South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s4.4

c8.s4.4

¹ This conception of Rāma is perhaps to be traced to the fact that in the work called Vāsistharāmāyana, Rāma is stated to have given lessons in philosophy to his family priest Vasishtha. The story of the Rāmāyana as described by the poet Vālmiki, is said to be referred to in the Mantra of the Rig-Vēda, beginning with the words bhadrō bhadrayā, etc. The explanatory comment (nirukta) is, however, not included in Yāska’s Nirukta. The historical development of Rāma and Krishna cults have been fully dealt with by Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar in his Vaishnavism, Saivism, etc.