Abhira Kingdom

2021-06-29T17:26:29Z

103.49.116.176:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{cleanup rewrite|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox former country
|native_name = Abhira
|conventional_long_name = Abhira Kingdom
|common_name = Abhira
|era = Early Classical
|government_type = [[Monarchy]]
|year_start = 248 A.D.
|year_end = 315 or 415 A.D.<ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974">{{cite book|author=Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya|title=Some Early Dynasties of South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA128|year=1974|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-2941-1|pages=128–130}}</ref>
|s2 = [[Janapada]]
|image_map = EpicIndia.jpg
|image_map_alt =
|image_map_caption =
|capital = [[Trikuta]]<ref>{{cite book|author=B.H. Mehta|title=Gonds of the Central Indian Highlands Vol II|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gu_cN0MhteMC&pg=PA569|year=2017|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|page=569|id=GGKEY:DDRXNHQXYN8}}</ref>
|common_languages =
|religion = [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] [[Hinduism]]<br />[[Buddhism]]
|currency =
|title_leader = [[Janaka]] (King or Chief){{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
|today = [[India]]
}}

The '''Abhira kingdom''' in the [[Mahabharata]] is either of two kingdoms near the [[Sarasvati river]].
They were dominated by the [[Abhira tribe|Abhiras]], sometimes referred to as Surabhira also, combining both Sura and Abhira kingdoms. Modern day Abhira territory lies within Northern areas of [[Gujarat]] and Southern [[Rajasthan]], India. King Sivadatta was probably the founder of the Abhira/ahir kingdom.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India|author=Numismatic Society of India|date=1991|volume=53|issn=0029-6066|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sk1mAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref>The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India, Volume 53</ref>

==Reference of Abhiras in Mahabharat==
Abhiras are mentioned as kshatriya(warriors) in support of [[Duryodhana]] in Mahabharta war.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aqo4AAAAIAAJ&q=Abhira+warriors |title=Man in India – Google Books |date=17 July 2007 |access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref><ref>Man in India, Volume 54-page-39</ref> The [[Gopas]], whom [[Krishna]] had offered to Duryodhana to fight in his support when he himself joined Arjuna's side, were no other than the [[Yadavas]] themselves, who were also the Abhiras.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CGMqAQAAIAAJ&q=Gopas%2C+whom+Krishna |title=Man in India – Google Books |access-date=18 October 2011|year=1974 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFHRAAAAMAAJ&q=abhiras |title=Ethnic history of Gujarat – Popatlal Govindlal Shah – Google Books |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=18 October 2011|last1=Shah |first1=Popatlal Govindlal }}</ref><ref>Ethnic history of Gujarat</ref> Their king, Chitra, was killed by [[Upapandavas#Prativindhya|Prativindhya]], the son of [[Yudhishthira]] and [[Draupadi]]. The Abhiras also have been described as Vrata Kshatriyas . The<ref>Ancient Nepal</ref> Abhir, Gopa, Gopal<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WrAwAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Abhiras+and+Gopalas+are+synonymous |title=Ancient Nepal – D. R. Regmi, Nepal Institute of Asian Studies – Google Books |date=1 December 1973 |access-date=18 October 2011|last1=Regmi |first1=D. R. }}</ref> and Yadavas are all synonyms.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43Fzt-G_-XYC&q=great+abhiras&pg=PA3 |title=Encyclopaedia of ancient Indian ... – Subodh Kapoor – Google Books |access-date=18 October 2011|isbn=9788177552980 |last1=Kapoor |first1=Subodh |year=2002 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZAiAAAAMAAJ&q=abhiras+looted+arjuna |title=Social movements and social ... – M. S. A. Rao – Google Books |date=14 December 2006 |access-date=18 October 2011|last1=Rao |first1=M. S. A. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZAiAAAAMAAJ&q=Kauravas |title=Social movements and social ... – M. S. A. Rao – Google Books |date=14 December 2006 |access-date=18 October 2011|last1=Rao |first1=M. S. A. }}</ref> They defeated the hero of Mahabharatha war, and did spare him when he disclosed the identity of the members of the family of Sri Krishna.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJNHAAAAMAAJ&q=looted+the+train+of+Arjuna%2C |title=Yadavas through the ages, from ... – J. N. Singh Yadav – Google Books |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=18 October 2011|isbn=9788185616032 |last1=Singh Yadav |first1=J. N. }}</ref>

== [[Abhira dynasty|Abhira kingdom of Maharashtra]]==
The Abhiras ruled western Maharashtra which included [[Nasik]], Aparanta, Lata
<ref name="auto">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA129| title= Some Early Dynasties of South India| publisher= Motilal| work= History | date= 1974 | author= Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya| pages=129| isbn= 9788120829411}}</ref> and [[Khandesh]]<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JggZAQAAIAAJ&q=Khandesa| title= Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 1 | publisher= Cosmo Publications | work= Geography | author= Subodh Kapoor | pages=2| isbn= 9788177552980 | year= 2002 }}</ref>

== Abhira kingdom of South India==
According to historian Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya the abhira kingdom was far more extended in [[South India]].<ref name="auto"/>

== See also ==
* [[Ahir]]
* [[Abhira tribe]]
* [[Yadav]]
* [[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
* [[Sudra Kingdom]]
* [[Saraswati]]
* [[Yaduvanshi Ahirs]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]], ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', 1883–1896.
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata |state=collapsed}}
{{Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Ancient empires and kingdoms of India]]
[[Category:Yadava kingdoms]]

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Abhira Kingdom