Who is Krishna?

Who is Krishna?

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28

ete camsa-kalah pumsah

krishnas tu bhagavan svayam

indrari-vyakulam lokam

mridayanti yuge yuge

TRANSLATION

All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.

The Vedas call Him " the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Krishna Himself—in The Bhagavad-gita—says He is the source of all material and spiritual worlds. In the same Bhagavad-gita, the great military commander Arjuna confirms Krishna's statement and lists all the sages throughout history—including Vyasadeva himself, the editor of the Vedas—who accept Krishna as the Supreme Being.
Krishna is God

 
When we say “Krishna,” we’re talking about God. Many people—especially outside of India—have never heard of Krishna before. They may think Krishna is a “different God” from the one they worship. But there’s only one Supreme Person, and Krishna is one of His names.

The name Krishna literally means “all-attractive.” So, not only is Krishna/God all-powerful and all-knowing, He’s also the most beautiful Person.

Why should that matter to us? We’re all parts of Krishna—as drops of ocean water are tiny samples of the ocean. The more we know about Krishna, the better we understand ourselves, and the easier it is to see what our ultimate purpose is.

 

Krishna's book - the Bhagavad-gita

"I am the conscience in the heart of all creatures
I am their beginning, their being, their end
I am the mind of the senses,
I am the radiant sun among lights
I am the song in sacred lore,
I am the king of deities
I am the priest of great seers…"

This is how Lord Krishna describes Himself in the Holy Gita.

The Bhagavad-gita ("song of God")—the famous conversation between the peerless warrior Arjuna and the Supreme Being, Krishna—posing as Arjuna’s charioteer—at the onset of the battle of Kurukshetra, circa 3200 B.C.
Krishna explains all the essential spiritual truths: the difference between the soul and the body, the difference between the soul and the Supreme Soul (God), the science of reincarnation, the nature of time, the ultimate goal of yoga, why different kinds of religion appeal to different kinds of people, and the ultimate purpose of human life.

 The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says, purnam idam purnat purnam udacyate: “Although He expands in many ways, He keeps His original personality. His original spiritual body remains as it is.” Thus, we can understand that God can expand His energies in many ways, but is not affected or diminished in His potency.

The invocation mantra of the Sri Ishopanishad says something similar:

 

Om purnam adah purnam idam

purnat purnam udachyate

purnasya purnam adaya

purnam evavashishyate

            This means, in essence, that the Supreme Being is complete and perfect, and whatever is expanded from His energies is also complete and does not take away from His potencies in any way. He remains as He is, the complete whole and the complete balance.

Since Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality, then naturally there are certain ways in which to understand Him. This is a science, which we can more deeply explain later. But for now we can offer a summary of the instructions that point the way. The main point of consideration is that if we are trying to understand Lord Krishna, then we need to know what pleases Him, which is something that we can find from His direct instructions.

            The key is explained directly by Lord Sri Krishna Himself when he says: “Knowledge about Me as described in the scriptures is very confidential, and it has to be realized in conjunction with devotional service. The necessary paraphernalia for that process is being explained by Me. You may take it up carefully. All of Me, namely My actual eternal form and My transcendental existence, color, qualities and activities--let all be awakened within you by factual realization, out of My causeless mercy.” (Bhag.2.9.31-32)

 

            To start on this process, one needs to hear from one who knows and is acquainted with the qualities of Lord Krishna and can explain them to others. This is established in this famous verse:

 

yasya deve para bhaktir

yatha deve tatha gurau

tasyaite kathita hy arthaha

prakashante mahatmanaha

            “Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.23)

HOW TO REACH KRISHNA?

Process is very simple: just chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

Maha means “great” and mantra means “sacred chant for deliverance.”
Of all mantras in the Vedas, one is called the maha-mantra, or great mantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

The words “Hare” (pronounced ha-ray), “Krishna” (pronounced krish-na), and “Rama” (rhymes with “drama”), are Sanskrit words. “Hare” is an address to God’s energy, known as Radha, and “Krishna” is name of God meaning “He who is attractive to everyone.” “Rama” means “one who gives pleasure and enjoys life.”
When chanted the maha-mantra is a petition to God: “O Krishna, O energy of Krishna, please engage me in Your service.”