Context
The pillar was surmounted by a sculpture of the eagle Garuda and was apparently dedicated by Heliodorus to Vasudeva, called god of gods, in front of the temple of Vasudeva. He, along with Agathocles of the same period, would be the earliest converts to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism.
Coins minted during the time period of Antialcidas depict Dios (Zeus) with lotus-tipped sceptre, in front of an elephant with a bell (symbol of Taxila), surmouted by Nike holding a wreath, crowning the elephant. The coins carry the inscription "BASILEOS NIKEPHOROU ANTIALKIDOU". These coins were also minted at the Pushkalavati mint and carry the same inscription in Kharoṣṭhī script
Zeus' Eagle messenger and companion Aetos Dios, was considered as Zeus himself.
"When you were an eagle, when you picked up the boy on the slopes of Teukrian Ida with greedy gentle claw, and brought him to heaven." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 10. 308 ff
Aetos Dios was also considered a "messenger of God (Zeus)" and adopted by the Greek and Roman military:
"he put a golden eagle on his war standards and dedicated it as a protection for his valour" - Anacreon, Fragment 505d (from Fulgentius, Mythologies) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.)
Professor Kunja Govinda Goswami of Calcutta University concludes that Heliodorus "was well acquainted with the texts dealing with the Bhagavata religion."
Based on this evidence it has been suggested that Heliodorus is the earliest Westerner on record to convert to Vaishnavism. But some scholars, most notably A. L. Basham and Thomas Hopkins, are of the opinion that Heliodorus was not the only Greek to convert to Bhagavata Krishnaism. Hopkins, chairman of the department of religious studies at Franklin and Marshall College, has said, "Heliodorus was presumably not the only foreigner who was converted to Vaishnava devotional practices-although he might have been the only one to erect a column, at least one that is still extant. Certainly there must have been many others."
The 2nd book of Maccabees includes a description of the form of God that is strikingly similar to the depictions of Krishna and Balarama in Vaisnavism. In Vaisnavism, Krishna and Balaram are characterized as youthful, resplendently dressed and very handsome young men. This depiction matches the description of God as He appeared to Heliodorus in the temple of Jerusalem according to the record of 2nd Maccabees.
Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him innumerable blows. - 2 Maccabees 3:26
Vāsudeva is also a popular name for Krishna and Balarama.
Read more about this topic: Heliodorus Pillar
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