Proof of Vedic or Indic origin of Vaishnavism (Monotheistic Supremacy of Vishnu)?

Question

Edit: This question is not a duplicate as it is asking about the specific verses mentioned and not a generic question about Vedic Vasihnavism. Please know the difference.

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I was watching a Christian apologist video (also related) and they were saying that in Vedas, which are ancient, the religion was polytheistic and not monotheistic and Lord Vishnu was a minor god, not the supreme monotheistic God as modern Vaishnavites practice. Their claim is that Hindus took monotheistic doctrine from Jew and Old Testament around 400 to 500 BCE, and superimposed it with minor Vedic God Vishnu hence creating Vaishnavite systems like Pancharatra etc.

And in their support they cite Vedic verses where Vishnu is subservient to Indra and is seemingly a minor God.

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Now my question is:

1. Is it true that Vishnu is a minor God in the Vedas, who later became a major God? If no how do you explain the verses mentioned above and how do you establish the supremacy of Vishnu in the Vedas?

2. Is it possible to show that, if not Vedic, the origin of Vaishnavism was Indic, that Vaishnavite texts, proclaiming supremacy of Vishnu existed in India long before the advent of Jews? Maybe by the dating of Pancaratra, Vishnu Purana or Mahabharata?

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Note: This question is not opinion based as I'm asking verses and internal scriptural evidence of Vaishnavism and also this question is very important for Hindus.

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Answer 1

I have access to a Ramakrishna mission Bengali translation of Rig Veda Book 1. I have given my free translation of Rig Veda 1.22.16-21. These mantras treat Vishnu as Vaishnavas do. The idea that Vishnu is the preserver of the universe is there in the Rig Veda.

Protect us Devas in this place where Vishnu has trodden in seven regions of the earth.

Rig Veda 1.22.16

Vishnu has specially travelled the whole world. He had planted His foot three times. The whole world is included in the dust of Vishnu’s footsteps.

Rig Veda 1.22.17

Vishnu had trodden the earth three steps [1], He is the protector of all without being hurt by anyone and hence the protector of all dharmas.

Rig Veda 1.22.18

[1] Vishnu as Vamana Avatara had taken three steps.

Sayana’s interpretation: (O Ritviks!) Reflect on Vishu’s karma which ensures success of austerities. That same Vishnu is Indra’s friend.

Jamieson and Griffith’s interpretation: Reflect on Vishnu’s karma from which Vishnu observes everything….That Vishnu is Indra’s friend.

Rig Veda 1.22.19

The wise observe the holy place or footsteps of Vishnu the way an all-knowing eye observes from the earth.[2]

Rig Veda 1.22.20

[2] The above is a Vishnu mantra uttered at the start of a puja.

The wise who are specially gifted with poetic power enkindle or lighten up the best footstep of Vishnu.

Rig Veda 1.22.21

I don't have the Bengalis translations of the other verses. So I will do my best.

The other 4 Rig Veda verses 2.22.1, 6.17.11, 8.15.8-9 and 8.66.10 are hymns to Indra. These are arthavad or eulogy and should not be taken literally. The hymns are meant to glorify Indra and show his greatness. As part of that the hymn says that Vishnu Himself is a dear friend of Indra and even cooks for him. This suggests that Vishnu is acknowledged to be great since otherwise the praise loses its meaning. Nobody would care if a loser is a friend of Indra.

The Aiteriya Brahmana verse 1.30 acknowledges that Vishnu is possessed of the greatest power and changes darkness to light. Then it says that Vishnu is the doorkeeper of the gods. Now we must remember that these gods are jivas who through extraordinary merits have becomes holders of high posts. So Vishnu of highest power cannot be subordinate to the gods. The only sane explanation is that the gods have to worship Vishnu in order to gain liberation. It is in that sense that Vishnu is the gatekeeper.

Is Vaishnava monotheism copied from the Jewish Bible around 400-500 bce?

The answer will depend on when the Jews became monotheistic and also if there was any connection between the Jews and the Hindus around 400-500 bce.

