According to Genesis- 35:10
God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.
And this event took place at Paddan-aram (Haran), Iraq and its close to the same Kufah.
Do read about Manu and Prajapati.
The sons of Yayati who went and settled in West, While others settled in East and Bharat.
Yayati - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yavanas were descendants of Turvasu son of Yayati.
Integration with the Vedic culture[edit]
Thus the
Vedic society acknowledged their extra ordinary skills, but kept them as outcasts. An account in the epic depicts Yavanas as the descendants of
Turvasu, one of the cursed sons of king
Yayati. Only the fifth son Puru's line was considered to be the successors of Yayati's throne, as he cursed the other four sons and denied them kingship. Pauravas inherited the Yayati's original empire and stayed in the
Gangatic plain who later created the
Kuru and
Panchala Kingdoms. They were the followers of proper
Vedic culture.
Yavana was the name of one of the sons of Maharaja Yayati who was given the part of the world known as Turkey to rule. Therefore the Turks are Yavanas due to being descendants of Maharaja Yavana. The Yavanas were thereforekshatriyas, and later on, by giving up the brahminical culture, they became mleccha-yavanas. Descriptions of the Yavanas are in the Mahabharata (Adi-parva 85.34). Another prince called Turvasu was also known as Yavana, and his country was conquered by Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas. The western Yavana joined with Duryodhana in the Battle of Kurukshetra under the pressure of Karna. It is also foretold that these Yavanas also would invade India in theKaliyuga . (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.4.18 [1])
It later
proved to be true in 326 BC.
References in Mahabharata[edit]
Among the tribes of the north and west are the
Mlecchas, and the Kruras, the Yavanas, the
Chinas, the Kamvojas, the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes; the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas, the
Hunas, and the
Parasikas; the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas. These countries are, besides, the abodes of many
Kshatriya,
Vaisya, and
Sudra tribes. Then again there are the
Sudra and
Abhiras, the
Dardas, the
Kasmiras, and the Pattis; the
Khasiras; the Atreyas, the Bharadwajas etc. (6:9)
The races originated from Yayati's sons[edit]
King Yayati a king of the Lunar Dynasty is mentioned to have 5 sons, all of whom became the founders of many royal dynasties.
The sons of Yadu are known by the name of the
Yadavas: while those of
Turvasu have come to be called the
Yavanas. And the sons of Drahyu are the Bhojas, while those of Anu, the Mlechchhas. The progeny of
Puru, however, are the Pauravas (1:85). Yadavas became strong in central India. The Pauravas (Kurus and Panchalas were branches of this race) became strong in northern India. The sons of Anu were also called Anavas, thought to be the
Iranian tribes, who were all grouped as Mlechas. The Yavanas along with the Anavas established themselves in the far western regions.
It is not clear if the Bhojas mentioned here represents the Bhoja-Yadavas, a sub-sect of the Yadavas. However the epic mentions a king named
Kunti-Bhoja (the king of
Kunti and the foster-father of
Pandava's mother
Kunti) and a city named Bhojakata in
Vidarbha. There is a highly speculative possibility that the Druids of Ireland were the descendants of Drahyu.
The tale of Kamadhenu's army[edit]
When the sage
Vasistha was attacked by king Viswamitra's army, Vasistha's cow, Kamadehnu, brought forth from her tail, an army of
Palhavas, and from her udders, an army of
Dravidas and
Sakas; and from her womb, an army of Yavanas, and from her dung, an army of
Savaras; and from her urine, an army of
Kanchis; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of
Paundras and
Kiratas, Yavanas and
Sinhalas, and the barbarous tribes of
Khasas and Chivukas and
Pulindas and
Chinas and
Hunas with
Keralas, and numerous other
Mlechchhas.
This is also found in
Ramayana:- the tribes like the
Kambojas, Barbaras,
Pahlavas, Yavanas,
Sakas, Mlecchas, Haritas and
Kiratas etc. had originated from the body parts of the divine cow,
Kamadhenu of sage
Vasistha, as hords of army men, to protect him from the attack of the king
Viswamitra (Ramayana 1.55.2-3). The following passage from Mahabharata. At (12:35) is mentioned:- What duties should be performed by the Yavanas, the Kiratas, the Gandharvas, the
Chinas, the Savaras, the Barbaras, the Sakas, the
Tusharas, the Kankas, the Pathavas, the
Andhras, the Madrakas, the
Paundras, the
Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kamvojas, the several castes that have sprung up from
Brahmanas and
Kshatriyas, the
Vaisyas, and the
Sudras, that reside in the dominions of (Arya) kings?
They were later given the status of Sudras. The Mekalas, the
Dravidas, the Lathas, the
Paundras, the Konwasiras, the Saundikas, the
Daradas, the Darvas, the Chauras, the Savaras, the Varvaras, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have become degraded into the status of Sudras through the wrath of Brahmanas. (13:35). It is in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among them that the Sakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas and other Kshatriya tribes have become fallen and degraded into the status of Sudras. The Dravidas, the
Kalingas, the Pulandas, the Usinaras, the
Kolisarpas, the
Mahishakas and other Kshatriyas, have, in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Sudras (13:33).
The rising power of Yavanas[edit]
A passage in the Mahabharata, which is rendered as a futuristic prediction mentions thus:- The
Andhra Kingdom, the Sakas, the Pulindas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the
Bahlika Kingdom Valhikas and the
Abhira Kingdom Abhiras, will then become possessed of bravery and the sovereignty of the earth (3:187).
