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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]
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.
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:
Name | Transliteration | Translation |
---|---|---|
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] |
द्वारकानाथ | Dvārakanātha | He who is the lord of Dvaraka |
मुरारि | Murāri | He who is the slayer of the asura Mura [11] |
वासुदेव | Vāsudeva | He who is the son of Vasudeva |
मुकुन्द | Mukunda | He who offers liberation [12] |
पार्थसारथि | Pārthasārathī | He who is the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna) [13] |
मधुसूदन | Madhusūdana | He who is the slayer of the asura Madhu [14] |
दामोदर | Dāmodara | He who has a rope around his stomach |
जगन्नाथ | Jagannātha | He who is the lord of the universe |
गोपाल | Gopāla | He who is a cow-protector [15] |
पुरुषोत्तम | Puruṣottama | He who is the highest being |
नन्दकुमार | Nandakumāra | He who is the prince (son) of Nanda |
मनोहर | Manohara | He who is lovely |
जगदिश | Jagadiśa | He who is the protector of the universe |
सुरेश | Sureśa | He who is the lord of the suras (devas) |
श्रीकान्त | Śrīkānta | He who is beloved by Shri (Lakshmi) |
श्रीनाथ | Śrīnātha | He who is the husband of Shri (Lakshmi) |
परमेश्वर | Parameśvara | He who is the supreme lord |
मोहन | Mohana | He who is enchanting |
गिरिधर | Giridhara | He who bears mountains |
सर्वजन | Sarvajana | He who is omniscient |
पुण्य | Punyah | He who is supremely pure |
मुरलीधर | Muralīdhara | He who bears the flute [16] |
देवकीपुत्र | Devakīputra | He who is the son of Devaki |
नवनीत | Navanīta | He who eats butter |
निरञ्जना | Nirañjanā | He who is unblemished |
हृषीकेश | Hṛṣīkeśa | He who is the master of the senses [7] |
पतितपावन | Patitapāvana | He who is the purifier of the fallen [17] |
श्यामसुन्दर | Śyāmasundara | He who is dark and handsome |
यदुनन्दन | Yadunandana | He who belongs to the Yadu dynasty |
ईश्वर | Iśvara | He who is the lord [18] (of the universe) |
ज्ञानेश्वर | Jñāneśvara | He who is the lord of wisdom |
चतुर्भुज | Caturbhuja | He who has four arms |
दयानिधि | Dayānidhi | He who is the treasure of mercy [19] |
दयालु | Dayālu | He who is the repository of compassion |
अनिरुद्ध | Aniruddha | He who cannot be obstructed |
अक्षरा | Akṣarā | He who is indestructible |
अद्भुत | Adbhutā | He who is astonishing |
रुक्मिणीपति | Rukmiṇīpati | He who is the husband of Rukmini [20] |
योगेश्वर | Yogeśvara | He who is the lord of yoga |
राधावल्लभ | Rādhāvallabha | He who is the beloved of Radha [21] |
पाण्डुरङ्ग | Pāṇḍuraṅga | He who is the lord of Pandharpur |
ഗുരുവായൂരപ്പൻ | Guruvāyūrappan | He who is the father of Guruvayur |
கண்ணன் | Kaṇṇaṉ | He who is dear [22] |
कान्हा | Kāṇha | He who is dark-skinned |
पद्मनाभ | Padmanābha | one from whose navel the lotus emanates |
Hari is among the primary epithets of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, meaning 'the one who takes away' (sins). It refers to the one who removes darkness and illusion, the one who removes all obstacles to spiritual progress.
Vaikuntha, also called Vishnuloka, and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the supreme deity in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, and his consort, Lakshmi, the supreme goddess.
Govinda, also rendered Govind, Gobinda and Gobind, is an epithet of Vishnu and is also used for his avatars such as Krishna. The name appears as the 187th and the 539th name of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranama. The name is also popularly addressed to Krishna, referring to his youthful activity as a cowherd boy.
Keshava is an epithet of Vishnu in Hindu tradition. The name appears as the 23rd and 648th names in the Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata. Keshava is also venerated by those persons wanting to avert bad luck or ill-omens. His consort is Kirti (Lakshmi).
