Bhagavata

rdf:langString Bhagavata

rdf:langString right

rdf:langString Bagavada

rdf:langString center

rdf:langString horizontal

rdf:langString Historically, the Bhagavatas worshipped Vāsudeva-Krishna. An early depiction of Vāsudeva-Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria, 190–180 BCE.

rdf:langString center

rdf:langString Bhagavata

rdf:langString Vasudeva Krishna on a coin of Agathocles of Bactria circa 180 BCE.jpg

rdf:langString The Bhagavata tradition, also called Bhagavatism, refers to an ancient religious sect that traced its origin to the region of Mathura. After its syncretism with the Brahmanical tradition of Vishnu, Bhagavatism became a pan-Indian tradition by the second century BCE, according to R.C. Majumdar. Historically, Bhagavatism corresponds to the development of a popular theistic movement in India, departing from the elitist sacrificial rites of Vedism, and initially focusing on the worship of the Vrishni hero Vāsudeva in the region of Mathura. It later assimilated into the concept of Narayana where Krishna is conceived as svayam bhagavan. According to some historical scholars, worship of Krishna emerged in the 1st century BCE. However, Vaishnava traditionalists place it in the 4th century BCE. Despite relative silence of the earlier Vedic sources, the features of Bhagavatism and principles of monotheism of Bhagavata school unfolding described in the Bhagavad Gita as viewed as an example of the belief that Vāsudeva-Krishna is not an avatar of the Vedic Vishnu, but is the Supreme.