Krishna & Balram : The Earliest Representation




These coins seem to be the first known representations of Vedic deities on coins, and they display early Avatars of Vishnu: Balarama-Sankarshana with attributes consisting of the Gada mace and the plow, and Vasudeva-Krishna with the Vishnu attributes of the Shankha and the Sudarshana Chakra wheel.

Agathocles Dikaios (meaning: "The Just") was a Greco-Bactrian/ Indo-Greek king, who reigned between around 190 and 180 BC. He might have been a son of Demetrius and one of his sub-kings in charge of the Paropamisade between Bactria and Indus-Ganges plains. He seems to be a Buddhist. Very little is known about him, apart from his extensive coinage.

Agathocles issued an intriguing range of bilingual coinage, displaying what seem to be Buddhist as well as Hindu symbolism. Manufactured according to the Indian standard, using either Brahmi (ancient Indian script), Greek or Kharoshthi (ancient script used in Gandhar kingdom : present day Afghanistan & Pakistan), and displaying symbols of the various faiths in India,

The Hindu coins of Agathocles are few but spectacular. Six Indian-standard silver drachmas were discovered at Ai-Khanoum in 1970, which depict Hindu deities. These coins, discovered on 3 October 1970 hidden in a pilgrim’s water-vessel in a room of the administrative quarter of the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum, are key to the understanding of the evolution of Vaisnava imagery in India.

These coins from Ai-Khanoum are a precious indication of the forms taken by the Bhagavata cult and Vaishnavism in early India, and shows that this cult was already popular in the area of Gandhara around the 2nd century BCE.

The dancing girls on some of the coins of Agathocles and Pantaleon are also sometimes considered as representations of Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, but also a Goddess of abundance and fortune for Buddhists, or Subhadra, the sister of Krishna and Balarama. She is also seen in the Post-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara, on a Taxilan coin which is thought to have been minted by Demetrius I following his invasion.

Description of Deities on the Coins. 

The coinage of Agathocles (circa 180 BCE) incorporated the Brahmi script and several deities from India, which have been variously interpreted as Vishnu, Shiva, Vasudeva, Balarama or the Buddha.

1. Zeus holding Hecate and a scepter.

2. Divinity with a long coat (himation) with some volume on top of hair, partly folded arms. The attitude is similar to the Buddha of the Bimaran casket

3. Hindu god Balarama-Samkarshana with attributes

4. Hindu god Vasudeva-Krishna with attributes

5. Indian goddess Lakshmi.


    

Early representation of Balarama at the lower right of a Mauryan empire punch-marked coin, holding a mace and conch; 3rd BC.

(Presently at British Museum)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathocles_of_Bactria


 

 1000 BC terracotta plaque depicting Git-opdesh - Krishna & Arjun.

The plaque depicts the scene of a charioteer holding four horses, standing behind a half-chariot with a spoked wheel.

The tablet was authenticated by Oxford Authentication using thermoluminescence or TL dating method on May 14th, 2019. The result of the ​​authentication confirms that the date of the firing was between 2,300 and 3,600 years ago, that is, 1,600 BCE to 300 BCE.

Presently it is in the possession of a Hong Kong-based art dealer.

Reference

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/terracotta-plaque-probably-depicting-gitopadesham/article29684512.ece

 

Krishna worship was prevalent in the time of Greek historian Megasthenes (350-290BCE). More tellingly, Roman historian Quintus Curtius wrote that “an image of ‘Hercules’ (Krishna, sometimes also written as Herackles) was carried in front of the army of Porus as he advanced towards Alexander on the Jhelum river”.

Reference

https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/vasudeva-krishna-mathura-god-temple-history

 


 

 




Believed to be the oldest Hindu temple ever found archaeologically.

Remains of Vidisha Sri Krishna temple, MP. It is here the famous Heliodorus pillar is found, erected by Greek ambassador to Shunga court who became Krishna Bhakta. Archaeologist SP Gupta dated early layers to 5th century BCE.

Reconstruction sketch of the temple as per archaeologist DK Chakrabarti.

  



A king worshipping Vasudeva- #Krishna.

This is a Kushan seal, 4th or 5th century, inscribed in Bactrian.

Presently at British Museum.





