Cult of Vrishni Heroes

THE HEROES WE ALL LOOK UPTO!

Deeds of mighty heroes of Greek mythology and awe-inspiring weapons of Norse heroes-cum-gods, though mainly brought into limelight by their gods Stan Lee and others, have left an imprint on our mind of rich literary wealth and woven tradition around them in their concerned cultures. All around the world, societies have contemplated on the exploit of 'great men', often termed as 'culture heroes' (a term originated by German historian Kurt Breysig) by western historians, in addition to ensuring that the legacy does not die whatever be the medium of transmission, ranging from oral recitation of the lore to the child or the play being enacted at the royal court. 

OH, INDIAN VERSION AS WELL!

India couldn't stand aloof from the phenomenon, though our ability to see the same distinctly has somewhat become obscure mainly due to no clear distinction and intermingling between religion and these stories, which no doubt have an essence of historicity attached to them thus bringing them under the scrutiny lens of history enthusiasts. 

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

If asked to fetch some names of mythological or religious heroes, an Indian would generally pick either the heroes from 'little tradition', folk tradition distinct to the region or sect, or some familiar names from the epics like Arjuna, Abhimanyu and some would even not hesitate in going to the 'evil side' and choosing Meghnath or Karna. But few to none would go on to pick Krishna or Balarama, unless you provide that even gods can be a pick! This is what has happened with these personalities, an Indian version of 'Historical Apotheosis' or historical processes leading to gradual Brahmanical deification of these characters and folk figures. 

A HISTORICAL DIVE

VISHNU AND HIS FAMILY

 If looked historically corroborated with archaeological finds and literary sources, what we today refer to as Vaishnavism or the sect of modern-day Hinduism focusing on the worship of Vishnu/Narayan and his incarnations/avatars (root word avatri, lit. to descend) along with associated divinities like Lakshmi, considering the same as ultimate reality, has gradually developed. Suvira Jaiswal notes that the process of rise and spread of Vaishnavism involved coming together of various independent cults of Narayan, Vausdeva-Krishna, Shri and Lakshmi. Though, each and every cult mentioned holds ginormous volume of stories which await historical tracing, we would briefly glance at the one associated with perhaps the most popular incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna.  

Many of us may have heard the popular epithets like Madhava, Yadu/Yadava or Varshneya being used for Krishna but a little of us have pondered upon their meanings. In Bhagvad Gita itself, Arjuna refers to Krishna as Varshneya (3.36), or the one belonging to the Vrishni clan. Vasudeva-Krishna, before becoming a pan-Indian deity, was a popular hero of the people inhabiting the modern-day Brij region and Mathura who then trespassed the cultural boundaries becoming ultimately associated with Vishnu.  

 FAMILY LINE OF VRISHNI HEROES

 As per the accounts found in Harivamsa Puran (Chapter 34) and Vishnu Puran (4.14-15), Yadu kula was quite large and a special branch of its ruling people was termed as Vrishnis. Kartavirya Sahasrarjuna was the most powerful and famous ruler of the Yadus, who was killed by Parshuram, and in his family were born Vrish (after whom the clan is known as Vrishni) and Madhu (after whose clan Krishna is referred to as Madhava). 

In the same line was born Vasudeva, from whom were born the greatest Vrishni heroes namely Samkarshana/Balarama and Vasudeva-Krishna, and also Subhadra (Goddess Eknamsa). From Vasudeva-Krishna were born the two other great Vrishni heroes Pradyumna and Samba, and from Pradyumna was born Aniruddha. 

The 5 Vrishni Heroes along with Narsimha
Kondamotu sculptural relief, Andhra Pradesh

VRISHNIS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCES

In ancient India, the Vrishnis were worshipped either as individuals (heroes) or in groups (triads, tetrads or pentads). 

Any of the afore mentioned Viras may have gained followers as a lone deity, although Balarma, Vasudeva, and Eknamsa enjoyed greater acclaim. It's possible that Balarama and Vasudeva were revered as identical twins, but no such depiction exists now. The group of Vrishni triad includes Balarama, Vasudeva, and Eknamsa as members. Tetrads may have Caturvyuha pictures, which show four Vrishni Viras in their portrayal. The Five Great Heroes of the Vrishnis—Samkarsana, Vasudeva, Pradyumna, Samba, and Aniruddha—are named in the Mora inscription, making a pentad. 

In other sects, such as Pancha-Brahmas of Shaivism, Pancha-Buddhas of Buddhism, Pancha-Tirthankaras of Jainism, and, more significantly, Pancha-Viras of Yaksism, the Pancha-Vira notion was nearly identical to that of Vaishaivism. We don't know enough about them, though, to be able to say how they relate to the tenets of other theological systems. 

TIKLA

Red ochre painting of vrishni triad at Tikla
Photo courtesy: A.K. Singh

What might be the oldest instance of the Vrishnis being shown as a triad was found by V.S. Wakankar in a rock shelter at Tikla, about 70 km south of Gwalior which can be dated back to between 3rd to 2nd century BCE.   

The masculine figure in the first position from the left is holding a halyudha in his right hand. He is depicted clutching a strange item in his left hand that resembles a barbed harpoon and may or may not have a snake hood on top. It is important to recognise that this figure is a representation of Balarma, claims V.K. Gupta.

