Who is Krishna
Krishna is one of the most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism, revered as the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, and in some traditions (notably Gaudiya Vaishnavism) as the Svayam Bhagavan — the source from which even Vishnu manifests, rather than merely one of his forms. He is a central figure in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam), the Harivamsa, and the Vishnu Purana.
His name (Krishna, कृष्ण) is generally understood to mean “dark,” “dark-blue,” or “all-attractive,” and he is traditionally depicted with dark or blue-hued skin, often playing a flute, wearing a peacock feather, and dressed in yellow garments (pitambara).
Birth and Early Life (Vrindavan/Gokul period)
Krishna was born in Mathura to Vasudeva and Devaki, but raised by foster parents Nanda and Yashoda in the pastoral community of Gokul/Vrindavan, after being smuggled across the Yamuna river to protect him from his maternal uncle, the tyrant king Kamsa, who had been prophesied to be killed by Devaki’s eighth son.
His childhood in Vrindavan is the most celebrated period in devotional literature and art:
- Butter thief (Makhan Chor): Famous for stealing butter and curd, symbolizing innocent mischief and divine playfulness (lila).
- Slaying of demons: As a child and youth, he killed several demons sent by Kamsa, including Putana, Trinavarta, and the serpent Kaliya, whom he subdued in the Yamuna river.
- Govardhan Hill: Lifted Govardhan Hill on his finger to shelter villagers from torrential rain sent by Indra, humbling the deity of thunder.
- Raslila and Radha: His youth includes the raslila (divine dance) with the gopis (cowherd women), particularly his relationship with Radha, which became foundational to bhakti (devotional) traditions emphasizing divine love as a metaphor for the soul’s longing for God.
Mathura and the Overthrow of Kamsa
As a young man, Krishna returned to Mathura and killed Kamsa, freeing his birth parents and restoring the rightful king, Ugrasena, to the throne.
Dwarka Period
Facing repeated invasions from Kamsa’s father-in-law Jarasandha, Krishna relocated his people (the Yadavas) to Dwarka on the western coast, which he established as a fortified city-kingdom. Here he ruled as a statesman-king, married multiple queens (notably Rukmini and Satyabhama, among the “8 principal queens” or Ashtabharya), and became a key political and military figure among the kingdoms of the time.
Role in the Mahabharata
Krishna is central to the Mahabharata as:
- Arjuna’s charioteer and advisor during the Kurukshetra war, despite being a king in his own right — he chose to fight unarmed as charioteer rather than lead an army.
- Political strategist, playing a decisive behind-the-scenes role in the outcome of the war, including controversial strategic counsel (e.g., regarding Bhishma, Drona, and Karna).
- Peacemaker, attempting to prevent the war through diplomacy before its inevitability became clear.
The Bhagavad Gita
Krishna’s most philosophically significant contribution is the Bhagavad Gita — his discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield, given when Arjuna hesitates to fight against his own kin. Over 700 verses across 18 chapters, Krishna addresses:
- Dharma — duty and right action according to one’s role and station.
- Karma yoga — action without attachment to results.
- Jnana yoga — the path of knowledge and discernment between the eternal Self (Atman) and the perishable body.
- Bhakti yoga — devotion and surrender to the divine.
- The nature of the Self and Brahman — the immortality of the soul, the illusory nature of the material world (maya), and the relationship between the individual soul and the absolute.
- The Vishvarupa (Universal Form) — in Chapter 11, Krishna reveals his cosmic, all-encompassing form to Arjuna, one of the most striking theophanic moments in world religious literature.
Theological Significance
- In Vaishnavism broadly, Krishna is Vishnu’s most complete (purna) avatar.
- In Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Chaitanya tradition, and by extension ISKCON), Krishna is worshipped as the Svayam Bhagavan, the original source of divinity, with Vishnu and other avatars considered expansions of him.
- In Advaita Vedanta (Shankara’s tradition), Krishna is often read as the symbolic voice of Brahman, the impersonal absolute, using personal form as a teaching device.
- Krishna represents purna avatara — a “complete” incarnation, as opposed to partial incarnations (amsavatara), reflecting the fullest manifestation of divinity in human form.
Iconography and Symbols
- Flute (Bansuri): Symbol of divine call and the harmony he brings to creation.
- Peacock feather: Associated with beauty, grace, and his playful nature.
- Sudarshana Chakra: A discus weapon, symbol of divine justice and the destruction of adharma (unrighteousness).
- Blue/dark skin: Often interpreted as representing the infinite, like the sky or ocean.
- Cows and cowherding imagery: Reflecting his pastoral upbringing and role as Govinda (“protector of cows”).
Names and Epithets
Krishna is known by many names reflecting different facets of his character: Govinda, Gopala (cowherd), Madhava, Keshava, Vasudeva, Janardana, Mohan (enchanter), Murlidhar/Muralidhara (flute-bearer), Dwarkadhish (Lord of Dwarka), and Parthasarathy (Arjuna’s charioteer), among many others.
Death and Departure
Krishna’s earthly life ends when he is accidentally struck in the foot — his one vulnerable spot — by a hunter named Jara, who mistakes his foot for a deer. This event, along with the internecine destruction of the Yadava clan, marks the end of the Dvapara Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga in traditional chronology.