Helidiorus pillar and other inscriptions

Colonial-era archaeologists in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh discovered a pillar with an inscription written in a Brahmi script. Using modern techniques, it has been dated to between 125 and 100 BCE and concluded that it was built for a regional Indian king by an Indo-Greek representative who was an ambassador of the Greek king Antillidas. Was their representative in form. After this Indo-Greek name it is now known as the Helladiorous Pillar. Its inscription is a dedication to "Vasudeva" which is another name for Krishna in Indian tradition. Many scholars are of the opinion that it mentions a deity named "Vasudeva", as the inscription states that it was built by "Bhagavata Heliodorus" and that it is a "Garuda pillar" (both being Vishnu-Krishna-related terms). Additionally, a chapter of the inscription also contains poetry related to Krishna, referencing Chapter 11.7 of the Mahabharata, explaining that the path to immortality and heaven is to rightly live a life of three virtues: Self-restraint (damaḥ). , generosity (tyaga) and vigilance (apramadaha)

The Heliodorus inscription is not the only evidence. Three Hathibada inscriptions and one Ghosundi inscription, located in Rajasthan state and dated to the 19th century BCE according to modern methodology, also mention Krishna. In the 1st century BCE, a structure was built for their worship, mentioning Sankarshana (a name of Krishna) and Vasudeva. These four inscriptions are among the oldest known Sanskrit inscriptions.

In many Puranas, the life story of Krishna has been told or some light has been thrown on it. Two Puranas, the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana, contain the most detailed account of Krishna's story, but the life stories of Krishna in these and other texts vary and contain significant inconsistencies. The Bhagavata Purana is divided into twelve books comprising 332 chapters, containing between 16,000 and 18,000 verses depending on the edition. The tenth book of the text, which consists of about 4000 verses (~25%) and is devoted to legends about Krishna, is the most popular and widely studied chapter of the text.

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