So let us first check when the Jews became monotheistic.

When did Jews adopt the doctrine of monontheism?

At Kuntillet 'Arjud, a place in southern Israel, we find inscriptions dated to around the ninth to eighth centuries BCE. One of these inscriptions, which were published in the 1970s, speaks of the 'Yahweh of Samaria', the very type of designation Eichrodt tells us we would not find among Israelites. He claims that the designations of Yahweh as the God of Dan or Beersheba were denounced by Hebrew prophets (e.g., in Amos 8:14) precisely because they were Canaanite imports. But that alone tells us that such localized descriptions were found among Israelites. To say that this was an import even though almost every other major concept can be found among Israel's neighbors is the height of arbitrariness.

The finds at Kuntillet'Arjud also effectively defeat another of Eichrodt's pronouncements: "Yahweh never had a consort; and thus any idea that he needed to be complemented - a fate which befell all the other major Semitic deities - was rejected. In fact, at Kuntillet'Arjud we find inscriptions that are plausibly translated as " To [Y]ahweh (of) Teiman, and to his Asherah." [1] Inscriptions dated to the eighth century BCE, and with similar references to Asherah as Yahweh's consort, were published earlier by William G. Dever at another site named Khirbet-el-Qom.[2]

[1] William G. Dever, Did God have a Wife? Archeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2005), p 162 [2] Willaim G. Dever, Did God have a Wife? Archeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel, p 132

The End of Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology: The Pathology of Bibliolatry, Hector Avalos, p 255.

'The Hebrew Goddess' by Raphael Patai also discusses Jewish polytheism. There is evidence that Jews were polytheistic in the eighth century. However, by the time the c 600 ce text the Book of Exodus was written there is no doubt that Judaism was moving towards monotheism.

You shall have no other gods before me ... you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.

Exodus 20:1,5

Of course the very fact that in the Book of Exodus Yahweh has to threaten his followers of dire consequence if they worship other god suggest that polytheism was considered a threat even in 600 BCE. The exact date when Judaism became completely monotheistic is not known.

What do we know about the situation in India in the 600-300 BCE?

There are 3 ancient sources which tell us about about India and Indians in this period.

The first one is 'The Histories' by Herodotus. He mentions about Indian mercenaries fighting for the Persians against the Greeks but does not say anything about their religion.

Alexander's invasion of India around 330 BCE resulted in some books describing India. They do not mention seeing any Jews in India.

The third one is by the Greek Ambassador of the court of Selucus, Megasthenes, in the Maurya court. He talks about a God named Heracles which some scholars think is Krishna. The fragments of his book that survive is silent on Jews in India.

From these three sources one can say with some reliability that Hindus had contact with Greeks and with Persians in the 600-400 BCE. Greeks were polytheists while Persians as Zoroastrians were monotheists. We simply do not find any recorded source that mentions any contact between Hindus and Jews in that period.

There seems to be greater possibility that Vaishnavism derived its monotheism from the Persians than from the Jews. In reality Vaishnava monotheism seems a product of India. This is clear from what Megasthenes wrote. Krishna (Heracles) was an important deity even around 300 bce. Mahabharata which is dated between 400 BCE to 400 CE clearly supports the idea that Krishna was an important deity even earlier. Mahabharata does not mention Jews anywhere in the text. Moreover Lord Krishna is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad.

Ghora Angirasa expounded this well known doctrine to Devaki's son Krishna and said , 'Such a knower should at the time of death repeat this triad - "Thou art the imperishable, Thou art the unchangeable, Thou art the subtle essence of Prana." (on hearing the above) Krishna became thirstless. There are two Rk stanzas in regard to this.

Chandogya Upanishad 3.17.6

Chandogya Upanishad was composed around 900 BCE according to western scholars. The fact that such an old text mentions Sri Krishna suggests that Krishna was a very important deity even in 900 BCE when Judaism was most likely polytheist. So one could argue that early Vaishnavism predates monotheistic Judaism by a large margin.

