Sri Krishna, the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is the most popular avatar and is regarded as purna avataar(complete incarnation). All other deities are regarded as his manifestation. His story and his exploits(leela) are numerous and very well known. To the Hindu, he is the supreme statesman, warrior, hero, philosopher, teacher and God himself. He is the great exponent of Bhagavadgita, the "song celestial".

The Bhagavata or the Pancharatra sect preaches the cult of Vishnu-Narayana-Krishna. lt states that Lord Vishnu manifests in four ways: para (supreme) in all his glory; four vyuhas or emanations, hence the terms chatur-vyuhas, chatur-murthis represented by Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. In Vaishnava mythology, Krishna is Vasudeva, Balarama is Sankarshana; Pradyumna and Aniruddha are Krishna and his grandson, respectively. Historically, it is possible that the Yadava heroes were, in time, apotheosized into these vyuhas.

Symbolically, they represent the four stages of psychological evolution: Vasudeva for chitta (mind), Sankarshana for ahankara (ego), Pradyumna for buddhi (intellect) and Aniruddha for manas (mind). These vyuhas were later increased to 24. Iconographically, all the vyuhas are identical except for the arrangement of the four emblems - shankha, chakra, gadha, and padma; vibhava or incarnations or avatars; arca is the descent of the lord into the icon (vigraha), installed and worshipped ceremonially in the temples. Jagannath of Puri in Orissa represents Sri Krishna with similar images representing Balarama and Subhadra (Krishna's sister).

Krishna is the ideal of divine love. His vishvarupa (universal form) makes us exclaim like Arjuna "oh lord! thou art everything! infinite in power and infinite in prowess, thou pervadest all"

108 Names of Krishna

108 Names of Krishna



OM SHRI KRISHNAYA NAMAHA

Salutations to Lord Shri Krishna



OM KAMALA NATHAYA NAMAHA

To Kamala's (Goddess Lakshmi's) spouse



OM VAASUDEVAYA NAMAHA

To Vasudeva (Vasudev's son, Krishna)



OM SANATANAYA NAMAHA

To the Eternal One



OM VASUDEVAYA NAMAHA

To the Son of Vasudeva



OM PUNYAYA NAMAHA

To the Meritorious One



OM LILA-MANUSHA-VIGRAHAYA NAMAHA

To Him who has assumed a human form to perform His pastimes



OM SHRIVATSA KAUSTHUBHA-DHARAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who wears the Shri Vatsa (representing Shri Lakshmi) and the Kaustubha gem



OM YASHODA-VATSALAYA NAMAHA

To Mother Yashoda's darling child



OM HARAYE NAMAHA

To Shri Hari



OM CHATURBHUJATTA-CHAKRASI-GADA-SHANKADHYAYUDHAYA NAMAHA

To the Four-armed One who carries the weapons of disc, conch and club



OM DEVAKI NANDANAYA NAMAHA

To Mother Devaki's son



OM SHRISAYA NAMAHA

To the abode of Shri (Lakshmi)



OM NANDAGOPA PRIYATMAJAYA NAMAHA

To Nanda Gopa's darling child



OM YAMUNAVEGA SAMHARINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who destroyed the speed of the river Yamuna



OM BALABHADRA PRIYANUJAYA NAMAHA

To Balabhadra's (Balarama's) dear younger brother



OM PUTANA JIVITA HARAYA NAMAHA

To the Destroyer of the demoness Putana



OM SHAKATASURA BHANJANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who destroyed the demon Sakatasura



OM NANDAVRAJA JANA NANDINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who brought great happiness to Nanda and the people of Vraja



OM SACHIDANANDA VIGRAHAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who is the embodiment of Existence, Awareness and Bliss



OM NAVANITA VILIPTANGAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord whose body is smeared with butter



OM NAVANITA NATAYA NAMAHA

To the One who danced to get butter



OM ANAGHAYA NAMAHA

To the sinless One



OM NAVANITA NAVAHARAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who invented a new form of food-butter

(because He consumed large quantities of it)



OM MUCHUKUNDA PRASADAKAYA NAMAHA

to the Lord who blessed (gave salvation) to King Muchukunda



OM SHODASHA STHRI SAHASRESHAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of sixteen thousand wives



OM TRIBHANGI LALITAKRITAYE NAMAHA

To the Lord who poses bent in three places



OM SUKAVAG AMRITABHDHINDAVE NAMAHA

To the ocean of nectar in the form of Sukadeva's words (spoken as Srimad-Bhagavatam)



