Deities · Vaishnava / Dashavatara / Vaiṣṇava Avatāras
कृष्ण
Kṛṣṇa
The eighth avatar of Vishnu and the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita. As the charioteer of Arjuna on Kurukshetra, he revealed the Vishwarupa — the infinite cosmic form that contains all of time, space, and creation.
Quick facts
Attributes & symbols
Emblems most often depicted with Lord Krishna. Hover for gloss · click to search.
Epithets
Names and titles by which Lord Krishna is invoked across the śāstras.
Essays
Viṣṇu's ten avatāras read as a parallel to biological and social evolution — from Matsya the fish to Kalki the future rider — with the Vedāntic twist that the Lord *descends* (avatāra) so the soul (jīva) can *ascend* (pariṇāma).
Essay · Vaiṣṇava TheologyTwo authoritative streams disagree about the eighth Daśāvatāra: one names Kṛṣṇa the avatāra with Balarāma as Ādi-Śeṣa, the other (Gauḍīya) names Kṛṣṇa Svayam Bhagavān with Balarāma as the eighth. Both are read side by side.
Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna resolves the moral crisis of the warrior prince Arjuna by revealing his awe-inspiring, infinite cosmic form that encapsulates all of time, space, and creation.
3 chapters · read →
Linga Purana (Chapter 24), Vayu Purana (Chapter 23), Kurma Purana
Manifesting during the 28th Dvapara Yuga along the banks of the Narmada River, Lord Shiva as Lakulisha revives the ancient yogic sciences, establishing an unbroken lineage of teachers verified by modern archaeological records.
3 chapters · read →
Skanda Purana, Dvapara Upakhyan
Lord Krishna utilizes the pure, unshakeable devotion of the immortal Hanuman to gently correct the subtle spiritual pride residing in his queen Satyabhama, his mount Garuda, and his cosmic weapon Sudarshana Chakra.
3 chapters · read →
Bhagavata Purana Canto 10, Vishnu Purana Book 5
A rare and startling episode in which the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa, in a mood of joyful intoxication in the forest of Vṛndāvana, commands the river Yamunā to come to him — and when she hesitates, plants his plough into her bank and drags her course itself to his feet.
3 chapters · read →
Heritage Store
An exquisite Sanskrit-English translation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, featuring detailed Puranic commentaries. This collector's masterpiece immortalizes the divine dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, complete with original Sanskrit verses, Roman transliteration, and full-color classical illustrations of the Vishwarupa form.
A richly illustrated classic detailing the enchanting childhood of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan, highlighting his miraculous lifting of the massive Govardhana Hill. Filled with bright, traditional Tanjore-style illustrations, this book teaches children and adults alike about faith and divine protection.