The claim made by Christian apologists is an extraordinary one. As we have shown that when Judaism became monotheist is uncertain and that there is no evidence that there was any contact between Hindus and Jews in that time. In fact Hindus had much greater contact with Persians and Greeks. Thus the Christian apologists would need to give extraordinary proof of their extraordinary claim for anyone to believe them.

Answer 2

Summary : The Vedas DO NOT declare Vishnu as a minor deity. He occupies very much the same lofty position as he always has. The verses are not accurately represented, but despite that is to be understood as reference to Lord Trivikrama, Indra’s younger brother, showing brotherly affection for him. There’s no labour involved.

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Detailed Obviously, just like the Puranas, the Vedas too declare Brahman in a similar fashion, the very one for whom all scriptures are supposed to be dedicated. We shall restrict the discussion to only Shri Hari. As per the question there are some ‘apparently’ contradictory verses about him, which we shall sort below.

The Supremacy of Shri Hari in the Rigveda

It is incorrect to say that Vedas do not proclaim Shri Hari as Brahman. One answer already gives the Shadvaishnava verses which show Vishnu’s high position. In addition I’d like to state one more (taken from here):

यः पू॒र्व्याय॑ वे॒धसे॒ नवी॑यसे सु॒मज्जा॑नये॒ विष्ण॑वे॒ ददा॑शति । यो जा॒तम॑स्य मह॒तो महि॒ ब्रव॒त्सेदु॒ श्रवो॑भि॒र्युज्यं॑ चिद॒भ्य॑सत् ॥

Vishnu is the most ancient of all, yet also the most recent. Nothing and no one creates Vishnu, yet Vishnu creates everyone and everything.
-Rigveda 1.156.2

Against the above translation, Sayanacharya’s explanation presents a slightly different and more convincing view. Some words are explained by him:

1. ‘पूर्व्याय’ पूर्वकालीनाय नित्यायेत्यर्थः - pūrvāya means ancient and must be understood as nitya (eternal).
   2. ‘वेधसे’ विविधजगत्कर्त्रे - Vedhas means the creator of many jagats (worlds).
   3. ‘नवीयसे’ नित्यनूतनाय अत्यन्तरमणीयायेत्यर्थः - navīyas means one forever knew, to be understood as extremely pleasing to look at.
   4.‘जातं’ जन्म उत्पत्तिं हिरण्यगर्भादिरूपं जन्म - jata means birth in the from of Hiranyagarbha.

In fact, for the very next verse (1.156.3) Sayanacharya explains :

विष्णोरेव स्वर्गापवर्गसाधनाय इष्ट्याद्यात्मना द्रव्यदेवतात्मना वा परिणामम् - Only Vishnu is the facilitator of svarga and moksha, he is the atman of the Yajna and the devata of the Dakshina or (and) the result as well.

Thus we can see that the supremacy of Narayana is upheld by the Rigveda samhita.

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Solving the ‘Apparent’ Contradiction

This will be done in two parts. First present a more accurate explanation for the verses quoted in the question, as per Sayanacharya. Second the reason for contradiction.

A. Sayanacharya’s explanation for the verses

From the below it will be seen that while giving a fairly accurate translation, how the verses in the question have been misrepresented in their titular summary.

1. Rigveda 2.22.1:
   The translation in the verse quoted says Indra drank (the poured out) Soma with Vishnu, yet the title wrongly says he pressed Soma for Indra. As per Sayana too there’s no pressing (labour) by Vishnu. He simply says:

तं सोमं विष्णुना सह अपिबत् - he drank that Soma with Vishnu.

