Haihayas

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Haihayas were the ancient clans who claimed their common ancestry from Yadu. According to Harivamsha (34.1898), Haihaya was the great grandson of Yadu and grandson of Sahasrajit. All the five Haihaya clans called themselves together as Talajangha (Vishnu Purana IV.11). The five Haihaya clans were Vitihotra, Sharyata (descendants of Sharyati), Bhoja, Avanti and Tundikera. The Haihayas migrated from the west to central India (The Malwa region of Western Madhya Pradesh). The honour of founding their future capital city of Mahishmati (present day Maheshwar) was attributed to the Haihaya king Mahishmant in Harivamsha (33.1847) though as per Padma Purana (VI/115) the city was actually founded by certain Mahisha. The great Haihaya king Arjuna Kartavirya ultimately captured this city from Karkotaka Naga, a Naga chief and made his capital. In the later periods, Haihayas were better known by the name of their dominant clan - Vitihotras. As per tradition, Vitihotra was the great-grandson of Arjuna Kartavirya and son of Talajangha. The northward expansion of the Haihaya territory by Vitihotra rulers was stopped by Ikshaku king Sagara. Probably, during the rule of the later Vitihotras, the whole region developed into two states divided by the Vindhyas, having principal cities at Mahishmati and Ujjaini (present day Ujjain). Pulika, one of the ministers of Ripunjaya, the last Vitihotra king of Ujjaini killed his master and made his son Pradyota new king (Matsya Purana 5.37).

It is said that many of the Haihayas were learnt in the Vedas.^[1] When Nagava's kingdom was destroyed, his fourth descendant, Rathihara became a priest.^[2]

[edit] Medieval Haihayas

The Haihayas of eastern India fought with Islamists in medieval times.^[3]

[edit] See also

• Heheya Kingdom
• Avanti (India)
• Pradyota dynasty

[edit] References

1. ^ P. 69 The Bharadvajas in Ancient India By Thaneswar Sarmah
2. ^ P. 298 Economic and Political Weekly)
3. ^ P. 59 History of the Gaṅgas By Satyanarayan Rajaguru

• Pargiter, F.E. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, 1972.
• Thapar, Romila Ancient Indian Social History Some Interpretations, Orient Longman, New Delhi,1996, ISBN 81 250 0808 X