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Vāsudeva

The eldest of the Andhakaveṇhudāsaputtā.

The Ghaṭa Jātaka (No.454) relates how, when Vāsudeva’s son died and Vāsudeva gave himself up to despair, his brother Ghaṭapaṇḍita brought him to his senses by feigning madness.

Vāsudeva’s minister was Rohiṇeyya. Vāsudeva is addressed as Kaṇha (J.iv.84; he is called Kaṇha at J.vi.421) and again as Kesava. The scholiast explains (J.iv.84) that he is called Kaṇha because he belonged to the Kaṇhāyana-gotta, and Kesava because he had beautiful hair (kesasobhanatāya). These names, however, give support to the theory (see Andhakavenhudāsaputtā, No.1) that the story of Vāsudeva was associated with the legend of Krsna.

In the Umaṅga Jātaka (J.vi.421) it is stated that Jampāvatī, mother of King Sivi, was the consort of Vāsudeva Kaṇha. The scholiast identifies this Vāsudeva with the eldest of the Andhakaveṇhudāsaputtā, and says that Jampāvatī was an outcaste (caṇḍālī). Vāsudeva fell in love with her because of her great beauty and married her in spite of her caste. Their son was Sivi, who later succeeded to his father’s throne at Dvāravatī.

Vāsudeva is identified with Sāriputta. J.iv.89.

Vāsudevavattikā.– Probably followers of Vāsudeva (? Krsna); they are mentioned with Baladevavattikā and others in a list of Samaṇabrāhmaṇā­vattasuddhikā. Nid.i.89; cf. Vāsudevāytana at DhSA., p.141.