Yavanas
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Yavanas as per Rāmāyaṇa[edit]
According to the Rāmāyaṇa,[1] the yavanas were produced from the hind part of the celestial cow Nandinī to fight against the army of Viśvāmitra.
Yavana as per Mahābhārata[edit]
The word yavana or yona in the epics and the purāṇas generally stands for foreigners, especially the Greeks and the Muslims. They are described as barbarous people[2] who will rule in Kaliyuga. Originally, the word might have indicated the Ionians or ancient Greeks. The Mahābhārata in another place[3] states that the yavanas sprang from Turvasu, one of the sons of the king Yayāti.
Yavana as per Matsyapurāṇa[edit]
The Matsyapurāṇa[4] considers the country of the yavanas as a part of Bhāratavarṣa.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore