Deity Guide
Who is Krishna?
Krishna is one of the most widely revered deities in Hindu traditions, known as both an avatar of Vishnu and, in many schools, the supreme divine personality. In the Bhagavad Gita he teaches action, devotion, and wisdom as integrated paths.
Iconography and Symbolism
- Flute
- Peacock feather
- Lotus eyes
Vehicle: Chariot symbolism in Gita context.
Color symbolism: Blue-black.
Mythological Context
The Bhagavata Purana's tenth book narrates Krishna's birth in Mathura's prison, his childhood in Vrindavan where he lifts Govardhana Hill to shelter villagers from Indra's storm, and his slaying of the tyrant Kamsa. In Vraja, his rasa lila with the gopis is described not as romantic entertainment but as the supreme expression of divine-soul intimacy where individual ego dissolves. The Mahabharata presents Krishna as the strategist of the Pandavas and the charioteer who delivers the Bhagavad Gita to the paralyzed Arjuna on the battlefield. The Uddhava Gita in the eleventh book of the Bhagavata records his final teachings before departing the mortal world, completing the arc from playful child to cosmic teacher.
Philosophical Meaning
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna synthesizes three paths (jnana, bhakti, karma) into an integrated discipline, teaching that selfless action performed without attachment leads to liberation. Gaudiya Vaishnavism, following Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, holds Krishna as svayam bhagavan (the original supreme personality) rather than an avatar of Vishnu, reversing the standard Puranic hierarchy. Vallabhacharya's Pushti Marga treats Krishna's lila as the overflow of divine bliss (ananda) into the world, making participation in that lila the highest spiritual practice. The Gita's concept of nishkama karma (desireless action) influenced later Indian thought from Tilak's activist interpretation to Gandhi's nonviolent resistance.
Practice Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Krishna an avatar of Vishnu or the supreme being himself?
This depends entirely on the theological school. Standard Puranic accounts list Krishna as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Gaudiya Vaishnavism reverses this, treating Krishna as svayam bhagavan from whom Vishnu emanates. Both positions have extensive scriptural support, and the question remains one of the central debates in Vaishnava theology.
What is the message of the Bhagavad Gita?
The Gita addresses Arjuna's moral paralysis before battle by teaching that selfless action (nishkama karma), devotion (bhakti), and knowledge (jnana) are complementary paths to liberation. Its central teaching is to act according to dharma without attachment to outcomes, maintaining equanimity in success and failure. Krishna reveals his cosmic form (vishvarupa) to demonstrate that the divine encompasses all reality.
What is the significance of the rasa lila?
The rasa lila described in the Bhagavata Purana is interpreted by acharyas like Rupa Goswami as the highest expression of prema (selfless divine love), not sensual romance. Each gopi represents an individual soul drawn into complete absorption with the divine. The dance symbolizes the multiplicity of souls experiencing unique relationship with the one supreme, a theological statement about divine intimacy.
Why does Krishna advocate war in the Gita?
Krishna does not advocate war as a general principle but addresses a specific dharmic crisis where Arjuna's duty as a kshatriya requires him to resist tyranny. The teaching distinguishes between violence motivated by ego and action performed as duty without personal hatred. Krishna exhausted all diplomatic options before the battle, as detailed in the Udyoga Parva, making war the last resort against Duryodhana's refusal of even five villages.
What does Krishna's flute symbolize?
The flute (venu or murali) symbolizes the call of the divine that draws the soul out of mundane preoccupation. In bhakti theology, the hollow bamboo represents the emptied ego through which divine sound flows without obstruction. The gopis leaving their homes at the sound of the flute represents the soul's spontaneous response to grace, abandoning attachment when the inner call is heard.