Posted by The history of regional kingdoms of Ancient India has a huge significance in our history. No matter how vast or tiny, these regional kingdoms possessed a fair amount of cultural, military, and economic importance.
During the onslaughts of foreign invaders like the Greeks, Sakas, Scythians, and Kushans this kingdom displayed unmatched valor and spirit.
They were subdued by these invaders but whenever they got an opportunity they snatch their freedom and threw out the foreign yoke from there region.
The Yaudheyas (Yodheya) were one of such regional kingdoms of Ancient India whose history is filled with tales of heroism and bravery.
Regarded as the Ayudha-jivi-Kshatriya the Yaudheyas were the people who lived by the profession of arms and were entitled as the greatest among the Kshatriyas.
Some historians have also tried to establish a relationship between Yaudheya with the great epic of Mahabharata. As Yudhishthira the elder brother of the Pandavas had a son named Yaudheya.
On the other hand, some had identified the Yaudheya as Johiya Rajputs residing at Johiyabar region of Bahawalpur.
So who were these Yaudheyas and why their history is important in the context of India. Let’s find out
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Rise of the Yaudheyas
Ancient India was the adobe of some of the most powerful monarchial states. Many kingdoms grew and reached their pinnacle under the able leadership of their king.
However, there were other prominent states that were governed not by the king but by the Republics. These states and their efficient administration left an indelible mark in the history of the Indian sub-continent.
Some of these republics have been immortalized in the ancient Indian texts. Vriji and Malla are two famous republics of ancient India.
However, there were other republics as well which flourished around the northwestern part of the sub-continent and were known for their warrior-like traits.
The Yaudheya which are believed to have flourished around the regions of Punjab were one the republics of ancient India which were known for their ardent warrior-like trait.
Mentioned in the writing of famous scholars like Panini (in Ashtadhyayi) the Yaudheya dominated the region of eastern Punjab along with border regions of modern-day Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
These coins have been recovered from regions like Rohtak, Dehradun, and Ludhiana and also from the region lying between Multan and Saharanpur.
According to the Puranas and Brihat Samhita, the Yaudheyas ruled in the north-west part of India along with the Arjunayanas.
The epigraphic evidence of these ancient warriors which have been recovered from Bharatpur state also mentions the territories governed by the Yaudheya’s.
Numismatic Evidences of Yaudheyas
The numismatic evidence of these ancient Kshatriyas shed light on there religion, beliefs, administration, and the region they lived in.
The earliest coin of their period belongs to the 1st century BCE and mentions the name of the city of Bahudanyaka which might fall on present-day Rohtak.
This claims that the Yaudheya had made the city of Rohtak and its suburbs area as the core part of their kingdom.
Furthermore, many silver and copper coins have also been recovered which mention the name of the deity they worship as Brahmanyadeva- Kumara (Skanda Kartikeya).
Religion, Kings, and Battles
As far as religion they were the worshipper of lord Brahmanyadeva i.e. (Kartikey as mentioned above). The coins which were initially started around the second century BC also resemble the image of lord Kartikeya.
Furthermore according to the famous Junagarh inscription they are referred as indomitable and hero amongst the Kshatriyas.
Another inscription that sheds light on Yaudheya is the Bijaygarh inscription of the third century A.D. which mentions the name of Maharaja Mahasenapati who is believed to have been the head of the Yaudheya republic.
Furthermore, a clay seal which has been recovered from Ludhiana in the fourth Century AD represents the image of a bull and mentions the title of Yaudheyanam jaya mantra dharanam i.e The Seal of the Yaudheya who were in possession of a victory Charm.
This evidence suggests that during the later years of the Kushan empire, the Yaudheyas forged a great victory over the former. Some also believe that the decline of the Kushan power was due to the rise of these ancient yodhas.
Apart from the Kushans the Yaudheyas also fought against the western Kshatraps of king Rudradaman however the latter is believed to have subdued the former.
This evidence suggests that the Yaudheyas were engaged in a prolonged struggle against the mighty Kushans and the Kshatrapas.
In later years with the rise of the Guptas the Yaudheyas were finally absorbed into the former’s empire.
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