Arjunayanas were ancient republican tribe, located in north-eastern Rajasthan. Earliest mention of the Arjunayanas, has been made in the Rajanya group of the Ganapatha. They are mentioned in the literary sources in Afghanistan from 4th century BCE and after Alexander’s invasions in 3rd century. They have also been mentioned in Agra, Mathura and Southern Haryana region till 4th century CE, where their coins have been found too. Coins belonging to 2nd or 1st century BCE. found in this region provide necessary evidence of their existence. They are also mentioned in brahat samhita. The Arjunayana coins resembled those of the Yaudheya coins, which show their contemporariness. The findspot of Arjunayana coins, indicates that their territory was within the triangle formed by Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The coins have been identified by Fleet with the Kalachuris, who traces their descent from Kartavirya Arjuna of the Haihaya tribe of the antiquity. They were associates and friends of the Yaudheyas, the Madrakas and the Malavas of Rajputana. They are no-where associated with Panjab. Though It is possible that the splinter group from the Arigaion (Arjunava) had moved to and settled in south-east Punjab and Rajasthan under pressure from Alexander and they probably named the political headquarters of their new-found territory also as Arjunavana. This name finds reference in the 4th century CE Buddhist tantra text Mahamayuri. Arjunavana is derived from Arjunava, i.e Arjun and nava. During Shunga period, this tribe was politically very active and most of the powerful positions of Shunga kingdom, were held by Arjunayanas . They had also accepted lordship of Gupta empire during samudragupta empire. It has been speculated that the place name Arjunavana of the Buddhist text may have been somewhere near to Srughana (Yamunanagar in Haryana).
