THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF BHAGAVATISM

 Bhagavatism originated in post-Maurya period and was centred around the worship of Vishnu  or Bhagavata. Vishnu was a minor god in Vedic times. He represented the sun and also the fertility cult. By second century BC he merged with God called Narayana and thus came to be known as Narayana- Vishnu. Originally Narayana was non vedic tribal god called Bhagavata, and his worshipers were called Bhagavatas Thus worshipers of Vishnu and those of Narayana were brought under a single umbrella by merging Vishnu with Narayana. The former was a  Vedic  God and latter emerged subsequently with non vedic associations, however, two gods mingled and merged.Besides Vishnu came to be identified with a legendary hero of VRISHNI TRIBE in western India known as Krishna Vasudeva. The great epic Mahabharata showed that Krishna and Vishnu were one, by 200 BC the three streams of God's and their worshipers into one and resulted in the creation of BHAGAVATISM or VAISHNAVISM.. This religion was sufficiently liberal to attract foreigners. Krishna taught in the Bhagavadgita that women, vaishyas and shudras  who were born of sin could seek refuge in him. Bhagavatisim or Vaishnavism over shadowed Mahayana Buddhism and it preached doctrine of incarnation or avatar and it presented 10 incarnations of Vishnu. Each incarnation of Vishnu was considered necessary for the salvation of Dharma.By 6 th century Vishnu became a member of Trinity of god's along with Shiva and Brahma.After 6th century Vishnu worship and recitation of the  legends associated with him began to be established in eastern India. Several religious recitations including " Vishnusahasranama " were composed for the benefit of Vishnu worshipers. Idol worship in temples became a common feature of Hinduism from the GUPTA period onward and many festivals also began to be celebrated. Agricultural festivals observed by different classes of people were lent a religious grab and color and turned a useful source of income for the priests