Arjunayanas

Arjunayanas
2nd century BCE–6th century
South Asia 150 BCE SATAVAHANAS MAHAMEGHA- VAHANAS SAMATATAS AUDUMBARAS YAUDHEYAS PAURAVAS VRISHNIS KUNINDAS INDO- GREEKS GRECO- BACTRIANS MITRAS ARJUNAYANAS MALAVAS SHUNGAS PANDYAS CHOLAS CHERAS LOULAN HAN DYNASTY class=notpageimage| Location on the Arjunayanas and contemporary South Asian polities circa 150 CE.[1]
Location of the Arjunayanas relative to other groups: the Audumbaras, the Kunindas, the Vemakas, the Vrishnis, the Yaudheyas, and the Pauravas.
Government	Aristocratic republic
Legislature	Sabhā
History
• Established	2nd century BCE
• Disestablished	6th century
Succeeded by Gupta Empire
Today part of	India

Arjunayana, Arjunavana, Arjunavayana^[2][3] or Arjunayanaka was an ancient republican people located in Punjab or north-eastern Rajasthan. They emerged as a political power during the Shunga period (c. 185 – c. 73 BCE). In the Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta (c. 335 – c. 380 CE), the Arjunayanas figure among the autonomous political communities bordering on the Gupta Empire who accepted the overlordship of Samudragupta. They are also mentioned in Bṛhat Saṃhitā of Varahamihira (6th century CE).^[4][5] According to Dr Buddha Prakash, the Arjunayanas are mentioned as Prajjunakas in Kautiliya's text Arthashastra^[5] which also places them in the northern division of India.^[6][7] Vincent Smith locates their republic in Alwar and Bharatpur states now in Rajasthan, a view which has been rejected by R. C. Majumdar. They are mentioned in the literary sources in Afghanistan from 4th century BCE and after Alexander's invasions in 3rd century they have been mentioned in Agra, Mathura and Southern Haryana region till 4th century CE where their coins have been found too.