Vasudeva: The Father Figure Completing the Initiation Phase
Vasudeva is first introduced early on in Siddhartha’s journey for enlightenment. Initially, he is only mentioned in passing as an insignificant ferryman. However, in the final stages of Siddhartha’s journey, he is reintroduced as an ambiguous supernatural aid and father figure. While Vasudeva’s exact classification remains up to interpretation, he undoubtedly plays a major role in Siddhartha’s ultimate enlightenment. Siddhartha remains adamant that enlightenment must be obtained through self-exploration and cannot be taught, yet Vasudeva is undoubtedly a teacher in some capacity. Though he does not teach enlightenment itself, he introduces Siddhartha to the wisdom of the river and reveals various frameworks for becoming at peace with oneself. When Siddhartha first meets Vasudeva, has already abandoned his life as a Samana and is departing from the Buddha’s garden of Jetavana. Vasudeva is mentioned only briefly, and very few of his characteristics are revealed. Even his na...