Lord Vishnu
Deity and Incarnation: He is widely worshipped as the eighth incarnation (avatar) of the Hindu god Vishnu and also as the Supreme God in his own right by many traditions.
Attributes: He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love. The name “Krishna” often means “black,” “dark,” or “all-attractive.”
Birth and Early Life:
- He was born in Mathura, India, to Devaki and Vasudeva.
- A prophecy foretold that Devaki’s eighth son would kill her brother, the wicked king Kamsa, who then imprisoned them.
- Krishna was smuggled out of the prison and raised by his foster parents, Nanda and Yashoda, in the cowherd village of Gokul/Vrindavan.
- His childhood stories often depict him as a mischievous child, such as the “butter thief” (Makhan Chor), and as the enchanting cowherd youth playing the flute.
Major Role in Epics and Philosophy
- He is a central figure in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where he serves as a counselor, diplomat, and warrior.
- He is the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text that contains his teachings on duty (dharma), the nature of reality, and the path to liberation through devotion (bhakti yoga).
- He eventually returned to Mathura, killed Kamsa, and established his kingdom in Dvaraka (modern Dwarka, Gujarat).