Vasudeva-Krishna should be recognised as the second guy, who is depicted in the centre and is purposefully made a little bit higher than the rest as an afterthought. He likely has a disc in his extended left hand. 

Drawing after Neumayer.

The third figure, which is smaller in proportions than the other figures (as females are generally represented), seems to hold a tall object like a parasol in her right hand. The painter may have tried to draw a canopy as is found over the head of Ekanamsa and other goddesses during the Kushan period.

The uniqueness of this triad is that it is the only known instance of its kind to follow the correct genealogical hierarchy of the three deities. 

Vasudeva-Krishna is represented as the tallest figure, demonstrating that he had already acquired a higher status by this time.

Can you now connect it with the popular picture of the deities of Jagannath Temple?

Idols of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. (left to right)
Courtesy :  Heritage of India

HELIODORUS GARUDA PILLAR INSCRIPTION

The famous Besnagar Garuda pillar inscription mentions the erection of this
Garudadhvaja of Devadeva Vasudeva by Bhagavata Diyaputra Heliodorus, who was an ambassador of the Greek king Antialkidas of Takshashila to the court of Kashiputra Bhagabhadra.

The second part of the inscription mentions the three fruits of this deed – svarga, dama and apramada. 

This inscription which belongs to the 2nd century confirms the popularity of the cult in regions as far as Takshashila and even among the Indo-Greeks. This site may have hosted an important shrine of the cult. 

It is also to be kept in mind that from the same site and also from its vicinity various pillar capitals like the palm capital and the kalpavriksha capital have come to light, which belong to the Balarāma and Sri-Lakshmi cult, respectively.

MALHAR STATUE

Malhar in Chhatisgarh has provided one of the earliest known images of the Vrishni Cult. The image is of a four armed deity who is holding the major symbols of Bhagavata religion, chakra(discus), shankha(conch shell), gada(mace) and also a sword with a Brahmi inscription to it. The image can be dated back to 2nd century BCE. 

The Malhar Statue
Credit : ResearchGate

Also important is that the image has some features of tribal warrior as well like the lower dress made up of leaves and the ornamentation. Presence of the vrishni cult in far-off place with this tribal touch clearly indicates the popularity of the same by then. 

AI-KHANOUM COINS

Coin of Agathocles of Bactria

Coins found at Ai-Khanoum included die-struck silver coins with an irregular square shape. The obverse and reverse of these coins bear images of male warriors or heroes. 

Figure on obverse holds a plough in his left  hand which is generally identified with balarama as haladhara (wielder of plough). While he holds a pestle in right hand.  

Figure on reverse holds a six spoked wheel (chakra) and a conch shell in the left and right hands, respectively, making the image identifiable with Vasudeva-Krishna. The coins give the name of the king Agathocles, whose reign is dated as extending between 180-170 BCE with coins being ascribed to the same time period. 

NANAGHAT INSCRIPTION

Satvahana Queen Nagamnika's cave incription mentions Samkarshana and Vasudeva along with Indra and Lokpalas with inscription being dated to 1st century BCE and confirms the proliferation of the cult in far-off places like Nasik. 

CHILAS AND NEWAL

Rock carvings at Chilas, an ancient town on Silk Route in Gilgit-Baltistan, include a pair of figures, holding what seems to be a plough and disk, wearing wide open coats similar to that of Kushana period. Their identification as Balarama and Krishna is confirmed by Kharoshti inscription found in the area (baladebo and vasudebo). 

At Newal, V.S. Agrawal has connected the famous shrine of Pancha-Pir to the five Viras - either with Vrishnis or Pandavas illustrating the fact that the 5-hero concept later on got merged with other sects. 

MORA

Another important site connected with the Vrishni cult is Mora, a village situated to the south of Mathura from where four sculptural finds and Vasu Door-jamb have been reported in excavations along with the famous Mora well inscription that was found by Sir Alexander Cunningham. 

Door-jamb of Mora

VRISHNIS IN ANCIENT LITERATURE

As per Vedic Index (Macdonell and Keith), the Vrishnis are already known in the later Vedic period; their descendants are mentioned in the Taittiriya Brahmana and Shatapatha Brahmana, which are one among the 4 layers of Vedic literature. Chhandogya Upanishad also mentions 'Devkiputra Krishnan'. 

Vasudev Sharan Aggarwal asserts in India as know to Panini that Panini not only mentions the prevalence of the cult Vrishnis and Vasudeva (vasudevarjunabhyam vun), but also says that the duo of Arjuna and Vasudeva is an exception to the grammatical rule of writing short names first followed by longer ones because Vasudeva is worthy of worship and thus, even if long, his name should come first. 

Even Kautilya Chanakya has mentioned a war between Vrishnis and Dvaipayana (Arthashastra 6.12) , which means that various episodes related to the Vrishnis were quite popular by the time of Kautilya (c. 4th century BCE). Scholars even identify Heracles mentioned by Megasthenes (Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya's court)  as Vasudeva-Krishna. Later, Vrishni heroes are also mentioned in Puranas like the Vayu and Bhagawat Purana. 

CONCLUSION

Above analysis confirms the popularity of Vrishni Cult where the literary sources attest to the practices and beliefs reconstructed through the analysis of archaeological sources. Also, the Vrishni cult constitutes a significant portion of historical processes involved in the making of Vaishnavism a sect with widespread base and ultimate triumph over other minor sects mainly through assimilation.