Krishna

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Download PDF: PCT-305

  • Krishna is often considered the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Many think him to be God himself, and the terms Vishnu and Krishna are often used synonymously.
  • He is perhaps the most popular deity, especially in North India and within the UK.
  • Krishna is depicted with two hands, usually playing his flute. He wears a yellow-orange robe and sports a peacock feather in his long black hair. His complexion is blue-black, like a rain cloud.
  • Krishna was born in Mathura of Prince Vasudeva and Queen Devaki. Because his uncle, the wicked King Kamsa, wanted to kill him, he was brought up by foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda, in the nearby cowherd village of Vrindavana. Later, Krishna became the powerful king of the legendary city of Dvaraka, constructed within the ocean off the west coast of India.
  • Krishna’s principal consort is the gopi (cowherd-girl) Radha. Very often Radha and Krishna are worshipped together. Radha is not usually worshipped separately from Krishna, but she is often considered more important – even more powerful – than Krishna himself.
  • In the Mahabharata, Krishna tried to unsuccessfully negotiate a peaceful settlement between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Shortly afterwards, on a chariot just prior to the Battle of Kurukshetra, he spoke the Bhagavad-Gita to his friend, Prince Arjuna.
  • Krishna is reputed to have lived for 125 years, but he is always depicted as an ever-fresh youth, looking no more than sixteen or twenty years old. Since God never dies, he is considered to be eternally young and youthful.
  • Krishna’s pastimes as a child and youth are most popular amongst Hindus today, and are related in the Bhagavat Purana and other texts. His famous pastimes with the cowherd girls (gopis) are considered spiritually pure and should not be equated with mundane sexuality
  • Krishna is known for his affection for the cows and is often depicted with them.
  • Krishna is famous for his flute playing, which could make rocks melt, rivers flow backwards and birds fall stunned from the sky.
  • The main festival associated with Krishna is his birthday, called Janmashtami
  • There are innumerable stories about Krishna. Most famous are:
    • “The birth of Lord Krishna” STO-314
    • “The butter thief:” STO-201
    • “The Lifting of Govardhana Hill”  STO-503
    • “Krishna Defeats the Kaliya Serpent” STO-502 (plus many others of Krishna killing other ‘demons’)      
  • Further references:
    • Teachers’ Book: pages: 50, 52, 60, 67, 71-72, 75, 94, 126-128, 130, 134.
    • CD Rom: FCT-404, FCT-1201, PIC-051, TGD-03, TGD-04, STO-322
    • Audio CD; tracks 6, 20, 23
    • http://www.hindunet.org/god/Gods/krishna/