Madhusudana is an epithet of Vishnu and is the 73rd name in the Vishnu Sahasranama.
Mahavishnutransl. 'Great Vishnu' is an aspect of Vishnu, the principal deity in Vaishnavism. In his capacity as Mahavishnu, the deity is known as the Supreme Purusha, the absolute protector and sustainer of the universe, the one who is beyond human comprehension, and all attributes.
The Bhagavata tradition, also called Bhagavatism, refers to an ancient religious sect that traced its origin to the region of Mathura. After its syncretism with the Brahmanical tradition of Vishnu, Bhagavatism became a pan-Indian tradition by the second century BCE, according to R.C. Majumdar.
Madhava is one of the primary epithets of Vishnu and Krishna. The word Mādhava in Sanskrit is a vṛddhi derivation of the word Madhu, which means honey. It is a title of Krishna, referring to his lineage as 'he who appeared the Madhu dynasty'.
Lakshmi Narayana or Lakshmi Narayan is the dual representation of the Hindu deities Vishnu, also known as Narayana, and his consort, Lakshmi, traditionally featured in their abode, Vaikuntha. The goddess of prosperity and beauty, Lakshmi, is depicted as standing next to Vishnu, who holds the Panchajanya, Kaumodaki, Padma, and the Sudarshana Chakra. Another depiction of Lakshmi-Narayana portrays Lakshmi in the service of Narayana, who reclines on the cosmic serpent Shesha, floating in the Kshira Sagara, the Ocean of Milk.
In Hinduism, the concept of God varies in its diverse religio-philosophical traditions. Hinduism comprises a wide range of beliefs about God and Divinity, such as henotheism, monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, pandeism, monism, agnosticism, atheism, and nontheism.
Bala Krishna or Bala Gopala, refers to the boyhood form of the Hindu deity Krishna. The worship of Krishna as a divine child was historically one of the early forms of worship in Krishnaism.
Krishnaism is a term used in scholarly circles to describe large group of independent Hindu traditions—sampradayas related to Vaishnavism—that center on the devotion to Krishna as Svayam Bhagavan, Ishvara, Para Brahman, who is the source of all reality, not an avatar of Vishnu. This is its difference from such Vaishnavite groupings as Sri Vaishnavism, Sadh Vaishnavism, Ramaism, Radhaism, Sitaism etc. There is also a personal Krishnaism, that is devotion to Krishna outside of any tradition and community, as in the case of the saint-poet Meera Bai. Leading scholars do not define Krishnaism as a suborder or offshoot of Vaishnavism, considering it at least a parallel and no less ancient current of Hinduism.
Svayam Bhagavan is a Sanskrit concept in Hinduism, referring to the absolute representation of Bhagavan as a singular deity in a monotheistic framework. The concept is most commonly associated with a male deity, for instance in Hindu sub-movements like Krishnaism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, in which Krishna is regarded as Svayam Bhagavan.
Para-Vasudeva is a term found in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. It refers to the supreme and transcendental form of God, from which all of his manifestations emerge. The shakti of this form of God is regarded to contribute to the avataras, the material appearances of the deity on earth.
Sushena is an epithet of Vishnu, cited in the epic Hindu hymn Vishnu Sahasranama. Several characters described in the Hindu texts also have the name Sushena.
Sharanga, is the celestial bow of the Hindu god Vishnu, primarily associated with his avatara of Rama. In South India, the Sharanga is also simply known as the Kodanda, literally meaning bow. Rama is often praised as Kodandapani, the holder of the Kodanda. The attribute of the bow is also mentioned in the Vishnu Sahasranama.
Ekanamsha is a Hindu goddess. She is primarily identified with the illusory power of Vishnu is Yogamaya.
Yogamaya, also venerated as Vindhyavasini, Mahamaya, and Ekanamsha, is a Hindu goddess.
In Hinduism, the Karanodaka or the Garbhodaka, also referred to as the Causal Ocean, is the origin of material creation. It is the place in the spiritual sky where Mahavishnu lies down and creates the material world. The Causal Ocean is the border between the spiritual and material worlds.
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