OM GOVINDAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of the cows



OM YOGINAM PATAYE NAMAHA

To the Lord of the yogis



OM VATSA VATACHARAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who roamed (in Vrindavana) with the company of calves and friendly cowherd boys



OM ANANTAYA NAMAHA

To the Infinite One



OM DHENUKASURA MARDANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who killed the demon Dhenukasura



OM TRINIKRITA TRINAVARTAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who destroyed the whirlwind demon Trinavarta



OM YAMALARJUNA BHANJANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who broke the two Yamalarjuna trees



OM UTTALA TALABHETTRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who broke the huge trees



OM TAMALA SHYAMALA KRITAYE NAMAHA

To the Lord who is a beautiful as the dark Tamala tree



OM GOPA GOPISHVARAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of Gopas and Gopis



OM YOGINE NAMAHA

To the greatest Yogi



OM KOTI SURYA SAMAPRABHAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who is as lustrous as a million suns



OM ILAPATAYE NAMAHA

To the Lord of the Earth



OM PARASMAI JYOTISHE NAMAHA

To the One who is the Supreme Light



OM YADAVENDRAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of the Yadavas



OM YADUDVAHAYA NAMAHA

To the Leader of the Yadus



OM VANAMALINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who wears a sylvan garland



OM PITA VASASE NAMAHA

To the Lord who wears yellow robes



OM PARIJATAPA HARAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who removed the parijatha flower (from India's garden)



OM GOVARDHANACHALO DHARTRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who lifted Govardhan Hill



OM GOPALAYA NAMAHA

To the protector of cows



OM SARVA PALAKAYA NAMAHA

To the protector of all beings



OM AJAYA NAMAHA

To the all-victorious Lord



OM NIRANJANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who is untainted



OM KAMA JANAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who generates desires in the worldly-minded



OM KANCHA LOCHANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who has beautiful eyes



OM MADHUGHNE NAMAHA

To the Lord who killed the demon Madhu



OM MATHURA NATHAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of the holy place of Mathura



OM DVARAKA NAYAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of Dwaraka



OM BALINE NAMAHA

To the all-powerful Lord



OM BRINDAVANANTA SANCARINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who roamed around Vrindavana



OM TULASIDAMA BHUSHANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who adorns Himself with tulasi leaf garlands



OM SYAMANTAKA MANER HARTRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who stole the Syamantaka gem



OM NARA NARAYANATMAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who has the twin forms of Nara and Narayana



OM KUBJA KRISHTAMBARADHARAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who wore the ointment offered by Kubja, the hunchbacked lady



OM MAYINE NAMAHA

To the Lord of Maya (the illusion)



OM PARAMAPURUSHAYA NAMAHA

To the Supreme Person



OM MUSHTIKASURA CHANURA MALLAYUDHA-VISHARADAYA NAMAHA

To the expert wrestler who wrestled with the two demons, Mushtika and Chanura



OM SAMSARA VAIRINE NAMAHA

To the enemy of Samsara (the cycle of births and deaths)



OM KAMSARAYE NAMAHA

To the enemy of King Kamsa (who wanted to kill Krishna)



OM MURARAYE NAMAHA

To the enemy of the demon Mura



OM NARAKANTAKAYA NAMAHA

To the destroyer of the demon Naraka



OM ANADI BRAHMACHARINE NAMAHA

To the beginningless Absolute



OM KRISHNA VYASANA KARSHAKAYA NAMAHA

To the One who removed Draupadi's distress



OM SHISHUPALA SHIRASCETTRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who removed Sisupala's head



OM DURYODHANA KULANTAKAYA NAMAHA

To the destroyer of the dynasty of Durodhana



OM VIDURAKRURA VARADAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who gave boons to Vidura and Akrura



OM VISHVARUPA PRADARSHAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who revealed His Viswarupa (the Universal Form)



OM SATYAVACHE NAMAHA

To the Lord who utters only truth



OM SATYA SANKALPAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of true resolve



OM SATYABHAMA RATAYA NAMAHA

To the Lover of Satyabhama



OM JAYINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who is ever victorious



OM SUBHADRA PURVAJAYA NAMAHA

To the elder brother of Subhadra



OM VISHNAVA NAMAHA

To Lord Vishnu



OM BHISHMA MUKTI PRADAYAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who bestowed salvation on Bhishma



OM JAGADGURAVE NAMAHA

To the Lord who is Guru to the whole world



OM JAGANNATHAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord of the whole world



OM VENUNADA VISHARADAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who is an expert in playing flute music



OM VRISHABHASURA VIDHVAMSINE NAMAHA

To the Lord who destroyed the demon Vrishaba



OM BANASURA KARANTAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who chopped off the hands of the demon Banasura



