Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Both Sankarshana and Vasudeva are depicted on the coins of which of the following rulers?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
The Indo-Greek period was a significant era of syncretism where foreign rulers adopted Indian religious motifs and deities on their currency to gain local legitimacy.Explanation
Coins found at Ai-Khanoum from the reign of Agathocles (c. 190–180 BCE) depict Balarama-Sankarshana with a plow and Krishna-Vasudeva with a Sudarshana Chakra.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Agathocles was an Indo-Greek king who issued commemorative coins that blended Greek artistic style with early Bhagavata/Vaishnava religious symbols.
Logic 2: These coins are the earliest known anthropomorphic depictions of these deities, showing Sankarshana on the reverse and Vasudeva on the obverse.