Yadava

Yadava refers to an ancient Indian royal lineage said to be descended from Yadu, a legendary king of the Lunar dynasty. In Sanskrit literature, the Yadavas are described as a confederation of clans that inhabited parts of northern and western India during the late Vedic and post‑Vedic periods. The principal branches include the Vrishni and Andhaka clans, with associations to the cities of Mathura and, in later legends, Dvārakā.

In Hindu tradition, Krishna is described in the Mahabharata and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa as a Yadava prince of the Vrishni clan, who ruled from Mathura and, according to some accounts, presided over Dvārakā. The Yadava narratives portray them as heroic pastoralists and warriors who play a central role in epic and devotional literature.

Historical and archaeological evidence for the Yadava lineage is limited, with most knowledge arising from religious and literary texts rather than contemporary inscriptions. In later periods, the term Yadava (or Yadav) came to denote various communities in India who claim descent from the Yadu dynasty. In different states they form social groups engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, with practices and social statuses that reflect regional histories.

Today, Yadava is primarily encountered as a historical designation within studies of ancient Indian dynasties and mythological literature, while Yadav is a common surname and community identifier in contemporary India.