2. Rigveda 6.17.11:
   In the very same translation quoted, the verse talks about a certain ‘he’ who has cooked buffaloes. That same ‘he’ together with Pushan and Vishnu poured 3 vessels of Soma for Indra. Thus this ‘he’ cannot be Vishnu who cooks. If one sees the previous verses, it’s amply clear that this ‘he’ is Tvashta (explained by Sayanacharya as devatas architect). Although little confusing, Sayana too says, ‘may he cook’ in singular form (पचेत्) and hence can’t refer to all 3 but only Tvashta. There’s no cooking of beef by Vishnu. Vishnu pusha Tvashta only pour the soma. Though little out of order, he says these 3 fill 3 vessels of Soma:

सोमैः पात्राणि पूरयन्त इत्यर्थः - they fill the 3 vessels with Soma.

3. Rigveda 8.15.9 of the devatas praising Indra is correct, even as per Sayana Bhashya

4. Rigveda 8.66.10 quoted above doesn’t match with Sayana’s 8.66.10 of the Rigveda. Hence not commenting. But let’s assume it’s true (it’ll be sorted below).

Thus we can see some claims made are not accurate, not even matching with the same translation given against it.

B. Explaining the ‘apparent’ contradiction

Though the claims have been proven inaccurate, the question still remains, why is Vishnu (declared supreme in the Rigveda) drinking Soma alongside Indra and why is he pouring him? Does the same person, whom the same Rigveda declares as eternal, do this?

The answer is, ‘Vishnu’ has a dual meaning - Narayana as well as Trivikrama. The person who’s pouring the soma is to be understood as Vishnu in the form of Trivikrama, the son of Aditi and Kashyapa and Indra’s younger brother, and not in the form of the eternal God. Proof of this is from the Rigveda itself. Please see the Shadvaishnava verse 1.22.17 and Sayana’s explanation:

इ॒दं विष्णु॒र्वि च॑क्रमे त्रे॒धा नि द॑धे प॒दम् । समू॑ळ्हमस्य पांसु॒रे॥

Sayana says- विष्णुः त्रिविक्रमावतारधारी ... जगद् ... विशेषेण क्रमणं कृतवान्। तदा त्रिभिः प्रकारैः स्वकीयं पादं प्रक्षिप्तवान्। सेयमृक् यास्केनैवं व्याख्याता - विष्णुर्विशतेर्वा ... यदिदं किंच विक्रमते विष्णुस्त्रिधा निधत्ते पदं...।

Vishnu in the form of Trivikrama transgressed the world. Then he cast his legs in three different ways. This Rik has been explained by Yaska - Vishnu the one who pervades or the one who transgresses (pervades) the world, while placing his feet in 3 ways.

We can see that Vamana is also called Vishnu not merely because of being Narayana, but because he became so huge that he pervaded bhu bhuvah svah. In this case, it doesn’t mean Narayana who pervades all creation and hence called Vishnu. The word ‘Vishnu’ carries a dual meaning.

These words of the Veda and the relation between Indra and Vamana can be further explained from the Harivamsa. In the Govardhana episode similar to the ‘apparently’ confusing Vedic verses, Indra too first acknowledges Narayana as of higher position than him, but is quick to go back to Upendra. For example:

[praising as higher] Krishna, all the creations of this world are in your body. This is as per the direction of brahma. You are among the gods , like gold in minerals. Even the self manifested brahma, with his knowledge and position, is unable to understand you, like a lame man who is unable to catch up with a fast runner.
Vishnu Parva verses 19.23-24

[Back to Upendra] People on the earth will worship mahendra (me) and upendra (you) with flags and sacrifices.
-Vishnu Parva verse 19.58

The above (first declare as supreme then younger brother) is because, though Indra knows who Vishnu is, yet he considers him as a younger brother (Harivamsa 2.19.37) and expects the same the same respect a younger sibling will give the older. This can be seen from Indra’s words when Krishna wants to take the Parijata from him, an event subsequent to Govardhana (where Indra himself acknowledges Narayana as higher than himself). You can find it here.

Therefore even the explanation for the Vedic verses is the same simple one. A younger brother Vishnu Trivikrama is respectfully praising the older and both are drinking Soma together with brotherly affection, even one pouring some of it for the other.

