________________
14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
The fight between Indra and Krishna. - Krishna lifts up Govardhan Mountail to protect the village.
Vasudeva as a god is mentioned in a sútra of Panini. If so Vasudeva must have been recognized as a god by the time of Panini. However the date of Panini is still not determined.
One Rishi Krishna is mentioned in the Rig Veda. He is seen propitiating the Ashvinis by offering them the delightful Soma Drink.
The Chandogy Upanishad speaks about a Devakiputra Krishna who was a disciple of Rishi Ghor Angirasa
Vasudeva Cult
A question of some importance for the history of Krishna's deification is the meaning of the name Vasudeva. Krishna of Mahabharata is the son of Vasudeva who is not considered a deity. But somehow Krishnas name was considered as Vasudeva. It may be because it those days they appended the father's name as surname !!
There is a mention of Vasudevavattikā (Probably meaning followers of Vasudeva); and also Baladevavattikā (followers of Baladeva) and others in a list of samanabrāhmanāvattasuddhikā. (Nid.i.89; cf. Vasudevāytana at DhSA., p.141.) Scholars regards Vasudeva as a name for the deity used by the Sattvata clan and supposes that when Krishna was deified this already well-known divine name was bestowed on him.
362
