Maharaja Shoorsen (Skt: शूरसेन, Śūrasena) was the ancient Yadava ruler of Mathura. The Surasena Kingdom or mahajanpada and the Yadava or Jadon Rajput sept of the Shoorsainis were named after this epnonymous Yaduvanshi king.
Founder of Saini DynastyThe tribal identity of Saini community of Punjab, who were displaced from Mathura to Punjab due to prolonged warfare between the Saini rulers and earlier Muhammadan raiders, is derived from this ancient patriarch. Their ancestors were also known as 'Shura Rajputs' sometimes , apart from their traditional epical and historical appellation of Shoorsainis.
According to historian Dashratha Sharma, these Shura Rajputs were strongly allied with the Chauhans when the foreign raids on North India began.
Also See: Saini-Yaduvanshi Rajputs
Grandfather of Lord Krishna and Pandava WarriorsAccording to the Mahabharata (VII.144.6030-1), he was son of Devamidha, while according to the Puranas, his father's name is Devamidhusa.He is extensively mentioned in both the Mahabharata and the Puranas as the father of Vasudeva (father of Krishna) and Pŗtha or Kunti (mother of Pandava).
Likely Ancestor of Raja Porus" Puru became the patronymic of this branch of the Lunar race. Of this Alexander's historians made Porus. The Suraseni of Methoras (descendants of the Soor Sen of Mathura) were all Purus, the Prasioi of Megasthenes... ”
James Tod regarded Raja Porus, the celebrated king who stopped Alexander's advance in India to be a descendant of Maharaja Shoorsen. This view is endorsed by many other distinguished historians such as Dr. Ishwari Prashad, Dr. Pritam Saini and other members of Indian History Congress.
Also See: Raja Porus - A Saini King
|