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Conclusion

To answer your following question:

Is it true that Vishnu is a minor God in the Vedas, who later became a major God? If no how do you explain the verses mentioned above and how do you establish the supremacy of Vishnu in the Vedas?

The Vedas mostly extol the residents of svarga and Vishnu as Trivikrama (being Indra’s younger brother) is included among them. However besides being included as Trivikrama, he is also supreme and eternal in the same Veda. How can someone described as eternal, be only a minor deity?

The verses as stated are grossly misrepresented in the question. After deriving a more accurate meaning, they can be explained as the brotherly respect and affection shown by Vishnu playing the role of Trivikrama, Indra’s younger brother.

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Extra Note: ^{It is pertinent to note that the Vedic samhitas extol the residents of svarga, more than Brahman since through the Karmakanda (yajna) portion they get their nourishment. Hence in almost all places, the names belong mostly to the Adityas (Vishnu included), Vasus like Agni, Vishvedevas, Ribhus and such heavenly residents. Hence the Vishnu included in these lists is Trivikrama Vamana. If the supreme gods were to be shown as serving Indra, why are Rudra and Hiranyagarbha not included with these devatas? Because they did not incarnate among the Adityas. Vishnu incarnated and hence Vamana is included among the 12 Adityas. Where he’s spoken of as Brahman, he’s Brahman and not these devatas.}

Answer 3

Harihi Om.

Side Note: This answer shall be more from a historical point of view, than based on the Shaastras.

The main philosophy of Vaishnavism and the Supremacy of Shri Vishnu over all other devatas, comes from the Pancharaatra Aagamas. They themselves are mentioned in the Vedas:

पुरुषो ह नारायणोऽकामयत अतितिष्ठेयं सर्वाणि भूतान्यहमेवेदं सर्वं स्यामिति स एतम् पुरुषमेधम् पञ्चरात्रम् यज्ञक्रतुमपश्यत्तमाहरत्तेनायजत तेनेष्ट्वात्यतिष्ठत्सर्वाणि भूतानीदं सर्वमभवदतितिष्ठति सर्वाणि भूतानीदं सर्वम् भवति य एवम् विद्वान्पुरुषमेधेन यजते यो वैतदेवम् वेद ।​

-Shatapatha Braahmana, Khanda 13, Adhyaaya 6, Braahmana 1, Mantra 1

ऋग्वेदं भगवोऽध्येमि यजुर्वेदं सामवेदमाथर्वणं चतुर्थमितिहासपुराणं पञ्चमं वेदानां वेदं पित्र्यं राशिं दैवं निधिं वाकोवाक्यमेकायनं देवविद्यां ब्रह्मविद्यां भूतविद्यां क्षत्रविद्यां नक्षत्रविद्यां सर्पदेवजनविद्यामेतद्भगवोऽध्येमि ॥ ७.१.२ ॥

-Chhaandogya Upanishad, Prapaathaka 7, Khanda 1, Mantra 2

The Shatapatha Braahmana and Chhaandogya Upanishad are dated to 600-800 BCE and 1000 BCE (or earlier) respectively. This straightaway debunks the claims against Shri Vishnu's Supremacy. The Shatapatha Braahmana mentions a Yajna of five nights performed by Shri Brahmaa (whose indweller is Shri Naaraayana), which was the origin of the Pancharaatra philosophy. The Chhaandogya Upanishad refers to the Pancharaatra philosophy by the name 'Ekaayana'. The Pancharaatra Aagamas, such as Purushottama Samhita (Adhyaaya 1, Mantra 10), Eeshvara Samhita (Adhyaaya 1, Mantra 19), Parama Purusha Samhita (Adhyaaya 1, Mantra 19) and Prashna Samhita (Adhyaaya 2, Mantras 38-39), themselves mention that 'Ekaayana' is a name of the Vaishnava philosophy.

Also, the Vedas have ample references of Shri Vishnu's Supremacy over other devatas such as Indra. For instance, the Taittireeya Aaranyaka, dated roughly to the same age of the Chhaandogya Upanishad, contains the Naaraayana Sukta.

