Krishna

Krishna

1. Beliefs

   • most popular Hindu god to worship
     • "Vishnu's incarnation as Krishna is... more important still" (when regarding Rama) Zaehner
   • seen in several forms but main ones; child (where he stole the butter& when mum asked for it back he opened his mouth and she saw universe), lover (form that began Bhakti movement - through love people find salvation) and adviser (charioteer fir warrior - Arjuna - who was reluctant to fight but he told him to fulfil his duty)
     • "when she looked in the child's mouth she saw the whole universe" Jamison
   • as a child he was brought up in hiding from a demon
   • stole the clothes of the gopis as a mischeivious child and their nudity symbolises the souls nakedness before god
   • the sound of his flute enchanted the gopis and he stole them from their husbands to dance and each believed they were alone with him symbolising how when you worship you are alone with god
   • one of the avatars of Vishnu & sent to overcome evil in the world & teachings found in the Bhagavad Gita
     • "for the rescue of good and destruction of evil" Bhagavad Gita

2. Features & Symbols

   • blue skin represents divinity
   • peacock feather is one of a kind just like god which is represented through him
   • has a flute and when he plays it the gopis gather symbolising how devotees gather and worship
   • often depicted with Radha, his favourite gopi
   • dancing on a serpents head shows hes powerful as he overcame a demon who had been terrorising a local village
     • "defeating Kaliya, a many headed snake demon" Jamison
   • he wears a crown which shows hes a leader and hes respected
     • "Kishna is shown wearing a crown to depict his qualities as righteous monarch guarding the welfare of all beings" Voiels

3. Practises & Worship

   • devotees are known as vaishnavas and most practise an austere lifestyle and gambling, drugs, sex outside marriage, meat, fish, eggs and garlic are all banned for ISKCON members
   • devotees often live in communities with other vaishnavas to ensure they practise reading sacred texts, setting an example, listening to teachings from a guru, chanting and taking part in pilgrimages, especiailly n Vrindabran
   • Bhakti movement - Hindus believe they can reach liberation through this and they can do so through 3 paths; karma, jnana and bhakti
     • "he holds the secret not only of moksha but also of the love of god for man that the liberated soul may enjoy if god so wills" Zaehner
   • hare krishnas are big worshippers of Krishna and they chant the maha mantra (chant of Krishna) and they do private chanting whcih is Nama Japa and they do so 16 times a day
   • perform puja which is giving offerings at the shrine like water, fire, food, milk, honey, flowers

4. Popularity & Significance

   • stories about his birth, childhood and teenage life help make him popular with children of these ages as its relatable
   • as he is Saguna Brahman due to him being an avatar you can connect with god through him on a personal level
   • he provides morals to people when seen as the advisor and a warrior as he does the right thing
   • hes attractive so people want to worship him and he is a role model and advisor
   • offers liberation through Bhakti
     • "Krishna has been at the heart of the development of the bhakti movement in India" Smith