, whose epithet was "Mahasena". This god being particularly important to the Yaudheyas, it may have been incorporated into Kushan coinage when the Kushans expanded into Yaudheya territory.[23][22]

In Kanishka's rock Rabatak inscription, he describes campaigning into "the realm of the kshatriyas" in India, which presumably includes the Yaudheya's territories. Furthermore, Kanishka refers to commissioning statue of various local Iranian and Indian deities, including the deity Mahasena or Mahaseno (Kartikeya) which was the chief deity of the Yaudheyas and was often depicted in their coinage.

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(Line 4) In the year one it has been proclaimed unto India, unto the *whole of the realm of the *kshatriyas..."

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Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".According to R. C. Majumdar, approximately 180 CE, the Yaudheyas, in conjunction with other Janapadas situated in the Cis-Sutlej region, such as the Arjunayanas and Kunindas, played a crucial role in dealing a significant blow to the Kushans.[24] As a result, the Kushans ceased to have a presence in the Eastern Punjab. Numismatic evidence further supports this claim, as Yaudheyan coins proudly commemorate this victorious event. Notably, these coins exhibit a distinctive feature wherein the Kushan Kharosthi script is replaced by the Brahmi script, emphasising the significance of the triumph.[25] Yaudheya coinage from the post Kushan period extend to modern day Himachal Pradesh with a large hoard excavated in Kangra, indicating their rule over the region.[26]

File:Yaudheya in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.jpg
"Yaudhēya" in the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta (350-375 CE)[27]

Gupta Empire

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The Yaudheyas are mentioned in the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, a ruler of the Gupta Empire. According to historical records, the Yaudheyas acknowledged the authority of Samudragupta and submitted to his rule, however this submission appears to have occurred without any armed resistance. Upinder Singh, a historian, notes that there is no specific mention of the Yaudheyas providing troops to Samudragupta, suggesting that their relationship with the empire was relatively loose.[28] Notably, Samudragupta's successful military campaigns in the regions of Āryāvarta and Dakshinapatha greatly enhanced his reputation. It is believed that his conquests and the resulting fame were significant factors in persuading frontier rulers and tribes, including the Yaudheyas, to submit to his authority willingly, without engaging in any hostilities.[29]

This particular period marked the gradual disintegration of the Yaudheya republic.

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(Lines 22ā€“23) (Samudragupta, whose) formidable rule was propitiated with the payment of all tributes, execution of orders and visits (to his court) for obeisance by such frontier rulers as those of Samataį¹­a, įøŒavāka, KāmarÅ«pa, Nēpāla, and Kartį¹›ipura, and, by the Mālavas, Ārjunāyanas, Yaudhēyas, Mādrakas, ĀbhÄ«ras, Prārjunas, SanakānÄ«kas, Kākas, Kharaparikas and other (tribes)."

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Literature

Puranas (e.g. Brahmanda, Vayu, Brahma and Harivamsha) described Yaudheyas as the descendants of Uśīnara and Nrigu.[30]

There are other references to them namely in the Mahabharata, Mahamayuri, Brihatsamhita, Puranas, Chandravyakarana and Kashika.

In the Mahabharata, the land Bahudhanyaka is stated to be among the countries subjugated by Nakula, the fourth Pandava. Bahudhanyaka was the first to fall to Nakulas conquest in of the western direction toward Sakastan, which agrees with the Rohtak-Hisar area.[31]

Varahamihira in his Brihatsamhita (XIV.28 and XVI.22) placed them in the northern division of India.

They are mentioned in Pāį¹‡ini's Ashtadhyayi and Ganapatha.

Coinage

The Yaudheyas only utilized Brahmi script on their coins and seals.[32]

Alexander Cunningham divided the Yaudheya coins into two distinctive kinds; the older and smaller class A coins dating from before the 1st century BCE, and the larger Class B coins from the 3rd century CE during the decline of the Indo-Scythian power.[33] Cunningham states that the later coins evidently copied from the Indo-Scythians money.

John Allan classified Yaudheya coins into six classes, while Vincent Arthur Smith previously gave three types. The classification used by Allen has been mostly followed by scholars till today.

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Based on the early coins produced by the Yaudheyas, it can be safely said that Karttikeya was considered their Iį¹£į¹­a-devatā.

References

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  1. ā†‘ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ā†‘ a b ā€œYaudheyas.ā€ Modern day Lodha / Lodheyas are descendants of Yaudheya's .Ancient Communities of the Himalaya, by Dinesh Prasad. Saklani, Indus Pub. Co., 1998, pp. 112ā€“115.
  3. ā†‘ Smith, V. (1897). Art. XXIX.ā€”The Conquests of Samudra Gupta. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 29(4), 859-910. doi:10.1017/S0035869X0002503X
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  13. ā†‘ Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol 3 p251
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  17. ā†‘ Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I Template:Webarchive, accessed on 23 March 2007.
  18. ā†‘ Rosenfield, "The dynastic art of the Kushans", p132
  19. ā†‘ Rapson, "A catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum", p.lx
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  22. ā†‘ a b Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pratapaditya Pal, University of California Press, 1986, p.78 [1]
  23. ā†‘ Classical Numismatics Group
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  30. ā†‘ Pargiter, F.E. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, 1972 pp.109
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Further reading

  • Dasgupta, K.K. A Tribal History of Ancient India: A Numismatic Approach, Calcutta, 1974.
  • Lahiri, Bela Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. - 320 A.D.), University of Calcutta, 1974.
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