Subjects

Spirituality   Bhagvad Gita  Bhagwad Puran  Buddhism Krishna Guru

First & Earliest  Influence of Culture  Knowledge   History 

Past Glories   Unique India 

Chanakya  Video

Comments

Post a Comment


Click to know more

Popular posts from this blog

NatyaShastra & Bhava-Rasa Theory of Bharata

Image
                                                  Nav Ras / The Nine Melows or Moods INTRODUCTION NatyaShastra and the Bhava-Rasa Theory of Bharata Muni emphasizes that the success of a performance is measured by whether or not the audience has a specific experience called RASA. Rasa is the internal enjoyment which is relished by the audience which are nine in number. HISTORY OF NATYASHASTRA  The Natyaśāstra, is the oldest surviving Indian compendium on the knowledge of performing arts. It primarily deals with theatre, dance & musical performance. The text, which now contains 6000 slokas, is believed to have been written during the period between 200 BCE and 200 CE by Sage Bharata. The NatyaShastra itself is based upon the much older Gandharva Veda (appendix to Sama Veda) which contained 36000slokas. However, its most complete exposition in drama, son...
Read more

SWASTIK Symbol Originated in the Harappan Period?

Image
SWASTIK symbol was found in Indus Valley.  It seems later it was adopted world over. The symbol of the true Swastika goes back over 11,000 years and is believed to have originated in the Harappan period and the culture of the Indus Valley Civilization. “We have found the most mature and geometrically ordered Swastika in the pre-Harappan times in the form of seals. We have also been able to trace the mention of the Swastika in the Vedas around the same time. These are scintillating findings that will help us announce that the Indian civilization is far more ancient than what is written in accepted history books, mostly by Europeans,” said Joy Sen, a faculty member at IIT-Kgp faculty and lead project. Indus Seal Subjects Spirituality     Bhagvad Gita    Bhagwad Puran    Buddhism   Krishna   Guru First & Earliest    Influence of Culture    Knowledge     History   Past Glories     Un...
Read more

Definition of Bhagvan or God.

Image
Who can be called Bhagvan? Maharishi  Parashara   was the author of many ancient Indian texts. He is accredited as the author of the first Purana, the Vishnu Purana, before his son Vyasa wrote it in its present form. He was the grandson of Vasishtha, the son of Śakti Maharᚣi, and the father of Vyasa. ऐज्ार्यस्य समग्रस्य ाीर्यस्य यजसः ज्रियः। ज्ञान - ाैराग्ययोज्चैा डण्णां भग इतीरणा॥ aiśvaryasya samagrasya vÄŤryasya yaśasaḼ śriyaḼ  jùāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ᚣaṇṇāṁ bhagam itīṅganā (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.47) The term ‘Bhagavan’ or God, is thus defined by Parasara Muni as one who is full in six opulences— 1.    who has unlimited strength 2.    fame 3.    wealth 4.    knowledge 5.    beauty and 6.    renunciation . Prashar Lake with blue and clear waters is held sacred to the sage Prashar and he is regarded to have meditated there.     *** At a dis...
Read more

The Earliest Known Chess Board & Dice

Image
      The Earliest Known Chess Board & Dice This ancient chess board was excavated from Lothal (Gujarat, India). It is the earliest known Chess board in the whole world. It dates back to c.2400 BC.   What follows is an excerpt from the published excavation report by the archaeologist SR Rao . . . "The close resemblance between various types of terracotta chessmen excavated from Lothal and modern Chessmen is remarkable.   It seems that the Indian game of Chaturanga (Chess) had its origin in one of the Harappan Games. Much valuable information about the various indoor games indulged in by the Harappans is available from the gamesmen, game-boards and dices found at the major Indus cities.   A game involving the use of dice was very popular in the Harappan and later times, especially in the time of the Mahabharata war. The Pandava prince is said to have lost everything including his kingdom in a game of dice. A...
Read more

Kallanai Dam : The Fourth Oldest Irrigation Dams in the World.

