The discovery of a pretty old stone pillar - over 2,000-year-old (locally known known as Khamba Baba), was one of the most exciting archaeological discoverers made during the colonial period. It throws light on the Indo-Greek relations in those days. It also not only suggests the popularity of the cult of Vasudeva but also marks the growth of pillar architecture in India. From the Besnagar we understand the history of the Bhāgavata Sect in India that had become well established by the 2nd century BCE, and the primary Hindu deity being Vāsudeva. Besnagar, it seems, became functional center of the Bhāgavata or the Pāñcarātra Sect.
Often referred to as the Heliodorus pillar, it is presumably the oldest stone column dated back to around 113 BCE in central India. it is named after Heliodorus, who was an ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas from Taxila. He was sent to the kingdom of Indian ruler Bhagabhadra.
The pillar that is located in Besnagar (near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) was known as the Garuda-standard by Heliodorus, as there was deity of Garuda (the vahana of Vishnu) atop the pillar. The image of Garuda is missing and on display in the Gujari Mahal museum in Gwalior. What is surprising is the Heliodorus pillar site is near the confluence of two rivers, close to Bhopal and the Buddhist stupa of Sanchi, and 4 km from the Hindu Udayagiri site
Why was the pillar built? The pillar was erected to glorify the Indian ruler and the Brahmi inscription on the pillar suggest the pillar was part of dedication to a supreme deity Vasudeva (Vishnu) the Deva deva (the ''God of Gods). The pillar or stambha is symbolic of the totality of the deity and the confluence of earth, space and heaven on an axis.
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| .Garuda pillar,dreamstime.com |
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| Heliodorus pillar cropped upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Heliodorus pillar, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh; late 2nd CE. First brought to light by the famous archaeologist and colonial officer Alexander Cunningham, during Archaeological excavations between 1874-1875. He noted the pillar was encrusted with ritually applied red paste (vermillion). Apparently, it was an object of worship and ritual animal sacrifice. During the second survey in 1909-1910 after a big hiatus, the workers, for the first time, cleared red crust and after cleaning found Brahmi script inscriptions about Heliodorus, etc. The Brahmi inscriptions were found on the octagonal surface just below the lower ornamental band of half-rosettes. Third survey in 1913-1915 confirmed that it was a major site of worship. The pillar about 17.7 feet extends below the platform and sits on the ancient pillar that was damaged during flooding. The platform itself was 3 feet above the ground and 12 feet wide. The pillar shaft is supported by two placement stones held together with a layer of stone-metal. After the fourth survey in 1963- 1964, the archaeologists concluded that the Heliodorus pillar itself was one of eight pillars, all aligned along the north-south axis and they were of the opinion that the Besnagar Heliodorus pillar was a part of a more extensive ancient temple site as confirmed by various artifacts discovered here.. .......
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| one of the oldest images of Garuda. upload.wikimedia.org |
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| Heliodorus pillar upload.wikimedia.org |
The ancient stone pillar was discovered during two major archaeological excavations in the 20th-century. The pillar was part of an ancient Vāsudeva temple site, a place of worship and veneration.
Apart from the epic scriptures of the Bhagavad Gita, the epigraphical inscriptions on the Heliodorus pillar and the Hathibada Ghosundi Inscriptions bear testimony to the earliest references to the concept of Vāsudeva-Krishna devotion and early Vaishnavism. It is the very first archaeological finding of the worship of Sri Krishna and Vasudeva and the Heliodorus pillar is associated with Vasudeva temple.
The Heliodorus pillar lacks tapering and polishing unlike the ancient Ashokan pillars found in India. Further, it is also about half the diameter of Ashoka pillars .
https://thewire.in/history/how-the-historic-pillar-of-heliodorus-became-khamba-baba
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