About Lord Krishna

Introduction

Krishna is a major deity in Hindu mythology. He is worshipped as the 8th avatar of Vishnu and is considered to be a supreme God in His own right. He is known for being a god of protection, compassion, and tenderness and his birthday is celebrated once a year by Hindus on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.

Krishna’s life is typically described as a series of anecdotes and narratives. Various Hindu texts have depicted him in various ways, such as as as a god-child, prankster, lover, strategist and divine hero. His iconography shows him in various stages of his life, from infancy to his late 20s. He is a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Bhagavad Gita, and is mentioned in many Hindu philosophical, theological, and mythological texts.

Physical Traits

Although he is often depicted with various features, such as a black or dark skin, his iconography is typically focused on the natural colour of the material that he is formed from. In ancient and medieval art, his skin is referred to as the colour of Jambul.

Krishna is usually depicted wearing a feather-like wreath or crown, and playing a bansuri or flute. In this form, he is shown standing with his legs bent in front of the other. He is also depicted as a romantic boy who enjoys playing pranks on the people of his village and making music.

He is often depicted as a charioteer in epic scenes of the Mahabharata and in one of the most popular depictions, he is shown as giving wise counsel to Arjuna while he is driving a chariot. Various alternate icons of Krishna show him being a baby, a toddler, a dancing child, or a cosmic infant. Regional variations in his imagery are also seen in various parts of India.

Family

According to legend, Devaki and Vasudeva of the Yadava clan in Mathura are married. At the wedding, Kamsa, who is the tyrant brother of Devaki, arranges to kill all of the children of Devaki as a prophecy has foretold that Krishna will kill him. When Krishna is born, his father secretly carries him away from the palace and exchanges him with the child of Nanda and Yashodha. Legend has it that the baby who was brought back by Vasudeva, appears to be the Hindu goddess Yogmaya, informing Kamsa that his death has arrived. Krishna also had 2 siblings who survived, Balarama and Subhadra and is also cousins with the Pandavas who are the main protagonists of the Mahabharata

Other Names

Krishna is also known by various names, which reflect his various attributes and associations. Some of the most common names include Mohan, Govinda, Gopala and he is also referred to as Jagannatha, Kannan, Parthasarathy and Kanhaiyya in various parts of India.

Powers and Abilities

As one of the incarnations of Vishnu, Krishna showcases almost all the powers and abilities of the supreme being. Krishna is capable of everything within the earth and has displayed his ultimate powers in various situations in the religious texts.

Modern Day Influence

The birth of Krishna is celebrated as Krishna Jayanthi all around India. He is also a prominent figure in Buddhism, Jainism, Bahaa religion and in mythologies of many South East Asian countries.

Followers of Krishna are known as Vaishnavites and many temples have been built in his honour. The international movement known as Hare Krisna or ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) considers Krishna to be the ultimate God and spreads his teachings around the world.