Studies in the Epics and Puranas c12.22

c12.22

The epigraphic evidence shows the prevalence of the worship of Kṛṣṇa and of temples dedicated to him since the early centuries before the Christian era. The earliest sculptural representation of a scene from the life of Kṛṣṇa dates from the early Kuṣāṇa period (first-second century A.D.).¹¹ The earliest representation of any Brahmanical deity in the whole field of Hindu iconography is that of Balarāma, which cannot be placed later than the second century B.C.¹² Archaeology and the Vaiṣṇava Tradition describes epigraphic records pertaining to Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa.¹³ There are two inscribed Garuḍa columns found near Besnagar, which can be placed in the second century B.C. The earlier of these was erected by Heliodorus, and the second by Mahārāja Bhāgavata of the Śuṅga dynasty. Near the Garuḍa column of Heliodorus, and belonging to the same period, was discovered the remnant of Makaradhvaja, or "a column with crocodile symbol". Then come the inscriptions at Ghoṣuṇḍi and Nānāghāt, which refer to the worship of Saṅkarṣaṇa and Vāsudeva. The Mora stone slab inscription of the time of Mahākṣatrapa Rājuvula indicates the Vṛṣṇi origin of Vāsudeva, and one early Mathurā inscription of the time of Mahākṣatrapa Śoḍaśa refers to the column in honour of Vāsudeva.