This is a list of ancient Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes that are mentioned in the literature of Indian religions.

From the second or first millennium BCE, ancient Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes turned into most of the population in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent – Indus Valley (roughly today's Pakistani Punjab and Sindh), Western India, Northern India, Central India, Eastern India and also in areas of the southern part like Sri Lanka and the Maldives through and after a complex process of migration, assimilation of other peoples and language shift.Parpola, Asko (2015), The Roots of Hinduism. The Early Aryans and the Indus Civilization, Oxford University Press

Ancestors

Proto-Indo-Iranians (common ancestors of the Iranian, Nuristani and Indo-Aryan peoples) (Proto-Indo-Iranian speakers) Proto-Indo-Aryans (Proto-Indo-Aryan speakers)

Vedic tribes Alina people (RV 7.18.7) Anu (RV 1.108.8, RV 8.10.5) Bharatas- The Bharatas are a major Aryan clan, especially in Mandala 3 attributed to the Bharata sage Vishvamitra. The entire Bharata clan is described as crossing over, with their chariots and wagons, at the confluence of the Vipash (Beas River) and Shutudri (Satlej). The Bharatas are mentioned as the protagonists in the Battle of the Ten Kings in Mandala 7 (7.18 etc.), where they are on the winning side. They appear to have been successful in the early power-struggles between the various Aryan and non-Aryan clans so that they continue to dominate in post-Rigvedic texts, and later in the (Epic) tradition. "Bhārata" today is the official name of the Republic of India (see also Etymology of India). Chedi Dasa Druhyus (Rigveda, RV 1.108.8, RV 8.10.5) Gandhara Ikshvaku dynasty Kuru Matsya Pakhta Puru (Pūru) Ruśama (RV Mandala 8) Sārasvata Tritsu (RV 7.18, 7.33, 7.83) Yadu: Of Indo-Aryan origin,Yadu is one of the five early Rigvedic tribes (panchajana, panchakrishtya or panchamanusha) mentioned in the Rigveda. The Yadus had a tribal union with the Turvasha tribe, and were frequently described together. The Yadus were an Aryan tribe. By the time of the arrival of the Puru and Bharata tribes, the Yadu-Turvashas were settled in Punjab, with the Yadus possibly residing along the Yamuna River.In Mandalas 4 and 5 of the Rigveda, the god Indra is stated to have saved the Yadu-Turvashas from drowning when they crossed rivers. In Mandala 6, the Yadu-Turvashas are stated to have been "brought from far away" by Indra. The Yadu-Turvashas are treated relatively positively in Mandalas 5, 6, and 8, and are stated to be the occasional allies and enemies of the Puru-Bharatas. In the Battle of the Ten Kings, the Yadus were defeated by Bharata chieftain Sudas.

Pancha Jana (Five tribes) (पञ्च जना – Páñca Jánāḥ / Pancha-janah) The pancha Jana are five tribes inexplicitly listed together during the (Āryāvarta of this time, c. 1700–1500 BCE, roughly corresponds with the Punjab and closer regions) (see the map of Early Vedic Period) Anu (in the southwest part of early Āryāvarta) Druhyu (in the north part of early Āryāvarta) Puru (ancestors of the Paurava) (in the centre and east parts of early Āryāvarta, including Sarasvati river region) Turvaśa (Turvasha) (in the centre and south parts of early Āryāvarta): The Turvashas (, ) were one of the five major peoples (panchajana, panchakrishtya or panchamanusha) mentioned in the Rigveda. The Turvashas had a tribal union with the Yadu tribe, and were frequently described together. The Turvashas were a partly Indo-Aryan-acculturated Indus tribe. By the time of the arrival of the Puru and Bharata tribes, the Yadu-Turvashas were settled in Punjab. By the time of the Shatapatha Brahmana (7th-6th centuries BCE), the Turvashas are linked to the Panchalas. Alfred Ludvig first conjectured that Turvīti and Vayya could have been connected with the Turvasha tribe, a notion that is still considered only speculation according to Witzel. In Mandalas 4 and 5 of the Rigveda, the god Indra is stated to have saved the Yadu-Turvashas from drowning when they crossed rivers. In Mandala 6, the Yadu-Turvashas are stated to have been "brought from far away" by Indra. The Yadu-Turvashas are treated relatively positively in Mandalas 5, 6, and 8, and are stated to be the occasional allies and enemies of the Puru-Bharatas. Yadu (in the southeast and south parts of early Āryāvarta)

Early Janapadas (c. 1700–1100 BCE)

