Vasudeva

For the Kushan king, see Vasudeva I. For the book by Narendra Kohli, see Vasudeva (book).

Not to be confused with Vāsudeva, a name of Krishna.

Krishna being carried over river Yamuna by Vasudeva just after his birth on Janmashtami

Krishna and Balarama meet their parents. Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

In Hindu mythology, Vasudeva (Devanagari वसुदेव, IAST Vasudeva) is the father of Krishna, the son of Śũrasena, of the Yadav and Vrishni dynasties. His sister Kunti was married to Pandu. He was a partial incarnation of Rishi Kashyap. The patronymic Vāsudeva (with long ā) is a popular name of Krishna.

Related to this name is an early religion, sometimes called Bhagavatism^[1] that was largely formed by the 4th century BC where Vasudeva was worshiped as the supreme Deity in a strongly monotheistic format, where the supreme Being was perfect, eternal and full of grace.^[1]

The name forms part of a famous mantra also known as a "twelve syllable mantra", which believed to be the earliest mantra from pre-reformation times, pre-dating sectarian divisions in Vaishnavism- (IAST oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya), it is translated as "Om, reverence to the Lord Vasudeva".^[1]

Vasudeva married Devaki, the cousin of Kamsa, and he was also the father of Krishnas sister Subhadra. He also took a second wife, Rohini, who bore his eldest son, Balarama. According to some accounts he also had several other children by other wives.

Vasudeva and Devaki spent most of their early adult life behind bars in the deepest pits of darkness as ordered by Kamsa. Vasudeva was known for his consistent approach to life and his virtue of being a truthful person, never uttering a lie during his lifetime. After Kamsa was killed by Krishna, Vasudeva was installed as the Crown-Prince of Mathura under the reign of Devaki's uncle, King Ugrasena.

The name is from vásu "good" and deva "deity". The Vasus are a group of eight Vedic deities.

See also

• Heliodorus pillar

Notes

References

• Hastings, James Rodney (2nd edition 1925-1940, reprint 1955, 2003) [1908-26]. Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. John A Selbie (Volume 4 of 24 ( Behistun (continued) to Bunyan.) ed.). Edinburgh: Kessinger Publishing, LLC. pp. 476. ISBN 0-7661-3673-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=Kaz58z--NtUC&pg=PA540&vq=Krishna&source=gbs_search_r&cad=1_1&sig=lo3NqA31k8hJZw7qNc9QDEAYyYA. 

Further reading

RG Bhandarkar: "Vasudeva of Panini" 4.3.98. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1910.

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