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Yadavas

The Yadavas are a legendary and historical Indian clan said to be descended from Yadu, a figure of the lunar dynasty in Hindu texts. In ancient literature, they are associated with a confederation of tribes known as the Yadava or Yaduvamsha and are linked to the regions of Mathura and Dvārakā (Dwārka). The best-known Yadava lineages in epic and Puranic narratives include the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, with Krishna and Balarama often described as prominent Yadava princes within the city of Dvārakā.

In the Mahabharata and related sources, the Yadavas are portrayed as a powerful Kshatriya-cum-cowherd community, whose

Historically, the identification and dating of the Yadavas are complex, blending mythic genealogies with later historical

Notable figures associated with the Yadavas include Krishna, Balarama, Vasudeva, and other figures tied to the

early
pastoral
life
gradually
gave
way
to
urbanized
polities.
Krishna,
one
of
the
central
figures
of
Indian
mythology,
is
described
as
a
Yadava
prince
of
the
Vrishni
clan
and
plays
a
pivotal
role
in
the
political
and
religious
landscape
of
the
era.
The
legends
place
the
Yadavas
at
the
heart
of
political
and
military
affairs
in
the
western
regions
of
ancient
India,
including
Mathura
and
Dwārka.
references.
In
later
periods,
various
communities
in
north-central
India
and
the
Gangetic
plains
adopted
Yadava
lineages
as
part
of
social
identity,
including
groups
known
as
Ahirs
in
some
traditions.
In
modern
times,
the
term
Yadav
is
used
as
an
ethnic
or
caste
identifier
for
a
range
of
pastoral
and
agrarian
communities
claiming
Yadu
lineage.
Dwārka
and
Mathura
traditions.