Growth of Vaishnavism in India: A Historical Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53724/jmsg/v8n4.02

Keywords:

Vaishnavism, India, Vishnu, Krishna, Gupta Period, Sunga Dynasty, Kushana Dynasty, Religion, Dharma, Inscription, Pillars

Abstract

India is a country with many religions. It has been the birth of many religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Hinduism is also called Sanatana Dharma. Bhagwat, Pashupat, Lingayat, etc. all religions are a part of Sanatana Dharma. Vaishnavism is a part of the Bhagwat religion. The Development of Vaishnavism in India begins in the ancient period. Vaishnavism in India is mentioned by Heliodorus, the Greek ambassador in Taxila during the Sunga Period. In the Besnagar inscription of Gautami Putra Satkarni in Madhya Pradesh, we find the mention of Vaishnavism on the Garuda Pillar. In the Kushana period also, we find mention of the development of Vaishnavism. Many Images and sculptures of the Kushana period related to Vaishnava stories are found in the Mathura region. Three different idols of Ekansha, Baldeva, and Vasudeva have been found in the Devghar village of the Nawada district of Bihar. Which are kept now in Patna Museum. Vaishnavism developed a lot in the Gupta period. The reign of the Gupta kings is famous for the progress of the Brahmin religion. An inscription has been received from Tosham village of Hisar district of Haryana, which begins with the praise of Lord Vasudev Vishnu. This is a Gupta carpet inscription. Thus, we see that the development of Vaishnavism in India has been happening since ancient times, and even at the present time there are a large number of followers of Vaishnavism in India.

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Published

20-04-2023

How to Cite

Rakesh Kumar, & Dr. Geeta Awasthi. (2023). Growth of Vaishnavism in India: A Historical Study. Jai Maa Saraswati Gyandayini An International Multidisciplinary E-Journal, 8(IV), 01–09. https://doi.org/10.53724/jmsg/v8n4.02

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