UPSC CSE Pre 1998

Early Bhagavatism

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The Besanagar inscription of Heliodorus is associated with-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The Heliodorus pillar is a landmark in the history of religion in India, proving that foreigners adopted Indian faiths as early as the 2nd century BCE.

Explanation Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador, erected this Garuda-dhwaja (Garuda pillar) in Besnagar (Vidisha) in honor of 'Devadeva Vasudeva' (the God of Gods, Vasudeva/Vishnu). The inscription explicitly identifies Heliodorus as a 'Bhagavata'.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The inscription specifically names Vasudeva as the recipient of the devotion.
Logic 2: While other Vrishni heroes like Sankarshan are important in later Bhagavatism, the Besnagar pillar focus is exclusively on Vasudeva.

Active Recall

Question

Who was Heliodorus?

Answer

He was a Greek ambassador of King Antialcidas to the court of the Shunga King Bhagabhadra.

Core Insight

The inscription provides early epigraphic evidence of the spread of Vaishnavism (Bhagavatism) and its universal appeal across ethnic boundaries.