Lord Shri Krishna

Krishna is the eighth Avatar or incarnation of Bhagavan Shri Hari Vishnu a major deity who is said to be self-aware since his birth. He is the most praised god in Hinduism and majorly by the followers of Vaishnavism. Shri Krishna is considered the epitome of Love a God who promoted four yoga-based Philosophy focusing on Bhakti Marg and Dharm yoga. He is considered the main character of Mahabharat and throughout his lifetime he has presented enlightening knowledge and guidance to all the persons who were graced with his amity.

Shree Krishna Birth:

Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s birth was a divine orchestrate, played to propagate the true essence of life and guide humankind to lead a devotional, peaceful, and righteous life with love and compassion. It was a predestined oracle that Lord Krishna would come to life as the seventh son of Devaki and end the tyrant and evils of his maternal uncle’s Kans. Since the prophecy announced his death, Kans decided to kill all the children born to Devaki and Vasudev and imprisoned them, even after so much exhaustion Kans could not escape his doom. On the night Shri Krishna was born a miracle happened and another divine prophecy guided the parents on how to safeguard their child from Kans so that at the right time he could defeat him and free Mathura.

So on the dark night after Krishna Bhagwan ji was born all the guards fell into deep slumber so Vasudev could take Lord Krishna safely to Nanda and Yashodha at Gokul across the Yamuna river in the stormy night. In his infant form as well he depicted magnanimous grace and helped Vasudev reach safely across Yamuna even with the heavy rain and flow, seeing lord Shri Krishna himself Sheshnaag sheltered him and Devi Yamuna created a way for his safe journey as his feet touched the water.

After exchanging the children when Vasudev returned and Kans came to kill the child the daughter of Nanda and Yashodha took her original form of Yogmaya and warned him to change his ways as his ‘Kaal’ (defeater) is been born and disappeared. And at every instance, kans tried to get Shri Krishna killed he was disappointed by the glory and miracles of the lord.

Narratives Behind Lord Krishna Bhagwan’s Names:

• From birth, the lord was dark-skinned hence he was denoted with names like ‘Kanha’ or ‘Krishna’ or ‘Shyam’ all representing his dark night skin, or the midnight blue skin. The term ‘Krishn’ also means all-attractive. He was also called Devakinandan or Yashodhalala after his birth and adoptive mother respectively and Vasudevputra and Nandalala after his birth and adoptive father respectively. Being born in Yadu he is also known as ‘Yaduvanshi Krishna’

• Sri Krishna was known to be the most mischievous since childhood and would eat butter, milk, and curd secretly from the Gopi’s i.e. milkmaid’s pots, sometimes breaking their earthen vessels so they started calling him ‘Makhan Chor’ along with it he was capable of mesmerizing people with his charm enchanting young maidens hearts so was called ‘Mohan’ ‘Manohara’ Due to eternal beauty, Kanha ji was able to escape all the scoldings. He was raised in the house of the cowherd head’s house hence called Gopal, ‘Go’ denoting cow, and ‘pal’ meaning playing or protector.

• Once Baal Gopal Krishna Bhagwan was rearing cows and heard that the Yamuna River is poisoned due to Kaaliya Naag taking abode there and destroying everything in the vicinity. Upon hearing so he dived into the river and defeated the five-headed ferocious serpent, while all were worried for him, the lord appeared from the water on the head of the Naag, which is considered one of Krishna Leela.

• Another instance is when lord Indra tried to establish his supremacy and flooded the whole of Gokul with continuous rain. Then Krishna Bhagwan ji hold the Govardhan Parvat with his little finger to put shelter over the Gokulvasi (residents of Gokul), gaining him the name ‘Govardhan Giridhari’

• All through his childhood, there are many such instances where Bhagwan Shree Krishna fought with unjust saved his villagers and friends, and warded off all the Asur sent by his maternal uncle. Along with all this, he never forgot to enjoy the company of his friends and Gopis’, he danced with them, and played flute, so named ‘Murali’ or ‘Muralimanohara’. It was miraculous as Krishna Ji would take several forms and play Raasleela with all Gopi stating that my love is for all hence also known as ‘Madana’. Even so, his heart belongs to his eternal consort Radha called Barsane ki Radha Rani, to who he is devoted hence even today her name is pronounced before Shree Krishna’s name ‘Radhekrishna’ or ‘Radheshyam’.

