Yaudheya

For the mythological person, see Yaudheya (Mahabharat).
Yaudheya Republic
5th century BCE–4th century CE
Yaudheya coin, imitative of Kushan coinage, 3rd-4th centuries CE. Obverse: Karttikeya standing facing, holding a spear with dvi (“two” in Brahmi) to the left of Karttikeya's head, peacock to lower right, Brahmi legend around: 𑀬𑁅𑀥𑁂𑀬 𑀕𑀦𑀲𑁆𑀬 𑀚𑀬 (yaudheya ganasya jaya, “Victory to the Yaudheya people”). Reverse: Devasena standing left, raising hand; flower vase to left, inverted nandipada to the right.[1] of
Yaudheya coin, imitative of Kushan coinage, 3rd-4th centuries CE. Obverse: Karttikeya standing facing, holding a spear with dvi (“two” in Brahmi) to the left of Karttikeya's head, peacock to lower right, Brahmi legend around: 𑀬𑁅𑀥𑁂𑀬 𑀕𑀦𑀲𑁆𑀬 𑀚𑀬 (yaudheya ganasya jaya, “Victory to the Yaudheya people”). Reverse: Devasena standing left, raising hand; flower vase to left, inverted nandipada to the right.[1]
Location of the Yaudheya relative to other groups: the Audumbaras, the Vemakas, the Vrishnis, the Kunindas, the Pauravas and the Arjunayanas
Location of the Yaudheya relative to other groups: the Audumbaras, the Vemakas, the Vrishnis, the Kunindas, the Pauravas and the Arjunayanas
CapitalRohtak
GovernmentAristocratic Republic
LegislatureSabhā
History 
• Established
5th century BCE
• Disestablished
4th century CE
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Kuru Kingdom
Gupta Empire

Yaudheya (Brahmi script: 𑀬𑁅𑀥𑁂𑀬) or Yoddheya Gana (Yoddheya Republic) was an ancient military ganasangha (republic) based in the Eastern region of the Sapta Sindhu. The word Yaudheya is a derivative of the word from yodha meaning warriors[2][3] and according to Pāṇini, the suffix '-ya', was significant of warrior tribes,[4] which is supported by their resistance to invading empires such as the Kushan Empire and the Indo-Scythians.[5] Rudradaman I of the Western Satraps notes in his Junagadh rock inscription that the Yaudheyas were 'heroes among all Kshatriya' and 'were loath to surrender'. They were noted as having a republic form of government, unique from other Janapadas which instead maintained monarchies.[6]

  1. ^ Bajpai, K. D. (October 2004). Indian Numismatic Studies. Abhinav Publications. pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-81-7017-035-8.
  2. ^ “Yaudheyas.” Ancient Communities of the Himalaya, by Dinesh Prasad. Saklani, Indus Pub. Co., 1998, pp. 112–115.
  3. ^ Smith, V. (1897). Art. XXIX.—The Conquests of Samudra Gupta. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 29(4), 859-910. doi:10.1017/S0035869X0002503X
  4. ^ Cunningham, Sir Alexander (1882). Report of a Tour in the Punjab in 1878-79. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. p. 140.
  5. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Altekar, Anant Sadashiv (1986). Vakataka gupta age: circa 200-550. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 28–30. ISBN 978-81-208-0026-7.
  6. ^ State & Government In Ancient India - A. S. Altekar. pp. 71–72.