After roughly 1700 BCE Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes were swiftly expanding through ancient northern India, therefore the number of peoples, tribes and clans was increasing (as well as the number of Indo-Aryan language speakers) and Āryāvarta was becoming a very large area (see the map on the right side). Aja – (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Ambaśṭha – (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Aṅga – Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta (Madhya-desha and Prachya Āryāvarta – Central and Eastern Āryāvarta in Vamana). Anu – is a Vedic Sanskrit term for one of the 5 major tribes in the Rigveda, RV 1.108.8, RV 8.10.5 (both times listed together with the Druhyu) and, much later also in the Mahabharata. In the late Vedic period, one of the Anu kings, King Anga, is mentioned as a "chakravartin" (AB 8.22). Ānava, the vrddhi derivation of Anu, is the name of a ruler in the Rigvedic account of the Battle of the Ten Kings (7.18.13) and at 8.4.1 with the Turvaśa (tribe). The meaning ánu "living, human" (Naighantu) cannot be substantiated for the Rigveda and may have been derived from the tribal name. (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) ĀyuBloomfield, M. (1899). "The Myth of Purūravas, Urvaçī, and Âyu". Journal of the American Oriental Society, 20, 180–183. BhajerathaZimmer, S. (1986). "On a special meaning of jána- in the Rgveda". Indo-Iranian Journal, 29 (2), 109–115. Bhalana – The Bhalanas were one of the tribes that fought against Sudas in the Dasarajna battle. Some scholars have argued that the Bhalanas lived in South Central and Western Pakistan, and that the Bolan Pass, around which live the Brahui people, are the Bhalana people and abode. (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Bharadvāja – (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) BhrigusWeller, H. (1937). "Who Were the Bhriguids?". Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. 18 (3), 296–302. Bheda – (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Bodha – (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Druhyu – The Druhyu were a people of Vedic India. They are mentioned in the Rigveda, usually together with the Anu tribe.Hopkins, E. W. (1893). "Problematic passages in the Rig-Veda". Journal of the American Oriental Society, 15, 252–283. Some early scholars have placed them in the northwestern region. The later texts, the Epic and the Puranas, locate them in the "north", that is, in Gandhara, Aratta and Setu. (Vishnu Purana IV.17) The Druhyus were driven out of the land of the seven rivers, and their next king, Gandhara, settled in a north-western region which became known as Gandhāra. The sons of the later Druhyu king Pracetas too settle in the "northern" (udīcya) region (Bhagavata 9.23.15–16; Visnu 4.17.5; Vayu 99.11–12; Brahmanda 3.74.11–12 and Matsya 48.9.). The word Druid (Gallic Celtic druides), is partially derived from Proto-Indo-European vid "to see, to know' It has also been alleged that the Rg Veda and the Puranas describe this tribe as migrating North. However, there is nothing of this in the Rigveda and the Puranas merely mention that the Druhyu are "adjacent (āśrita) to the North". (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Gandharis PDF linkvia University of the Punjab. (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Grassmann, H. (Ed.). (1876). Rig-veda (Vol. 1). FA Brockhaus. (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Kārūṣa (Karusha) – later Cedi (Chedi) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Keśin (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Kīkaṭa (Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta) Kosala (Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta) Krivi [Kessinger Publishing (reprint) 1992.] (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Kunti (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Madra (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Uttara Madra (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Magadha (Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta) Mahāvṛṣa (Mahavrisha) (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) MahīnaPerry, E. D. (1885). "Indra in the Rig-Veda". Journal of the American Oriental Society, 11, 117–208. Malankhara MatsyaMuller, F. M. (1869). Rig-veda-sanhita (Vol. 1). (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Mūjavana / Maujavant (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Nahuṣa Pāñcala (Panchala) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Pārāvata (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Pṛthu (Prithu) (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Pūru (Puru) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Bharatas – The Bharatas are an Aryan tribe mentioned in the Rigveda, especially in Mandala 3 attributed to the Bharata sage Vishvamitra and in and Mandala 7. Bharatá is also used as a name of Agni (literally, "to be maintained", viz. the fire having to be kept alive by the care of men), and as a name of Rudra in RV 2.36.8. In one of the "river hymns" RV 3.33, the entire Bharata tribe is described as crossing over, with their chariots and wagons, at the confluence of the Vipash (Beas) and Shutudri (Satlej). Hymns by Vasistha in Mandala 7 (7.18 etc.) mention the Bharatas as the protagonists in the Battle of the Ten Kings, where they are on the winning side. They appear to have been successful in the early power-struggles between the various Aryan and non-Aryan tribes so that they continue to dominate in post-Rigvedic texts, and later in the (Epic) tradition, the Mahābhārata, the eponymous ancestor becomes Emperor Bharata, conqueror of 'all of India', and his tribe and kingdom is called Bhārata. "Bhārata" today is the official name of the Republic of India (see also Etymology of India). (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Kuru – Ancestors of the Kaurava (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Uttara Kuru (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Pandu – Ancestors of the Pandava (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Tṛtsu (Tritsu) The Tritsus are a sub-group of the Puru who are distinct from the Bharatas mentioned in Mandala 7 of the Rigveda (in hymns 18, 33 and 83). Under king Sudas they defeated the confederation of ten kings led by the Bharatas at the Battle of the Ten Kings. (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Ruśama (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Śālva (Shalva) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Sārasvata – people that dwelt the banks of the Sarasvati river (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Satvanta (Dakshina Āryāvarta – Southern Āryāvarta) Śigru (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Śiva (Shiva, not to be confused with the God Śiva or Shiva) (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Srñjaya (Srinjaya) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Śvikna (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Turvaśa (Turvasa) Uśīnara (Ushinara) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Vaikarṇa (Vaikarna) (Udichya Āryāvarta – Northern Āryāvarta) Vaṅga (Vanga) (Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta) Varaśikha (Varashikha) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Vaśa (Vasha) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta) Vidarbha (Vidarbha, Dakshina Āryāvarta – Southern Āryāvarta) Videha (Mithila, Prachya Āryāvarta – Eastern Āryāvarta) Viśaṇin (Vishanin) (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Vṛcivanta (Vrichivanta) (Pratichya Āryāvarta – Western Āryāvarta) Yadu (Dakshina Āryāvarta – Southern Āryāvarta) Yakṣu (Yakshu) (Madhya-desha Āryāvarta – Central Āryāvarta)

Late Janapadas (c. 1100–500 BCE)

From roughly 1100 to 500 BCE Indo-Aryan peoples and tribes expanded even further throughout ancient northern India (see the map 6).