• After his astonishing feats in Gokul, Barsana, and Vrindavan Shri Krishna god moved to accomplish his destiny and end the rule of Kans reinstating his maternal grandfather Ugrasen here he was also called ‘Yadavendra’ (lord of the Yadav clan). He then married Rukmani and had seven other partners as wives majorly, all for fulfilling either political or personal promises. And led his life guiding others to attain their goal. Krishna Ji plays a major role in the happenings of Mahabharat as a dear friend to the couple Draupadi and Arjun who later married his sister Subhadra, also connected through clan relations with the Kauravas.

There are in all 108 names of Shri Krishna all having interesting Krishna Leela Stories and meaning to them. This was just a small glimpse of Lord Shri Krishna’s Biography he had affected many people’s lives in a positive light and has many interesting instances all connected somewhere down the lane in his entire existence as a human Avatar.

Read: Exploring Krishna’s Role in the Mahabharata

Krishna Philosophy And Text

Shri Krishna is Bhagavad Gita’s soul, as can be said, the whole excerpt is a conversation between him and Pandav Prince Arjun. On the battleground of Kurukshetra when the war is about to begin and Arjun enters delima due to the impending destruction and death, Krishna Bhagwan attains his Param Parmeshwar Vishnu Avatar and tells him that one should fulfill his Dharma, and as Khstriya it was his duty to fight for justice, and stating as he knows all even so he must follow the destiny and accomplish his life goal.

The sacred Hindu text is stated to be written by Lord Ganesh that was narrated to him by Rish Vyas where the whole dialog between Arjun and his charioteer Shree Krishna covers a broad range of spiritual, existential, ethical, and moral philosophy. Shri Krishan is called the ‘Saar’ (core) of Bhagavad Gita where he preaches Bhakti Marg or Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga all as essential aspects of human existence and one should execute each with dedication.

Krishna Theology is an affluent aspect of Vaishnavism the Vaishnav Philosophy accepting Shri Hari Vishnu as the ultimate god. There are various scriptures, texts, and philosophies circling around Krishna Kanaiya throughout history each understanding their own way and explaining accordingly. Even so, Krishna Bhagavad Gita, meaning the song of Gods is the most renowned, celebrated sacred text followed by Hindus as a guide for life.

In Bhakti Marg, Bhagwan Shri Krishna is praised in various forms under the wide umbrella of Vaisnavism. The biggest Bhakt of Kanaiya is said to be a Rajput Princess Meera Bai who is also known as Sant Meera as she devoted her life to the ultimate lord and wrote many praising texts on the same. Then there is Alvar the Tamil saint following Krishna and in Deccan the Warkari Sampraday following Vithoba one of Sri Vishnu or Gopal Krishna Bhagwan’s avatars. A wide range of poems and texts belong to the Saints who wrote poems in praise of the lord.

Along with Hinduism Lord Shree Krishna is praised in Jainism in his recurring Avatar as Tirthankara among the nine triads. Some legends also believe that Mahavir Buddha is also one of Krishna’s Avatar, though various texts portray various stories there is mention of Sri Krishna God in Jataka Tales of Buddhism. Hence there is some influence seen in both the division of Philosophical Schools.

Mandir and Festivities

Krishna’s devotion is peaceful and astounding even to witness and feel that is marvelous, the devotees of the Hindu God Krishna always describe as. If one visits the Krishna Mandir one would always find an alluring idol of Shri Krishna along with Radha Rani playing flute and the bhakt chanting ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’.

As of the present times ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness) is renowned for promoting Shri Krishna and his philosophy providing many aid from their life questions and problems a place to surrender to the Lord Krishna and attain peace.

Other most famous Krishna Mandirs are Banke Bihari Temple and Prem in Vrindavan his Janmabhoomi, the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Gujrat his Karmabhoomi, Jagganath temple in Puri, Vithoba Temple in Pandharpur.

The festival of Krishna Janmashtami (the birth Krishna Ji) is celebrated with pomp by playing the popular game Govinda, where kids form a human pyramid and break the Matki a game tributing the natkhat acts of Shri Krishna and his Sakha.

In Vrindavan and Barsana Holi is celebrated with zeel and enthusiasm, with a traditional ritual as said to be carried between Radha Rani and Shri Krishna himself. Then there is Sharad Poornima, Kartik Poornima, and Ekadashi celebrated by Krishna Bhakts, visiting Krishna Temple offering curd and butter to the lord and singing Shree Krishna Bhajan.