Shri Krishna
The eighth avatar of Vishnu — teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, divine cowherd, and embodiment of love and playful wisdom.
Who Shri Krishna is
Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu, born in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva but raised in secrecy in Vrindavan by the cowherd couple Nanda and Yashoda, to protect him from his tyrant uncle Kamsa. His childhood there — stealing butter, playing the flute, and his playful bond with Radha and the gopis — is some of the most beloved material in Hindu devotional literature.
Charioteer and teacher
As an adult, Krishna became Arjuna's charioteer and guide during the Mahabharata war. When Arjuna hesitated to fight his own kinsmen on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna's counsel became the Bhagavad Gita — teaching on duty (dharma), selfless action (karma yoga), and devotion (bhakti yoga) that remains central to Hindu philosophy today.
His many names
Govinda, Gopal, Madhava, Keshava and Murari are among his many names, each tied to a different story or quality — Govinda as protector of cows, Murari as slayer of the demon Mura. His flute (bansuri) and peacock feather crown are his most recognisable symbols.
How he's worshipped
Janmashtami, marking his birth, is his major festival, celebrated with fasting, midnight prayers and the dahi handi tradition. The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and communal kirtan are central to Krishna devotion, alongside temples like those at Vrindavan and Dwarka.