नारायण परं ब्रह्म तत्त्वं नारायणः परः ।
नारायण परो ज्योतिरात्मा नारायणः परः ॥ ४ ॥

Naraayana is the Supreme Brahman, Naaraayana is the Supreme Reality. Naaraayana is the Supreme Light, Naaraayana is the Supreme Aatma.

-Taittireeya Aaranyaka, Prapaathaka 10, Anuvaaka 13, Mantra 4

तस्याः शिखाया मध्ये परमात्मा व्यवस्थितः ।
स ब्रह्म स शिवः सेन्द्रः सोऽक्षरः परमः स्वराट् ॥ १२ ॥

In the Middle of That Flame, the Supreme Aatma (Paramaatma) dwells. He (Paramaatma) is Brahmaa, Shiva, Indra, the Imperishable, the Autonomous Being.

-Taittireeya Aaranyaka, Prapaathaka 10, Anuvaaka 13, Mantra 4

Here, the devatas, including Indra, are said to be vibhutis of Paramaatma. Further, the Purusha Sukta mentions the birth of Indra from Purusha:

च॒न्द्रमा॒ मन॑सो जा॒तः । चक्षोः॒ सूर्यो॑ अजायत ।
मुखा॒दिन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ । प्रा॒णाद्वा॒युर॑जायत ॥ १४ ॥

“Chandra (the moon) was born from his mind, Surya (the Sun) was born from his two eyes. Indra and Agni were born from his mouth, and Vaayu was born from his breath.”

-Rgveda, Mandala 10, Sukta 90 (Purusha Sukta), Mantra 14

The Kena Upanishad (also dated to the 1st millennium BCE) mentions the inferior position of Indra in front of Brahman and therefore, his inability to be the Supreme Eeshvara. The Taittireeya Aaranyaka (Prapaathaka 8) and Katha Upanishad (Adhyaaya 2, Valli 3, Mantra 3) have a common mantra:

भी॒षाऽस्मा॒द्वातः॑ पवते । भी॒षोदे॑ति॒ सूर्यः॑ ।
भीषाऽस्मादग्नि॑श्चेन्द्र॒श्च । मृत्युर्धावति पञ्च॑म इ॒ति ।

From fear of Him (Brahma), Agni burns, from fear of Him, Sūrya shines, from the fear of Him, Indra (causes rain), Vāyu (blows), and Mṛtyu runs (to do his work) as the fifth [one].

This even has a direct Upa-Braahmana from the Bhaagavatam:

(Shri Kapila said), "It is because of My supremacy that the wind blows, out of fear of Me; the sun shines out of fear of Me, and the lord of the clouds, Indra, sends forth showers out of fear of Me. Fire burns out of fear of Me, and death goes about taking its toll out of fear of Me."

-Bhaagavata Puraana, Khanda 3, Adhyaaya 25, Shloka 42

Now, the first Khanda of the Naaraayana Upanishad (dated by historians to somewhere in the 1st millenium BCE) itself says:

नारायणादिन्द्रो जायते । नारायणात्प्रजापतयः प्रजायन्ते ।

From Naaraayana, Indra is born. From Naaraayana Prajaapati is born.

The fourth Khanda of the Naaraayana Upanishad states:

ब्रह्मण्यो देवकीपुत्रो ब्रह्मण्यो मधुसूदनोम् । सर्वभूतस्थमेकं नारायणम् । कारणरूपमकार परं ब्रह्मोम् ।

The son of Devaki is Brahmanya. Madhusudana is Brahmanya. Naaraayana who pervades all elements, who is one only, who is the cause Purusha and who is causeless, is known as Parabrahman.

The same passage is repeated in the Aatmabodha Upanishad too. Therefore, the Shaastras do state Shri Vishnu's Supremacy and it is very much baseless to say that abrahamic religions influenced Vaishnavism, when it existed centuries before the appearance of Christianity itself.