Vrishni

Vrishni, sometimes spelled Vrishni, refers to an ancient Indian clan of the Yadava lineage. In Hindu epic and Puranic literature, the Vrishnis are one of the principal branches of the Yadava family, traditionally linked with the region around Mathura and with the legendary city of Dvārakā. They are best known for their association with Krishna and his family, with Vasudeva Krishna and his brother Balarama appearing as central figures within Vrishni lore.

Origins and geography are described in mythological sources rather than in verifiable historical records. The Vrishnis are depicted as a prominent Yadava clan inhabiting the Mathura area, and their capital in many legends is the fortified city of Dvārakā, located on the western coast. Krishna is presented as a Vrishni prince, and the narratives often emphasize the Vrishni lineage as the ruling or warrior wing of the Yadavas.

Texts and scholarly context: The primary sources that recount the Vrishni lineage include the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, the Vishnu Purana, and the Harivamsa. These works present genealogies, lineages, and royal histories that situate the Vrishnis within the larger Yadava world and connect them with Vaishnava devotional tradition. Modern scholarship generally treats the Vrishni material as part of mythological and religious literature rather than as established historical fact, though it continues to influence Hindu art, worship, and regional genealogies.

Legacy: The Vrishni name appears in medieval and modern retellings of Krishna’s story and in genealogical traditions of Yadava communities. In broader Hindu tradition, the Vrishni dynasty is an important part of the narrative framework surrounding Krishna and the early Yadava-centered history of northern and western India.