Encounters with Yavanas of ancient India[edit]
Yavana rulers might have spread throughout ancient India, who established their city-states or small kingdoms during the period of Mahabharata. Many ancient Indian warriors like Pandu, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, Karna and Vasudeva Krishna were mentioned as encountering Yavana kings.
Mention of Yavanas who fought with
Arjuna and his father
Pandu:- The king of the Yavanas himself whom the powerful Pandu even had failed to bring under subjection was brought by Arjuna under control (1:141). Mention of a Yavana stronghold in
Mathura:- The Yavanas, the Kamvojas, and those that dwell around Mathura are well skilled in fighting with bare arms (12:100).
Nakula the son of Pandu reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, as also the wild tribes of the
Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the Sakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them pay tributes, Nakula that foremost of the
Kurus, full of resources, retraced his way towards his own city (2:31).
Sahadeva, the son of Pandu, brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the
Paundrayas and the Dravidas along with the
Udrakeralas and the
Andhras and the Talavanas, the
Kalingas and the Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas (2:30). The Yavana city mentioned here seems to be a south Indian port city of the Yavanas during the ancient era.
Having come to the western regions,
Karna made all the
Yavana and Varvara kings pay tribute. The Suta’s son brought the Sasakas and the Yavanas under his sway.(3:252).
Vasudeva Krishna slew the Yavana called Kalyavana (3:12). The Sakas, and the Yavanas with followers, were all vanquished by Krishna. (7:11).
Kings in Yudhisthira's court[edit]
A king named Chanura is mentioned as present in the court of
Pandava king Yudhisthira. Another king Kampana is mentioned to make the Yavanas tremble. He was also present in the court of Yudhisthira at
Indraprastha (2:4).
King Bhagadatta[edit]
King Bhagadatta (ruler of Pragjyotisha (in Assam)) is mentioned as having many Yavana slaves in some passages in Mahabharata.
He also that beareth on his head that gem which is known as the most wonderful on earth, that king of the Yavanas, who hath chastised Muru and Naraka, whose power is unlimited, and who ruleth the west (or east?) like another
Varuna, who is called Bhagadatta, and who is the old friend of Pandu, hath bowed his head before
Jarasandha (of
Magadha), by speech and specially by act (2:14). That great warrior king Bhagadatta, the brave ruler of Pragjyotisha and the mighty sovereign of the mlechchas, at the head of a large number of Yavanas waited at the gate of king
Yudhisthira (2:50).
In Kurukshetra War[edit]
In Kurukshetra War, the Yavanas sided with the Kauravas under the Kamboja king Sudakshina.
Sudakshina, the king of the Kambhojas, accompanied by the Yavanas and Sakas, came to the
Kuru chief with an
Akshauhini of troops (5:19). The Sakas, the Kiratas, and Yavanas, the
Sivis and the Vasatis with their
Maharathas at the heads of their respective divisions joined the
Kaurava army(5:198). The Sakas, the Kiratas, and Yavanas, and the
Pahlavas, took up his position at the northern point of the army (6:20).
Of terrible deeds and exceedingly fierce, the
Tusharas, the Yavanas, the
Khasas, the Darvabhisaras, the
Daradas, the Sakas, the Kamathas, the Ramathas, the Tanganas the
Andhrakas, the Pulindas, the Kiratas of fierce prowess, the
Mlecchas, the
Parvatas, and the races hailing from the sea-side, all endued with great wrath and great might, delighting in battle and armed with maces, these all united with the Kurus (8:73).
Yavanas were armed with bow and arrows and skilled in smiting. They were followed by Sakas and
Daradas and Barbaras and Tamraliptakas, and other countless Mlecchas (7:116). Three thousand bowmen headed by
Duryodhana, with a number of Sakas and Kamvojas and
Valhikas and Yavanas and
Paradas, and
Kalingas and Tanganas and Amvashtas and
Pisachas and Barbaras and
Parvatas, inflamed with rage and armed with stone, all rushed against
Satyaki (7:118). Having vanquished the Yavanas and the Kamvojas, that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Yuyudhana (Satyaki), proceeded towards Arjuna (7:117).
Yavanas were mentioned along with other tribes like the
Sudras, the
Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas, the Kamvojas, the Hangsapadas, the
Paradas, the
Vahlikas, the Samsthanas, the
Surasenas, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the
Trigartas, the Madrakas, the
Tusharas and the Chulikas as battling on the side of Kauravas at various passages.(6:51,75,88, 7:20,90).
A number of Saka and
Tukhara and Yavana horsemen, accompanied by some of the foremost combatants among the Kambojas, quickly rushed against Arjuna (8:88). All the
Samsaptakas, the Kambojas together with the Sakas, the Mlecchas, the
Parvatas, and the Yavanas, have also been slain by Arjuna (9:1).
Arjuna's campaign after the Kurukshetra War[edit]
Yavanas continued in ancient India even after the Kurukshetra War as evident from the following passage:-
Innumerable Kiratas, Yavanas, all excellent bowmen, and diverse tribes of Mlechechas too, who had been discomfited before (by the
Pandavas on the field of Kurukshetra), and many Arya kings, possessed of soldiers and animals endued with great alacrity, and all irresistible in fight encountered Arjuna in battle. (14:73)
Other references[edit]
- Yavana king was present in the self choice ceremony of Panchala princess (1:189).
- King Jayadratha of Sindhu had a Kamboja princess and a Yavana princess as his wives (11:22).
- A Yavana king is mentioned in the list of great kings that includes Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Bharata and Yadu (13:165).