Image
Kallanai Dam  is also known as the “Grand Anicut”. It is one of the oldest irrigation dams in the world built around 2000 years ago. It is build  cross the Kaveri River in Trichy District in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. It is the fourth-oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structures in the world and the oldest in India which is still in use.  The dam was originally built by King Karikalan of the Chola Dynasty in c. 100 BC – c. 100 AD.  The main purpose of the Kallanai dam was to divert the waters of the Kaveri across the fertile delta region for irrigation via canals. The dam splits the river Kaveri into  4 streams known as Kollidam Aru, Kaveri, Vennaru and Puthu Aru . The dam was constructed in an elegant way to see the dam from any point. The dam is about 329 m (1,079 ft) long, 20 m (66 ft) wide and 5.4 m (18ft) high. The unique structure of the Kallanai dam involves large stones sunk in the Cauvery river to divert the water flow to the fert...
Read more

Ancient Indian Life Style

Image
A collection showing the life-style of ancient Indians - the hair style, clothing and fashion, generally based on sculptures.     The picture below shows the hair-style of men & women in India during Sunga Period (100-200 BC).     Discovery of these earrings provided first tangible evidence that jewelry  depicted by sculptors was in fact based on real models, for a very similar pair is shown on a first century B.C relief of chakravartin from Jaggayapeta Presently @metmuseum       2nd-1st century BC, Shunga period female beauty of Eastern India in  terracotta. Presently at Ethnological Museum, Berlin. * Headwear? * Richly ornamented  * Showing ear ring? * Long skirt is also carved * Seems she is wearing a Gown?   Ear Ornaments (Prakarvapra Kundla),1st cent BC India. Made of 18kg Gold in 3 forms,sheet, wire & granules & lion & elephant motifs. Old orname...
Read more

Ancient Indian Hair-Styles

Image
  Ancient Indian hair-styles as seen through sculptures  & archaeology are presented here.   Ancient Indian Hair-Styles   Bhu Varaha Swami Temple, Chidambaram, tamil Nadu. Initially build by Medival Cholas An Unknown Sculpture.   A 12th  Century Sculpture, MP.     Bodhi Tree : Depicting different hair-do.     Yakshi under a flowering Asoka Tree. Shunga Period, 2nd-1st Century BC.     From Mohenjodaro. Indus Valley Civilization.     A 12th Century Sculpture.     Ajanta Fresco Showing Hair-do & Jewelry.     Yakshi Statue in the Bihar Museum.     Dancing Girl Mohinjodaro A Gandhar Sculpture.     A Kushan Sculpture.     Barhut Stupa - Maurya Period 3rd BCE   Bharhut  Sunga Period Sculpture Showing 'An Individual'. ___ XXX ___ For More:  Ancient-Indian-Life-Style. Subjects Spirituality     Bhagvad Gita    Bhagwad Puran ...
Read more

Kurukshetra & Linga Parvata of Champasak, Laos.

Image
A Story of Forgotten Kurukshetra & Linga Parvata of Champasak Province, Laos - 1500 yrs ago & 1000 miles from India. HIGHLIGHTS     There is a mountain called LINGPARVAT with natural ‘linga’ (almost 10 meter high on top) in Champasak province, Laos.                                        Some 1500 years ago a King named Devanika decided to create a new TIRTH and named it 'New Kurukshetra' in this territory. The king himself states in an inscription that he was inspired by Bramha, Vishnu & Shiva.   Around 400 AD King Devanika built city Shreshthapur and also built A temple called Wat Phu.          Later it became the part of Khmer Empire of Kambuja Desa (modern Combodia) but the area retained same spiritual significance. A new city called Lingapuram was established nearby and a royal road directly linked this tirtha to new c...
Read more

Chintz – An Indian Fabric Banned Because Of Popularity

Image
Chintz was an Indian fabric that was banned in Europe because of its popularity and threat to local industries. Chintz — although it might today be largely associated with twee or cutesy armchairs and wallpaper — is, in its true form, a fabric that was not only once highly prized the world over, and helped revolutionize fashion and design, but also changed the course of history. The history of chintz extends far beyond that. Chintz — which comes from the Hindi word chint, meaning “‘spotted’, ‘variegated’, ‘speckled’, or ‘sprayed’ , as Fee writes in the book Cloth That Changed the World — originated in modern-day India and Pakistan thousands of years ago. Contrary to what many think, chintz does not necessarily have anything to do with glazed fabric, or even floral prints. Simply put, chintz is cotton to which substances called ‘mordants’ and ‘resists’ — used to help dyes adhere to it — have been applied. Before it appeared in fashion, chintz was big in interio...
Read more

Are Hindus Worshipers of Many Gods?