Yadu (legendary king)

This article is about Yadu (legendary king). For the historical Rigvedic tribe, see Yadu. For the ancient cowherd clan that claimed descent from Yadu, see Yadava. For the modern community, see Yadav. For the Burmese form of poetry, see Yadu (poetry).

Yadu (Sanskrit: यदु, romanized: Yadu) is the founder of the Yadu dynasty in Hinduism.^[1] He is described to be the eldest son of King Yayati, and his queen, Devayani.^[2] He married five daughters of Nāga king.^[3][4]

Yadu
Successor	Sahasrajit
Texts	Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas
Region	Hastinapura
Genealogy
Parents	Yayati (father) Devayani (mother)
Siblings	Turvasu (brother) Puru, Druhyu, and Anu (step-brothers)
Children	Sahasrajit, Krosta, Nala, and Ripu
Dynasty	Yaduvamsha

Legend

According to a narrative found in the Mahabharata, and the Vishnu Purana, Yadu refused to exchange his years of youth with his father, Yayati, when the latter was cursed with senility by his father-in-law, Shukra. Thus, he was cursed by Yayati to have his progeny disinherited of the dominion.^[5][6] Due to this proclamation, Yadu was replaced by his half-brother, Puru, as the heir to the throne of the Chandravamsha dynasty. Yadu founded his own cadet branch of the dynasty, called the Yaduvamsha.^[7]

Descendants

The Agni Purana states that Yadu's lineage was continued by his eldest son, Sahasrajit. Sahasrajit had three sons: Haihaya, Renuhaya, and Haya.^[8]

A historical dynasty called the Traikutaka claimed descent from Haihaya.^{[9][page needed]}

According to Historian T Padmaja, the Abhiras migrated to Tamil Nadu and established their kingdoms and some of the inscriptions there mentions their descendant from the Yadu lineage.^[10]

See also

• Raghu
• Ikshvaku
• Bharata