Thread by @Aabhas24

1/n Undoubtedly #Vasudeva #Krishna was a historic figure worshiped by many across geographies.

Here is a thread on his historicity which goes many years before claimed birth of Christ.

2/n Gavin Flood in his book “An Introduction of Hinduism” traces back the worship of #Vasudeva as god hero of the tribe of Vrishnis from 6th century BCE and beyond.

For this he sources the works of Pāṇini & epigraphy with the Heliodorus pillar.

Some relevant excerpts!

3/n Pāṇini does talks about Vrishnis in Ashtadayani. The Arthashastra described the Vrishnis as a sangha. The Drona Parva of Mahabharata (141.15) has Vrishnis and the Andhakas mentioned as Vratyas.

Check this snippets from HC Raychaudhuri’s “Political History of Ancient India.”

4/n #Krishna #Vasudeva was one of the Vrishni Heroes.
They are generally identified as Samkarshana (Balarama), Vāsudeva (Vāsudeva-Krishna), Pradyumna(son of Vāsudeva-Krishna), Samba(son of Vāsudeva-Krishna)& Aniruddha (son of Pradyumna).

Some snippets from Upinder Singh’s book

5/n #Krishna is described as one from lineage of Vrishni in Mahabharata. There are various instances speaking of it.

Here is a snippet from Bhagwad Gita.

6/n Here is 4th century Kondamotu relief depicting the five Vrishni heroes Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Samba, Aniruddha standing around enthroned Narasimha.

It currently lies in Hyderabad State Museum.

7/n Even the Marxist school of history has accepted the Mahabharata text to be around 3k years old.

Hence the mention of Krishna as one of the great Vrishnis in Mahabharata with contributed presence (proven by archaeology & epigraphy) builds strong case of Krishna’s Historicity

8/n Scholars like Gavin Flood do make a claim that #Vasudeva became merged with #Krishna in period of Mahabharata.

But truth is that while #Krishna is seen as #Vasudeva from Vrishni clan in Mahabharata, the text predates all archeological finds (so far) for Vasudeva.

9/n Then we have this Heliodorus pillar erected around 113 BC in Besnagar named after Heliodorus, an ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas.

In Brahmi script inscription on the pillar, venerates “Vāsudeva”, as the Supreme Deity.

10/n One source to know more about the inscription is here though there are many.

Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the other Indo-Aryan Languages by Richard Salomon

11/n The inscription clearly states that it was constructed by "the Bhagavata Heliodorus".

And the inscription is very much in line with that verse on Krishna in Mahabharata (11.7).

12/n The inscription states that the path to immortality & heaven is to correctly live a life of three virtues:
a)self-temperance (damah)
b)generosity (cagah or tyaga) c)vigilance (apramadah)

It means that Mahabharata was very much known to Greeks. Check this source.

13/n The Heliodorus pillar site was completely excavated by in 1960s & more revelations came.

Then they found large brick foundations of a huge ancient elliptical Mandir complex with a sanctum, mandapas, & seven additional pillars.
Read this paper jstor.org/stable/44138838

14/n This discovery of large Mandir Complex not only reinforces worship of Krishna yo way older times, but it also gives setback to those who believe Mandirs became popular only in Gupta Period.

15/n Then we have the Hathibada Ghosundi Inscriptions from Rajasthan going as old as 2nd Century BC.

The inscription talks of Krishna, Balram & construction of Mandir.

16/n Check these two sources for date of above:

1)Religion, Narrative and Public Imagination in South Asia: Past and Place in the Sanskrit
Mahabharata by James Hegarty

2)Visnuism and Sivaism: A Comparison by Jan Gonda

17/n The Hathibada Ghosundi Inscriptions were found in different spots in the same vicinity as under:
1)inside an ancient water well in Ghosundi
2)at the boundary wall between Ghosundi & Bassi
3)on a stone slab in the inner wall of Hathibada.

18/n Although all 3 fragments are each incomplete but make sense when studied together.

Scholars agree that they were displaced because the Timurid Padishah Akbar had got facilities built by breaking the old structures while he camped here during seize of Chittorgarh.

19/n The fragment discovered in the Hathibada wall has the same style, Brahmi script, and similar text as the Ghosundi well text & hence a link can be seen.

Check: Epigraphia Indica Vol. XXII, pages 198-205 . I have attached four pages for tweet limits.

20/n This above source gives complete details of inscription decoded so far.

These are images of fragment A & B.

Bhandarkar proposed following interpolation of merger of all fragments:

“(This) enclosing wall round the stone (object) of worship, called Narayana-vatika

21/n (Compound) for the divinities Samkarshana-Vāsudeva who are unconquered and are lords of all (has been caused to be made) by (the king) Sarvatata, a Gajayana and son of (a lady)of the Parasaragotra, who is a devotee of Bhagavat (Vishnu or Samkarshana/Vāsudeva)

22/n & has performed an Asvamedha sacrifice.”

Read this Epigraphia Indica Vol. XXII, pages 198 onwards archive.org/stream/in.gov.… for more information.

23/n Here is Vāsudeva-Krishna with attributes of the conch & the Sudarshana Chakra wheel on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria 180 BC with Balram holding gada & plough on other side.

You may refer this portal of coins as source: cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?Coin…

24/n For more studies on this coin, I suggest following paper & book:
1) Emergence of Viṣṇu and Śiva Images in India: Numismatic and Sculptural Evidence by Osmund Bopearachchi academia.edu/25807197

2) Iconography of Balarāma by NP Joshi (snippet of respective page)

25/n This is imagery with Balarama and Krishna attributes at Chilas, northwest Pakistan (1st Century AD).

The Kharosthi script inscription , has been deciphered as Rama-Krsna.

Cover page of source & respective page is attached.

26/n Then we have Mora stone inscription written in Brahmi found at the Mathura-Vrindavan & dated to 1st century AD.

It mentions the five Vrishni heroes (Pancaviras): Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, & Samba.

It mentions of pratima & stone Mandir too.

27/n Here the things (archaeological & epigraphical records) are articulated.

You may read this op-Ed for a a brief & eased out read.
firstpost.com/opinion/archae…