Krishna (Kṛṣṇa) is one of the most influential and beloved figures in Hinduism. He appears in the Mahābhārata, the Bhagavad-gītā, the Harivaṃśa, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and an enormous later tradition of poetry, theology, drama, music, and devotional practice.
Born to Vasudeva and Devakī, Krishna is secretly raised among the cowherds of Vraja, where narratives describe his childhood miracles, playful butter thefts, protection of the inhabitants, and intimate relationships with the gopas and gopīs. As an adult, he becomes a statesman and prince of the Yādavas and serves as Arjuna’s charioteer and spiritual teacher in the Bhagavad-gītā.
Many traditions worship Krishna as an avatāra of Vishnu; others, particularly Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, understand him as Svayaṃ Bhagavān, the original Personality of Godhead. His extraordinary theological appeal lies in joining absolute divinity with intimacy: God can be sovereign, but also friend, child, beloved, and companion.
