Lord Krishna - History, Avatar & Teachings

Krishna

Lord Krishna is one of the most widely revered and popular of all Hindu deities, worshipped as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu and also as a supreme god in his own right. He is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love in Hinduism, and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. Krishna's birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar. He is a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, and the Bhagavad Gita.

16 templesJanmashtamiGarudaSudarshan Chakra

Overview

Mythology

According to Hindu mythology and historical epics, Krishna was born in Mathura to Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva, of the Yadava clan in Shurasena. However, to save him from his tyrannical uncle Kamsa, he was smuggled across the Yamuna River to Gokul, where he was raised by foster parents Nanda and Yashoda. His childhood is filled with stories of mischievous escapades, such as stealing butter, and heroic deeds like subduing the serpent Kaliya and lifting the Govardhan Hill. In his adulthood, he served as the charioteer and guide to Arjuna in the Kurukshetra War, delivering the sacred discourse of the Bhagavad Gita.