List of titles and names of Krishna

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Painting of Krishna subduing Keshi, circa 1750 Keshi Krishna.jpg
Painting of Krishna subduing Keshi, circa 1750

Krishna ( /ˈkrɪʃnə/ ; Sanskrit : कृष्ण, IAST : Kṛṣṇa pronounced [ˈkr̩ʂ.ɳɐ] (Classical Sanskrit) and [kr̩ʂ.ɳɐ́] in (Vedic Sanskrit) is a Hindu deity worshipped across many traditions of Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. In Hinduism, Krishna is recognized as the complete and eighth incarnation of Vishnu, or as the Supreme God ( Svayam Bhagavan) in his own right. [1]

Contents

As one of the most popular of all Hindu deities, Krishna has acquired a number of epithets, and absorbed many regionally significant deities, such as Jagannatha in Odisha and Vithoba in Maharashtra. The Hindu texts portray him in various perspectives: [2] a lovable infant, a divine child, a prankster, a cowherd, a model lover, a divine hero, a diplomat, a king, a kingmaker, a selfless friend, a philosopher, charioteer to Arjuna and a dispenser of spiritual discourse, in the Bhagavad Gita. [3] Among the principal scriptures that discuss Krishna's legend are the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Vishnu Purana. The Vishnu Sahasranama, the list of Vishnu's thousand names, also includes many of the titles and names of Krishna.

Epithets

In popular culture, Krishna is often associated with 108 names. [4] [5] The following is a list of fifty of among the most popular names, titles, and epithets associated with the deity Krishna:

NameTransliterationTranslation
अच्युत Acyuta He who is infallible [6]
माधव Mādhava He who is the lord of knowledge; [7] He who is like honey
गोविन्द Govinda He who is a cow-protector [8]
जनार्दन Janārdana He who is the original abode and protector of all living beings
केशव Keśava He who has long locks of hair; [9] slayer of Keshi; He who is himself the Trimurti
हरि Hari He who takes away (sins) [10]
द्वारकानाथDvārakanāthaHe who is the lord of Dvaraka
मुरारिMurāriHe who is the slayer of the asura Mura [11]
वासुदेव Vāsudeva He who is the son of Vasudeva
मुकुन्दMukundaHe who offers liberation [12]
पार्थसारथिPārthasārathīHe who is the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna) [13]
मधुसूदन Madhusūdana He who is the slayer of the asura Madhu [14]
दामोदरDāmodaraHe who has a rope around his stomach
जगन्नाथ Jagannātha He who is the lord of the universe
गोपालGopālaHe who is a cow-protector [15]
पुरुषोत्तम Puruṣottama He who is the highest being
नन्दकुमारNandakumāraHe who is the prince (son) of Nanda
मनोहरManoharaHe who is lovely
जगदिशJagadiśaHe who is the protector of the universe
सुरेशSureśaHe who is the lord of the suras (devas)
श्रीकान्तŚrīkāntaHe who is beloved by Shri (Lakshmi)
श्रीनाथŚrīnāthaHe who is the husband of Shri (Lakshmi)
परमेश्वर Parameśvara He who is the supreme lord
मोहनMohanaHe who is enchanting
गिरिधरGiridharaHe who bears mountains
सर्वजनSarvajanaHe who is omniscient
पुण्यPunyahHe who is supremely pure
मुरलीधरMuralīdharaHe who bears the flute [16]
देवकीपुत्रDevakīputraHe who is the son of Devaki
नवनीतNavanītaHe who eats butter
निरञ्जनाNirañjanāHe who is unblemished
हृषीकेश Hṛṣīkeśa He who is the master of the senses [7]
पतितपावनPatitapāvanaHe who is the purifier of the fallen [17]
श्यामसुन्दरŚyāmasundaraHe who is dark and handsome
यदुनन्दनYadunandanaHe who belongs to the Yadu dynasty
ईश्वर Iśvara He who is the lord [18] (of the universe)
ज्ञानेश्‍वरJñāneśvaraHe who is the lord of wisdom
चतुर्भुज Caturbhuja He who has four arms
दयानिधिDayānidhiHe who is the treasure of mercy [19]
दयालुDayāluHe who is the repository of compassion
अनिरुद्धAniruddhaHe who cannot be obstructed
अक्षराAkṣarāHe who is indestructible
अद्भुतAdbhutāHe who is astonishing
रुक्मिणीपतिRukmiṇīpatiHe who is the husband of Rukmini [20]
योगेश्वर Yogeśvara He who is the lord of yoga
राधावल्लभRādhāvallabhaHe who is the beloved of Radha [21]
पाण्डुरङ्गPāṇḍuraṅgaHe who is the lord of Pandharpur
ഗുരുവായൂരപ്പൻGuruvāyūrappanHe who is the father of Guruvayur
கண்ணன்KaṇṇaṉHe who is dear [22]
कान्हाKāṇhaHe who is dark-skinned
पद्मनाभ Padmanābha one from whose navel the lotus emanates

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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Bibliography