OM YUDHISTHIRA PRATISHTHATRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who established Yudhisthir (as the king)



OM BARHI BARHAVATAMSAKAYA NAMAHA

To the One who is adorned with effulgent peacock feathers



OM PARTHASARATHAYE NAMAHA

To Partha Sarathi, the chariot driver of Arjuna



OM AVYAKTAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who is difficult to comprehend



OM GITAMRITA MAHODADHAYE NAMAHA

To the Ocean containing the nectar of the Bhagavad-gita



OM KALIYAPHANI MANIKYA RANJITA SHRI PADAMBHUJAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord whose lotus feet are adorned with the gems from the hoods of the serpent Kaliya



OM DAMODARAYA NAMAHA

To the One who was tied with a grinding stone around His waist



OM YAJNABHOKTRE NAMAHA

To the Lord who consumes sacrificial offerings



OM DANAVENDRA VINASHAKAYA NAMAHA

To the destroyer of the Lord of Asuras



OM NARAYANAYA NAMAHA

To Lord Narayana



OM PARABRAHMANE NAMAHA

To the Supreme Brahman



OM PANNAGASHANA VAHANAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who has a serpent (Adisesha) as His seat



OM JALAKRIDASAMASHAKTA GOPI VASTRAPAHARAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord who (playfully) hid the clothes (left on the shore) of the Gopis who were engrossed in playing in the waters of the Yamuna river



OM PUNYA-SHLOKAYA NAMAHA

To the Lord whose praises bestow merit



OM TIRTHAPADAYA NAMAHA

To the One whose feet are holy



OM VEDAVEDYAYA NAMAHA

To the source of the Vedas



OM DAYANIDHAYE NAMAHA

To the Treasure of compassion



OM SARVA BHUTATMAKAYA NAMAHA

To the Soul of the elements



OM SARVAGRAHA RUPINE NAMAHA

To the All-formed One



OM PARATPARAYA NAMAHA

To the One who is highest than the highest

Prayers to Lord Krishna

Prayers to Lord Krishna

for Blessings, Purity, and Auspiciousness







smrite sakala-kalyana

bhajanam yatra jayate

purusham tam ajam nityam

vrajami sharanam harim




"I take shelter of Lord Hari, who is the unborn, eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead. Upon remembering Him, a reservoir of all auspiciousness is produced."







(Om) yam brahma vedanta-vido vadanti

pare pradhanam purusham tathanye

vishvodgateh karanam ishvaram va

tasmai namo vighna-vinashaya



"Obeisances unto Him who is the destroyer of all obstacles, who the knowers of Vedanta describe as the Supreme Brahman, and who others describe as the pradhana, or totality of mundane elements. Some describe Him as the supreme male person, or purusha, while others describe Him as the Supreme Lord and the cause of the creation of the universe." (Vishnu Purana)







om tad vishnoh paramam padam sada

pashyanti surayo diviva chakshur-atatam

tad vipraso vipanyavo jagrivamsaha

samindhate vishnor yat paramam padam




"Just as the sun's rays in the sky are extended to the mundane vision, so in the same way the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brahmanas are able to see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu." (Rig Veda 1.22.20)







om krishno vai sac-cid-ananda-ghanaha krishna adi-purushaha

krishnaha purushottamaha krishno ha u karnadi-mulam krishnaha sa

ha sarvaih karyaha krishnaha kasham-krid-adisha-mukha-prabhu

pujyaha krishno 'nadis tasminn ajandantar-bahye yan

mangalam tal labhate kriti




"Lord Krishna is the color of a new rain cloud, therefore He is compared to a transcendental cloud full of eternity, bliss and cognizance. He is the original and supreme person. He is the origin of all activities and the one and only Lord of all. He is the worshipful Lord of the best of demigods, the controller of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Krishna is without any beginning. Whatever auspiciousness is found within or beyond this universe the devotee obtains in Krishna alone" (Rig Veda, Krishna Upanishad)









(Om) madhavo madhavo vaci

madhavo madhavo hridi

smaranti sadhavaha sarve

sarva-karyeshu madhavam




"Lord Madhava is in one's words and Lord Madhava is in one's heart. All the saintly persons remember Lord Madhava, the husband of the goddess of fortune, in all their undertakings." (Narasimha Purana)








(Om) svasti no govindah svasti no 'cyutanantau

svasti no vasudvo vishnur dadhatu

svasti no narayano naro vai

svasti nah padmanabhaha puroshottamo dadhatu

svasti no vishvakseno vishveshvaraha

svasti no hrishikesho harir dadhatu

svasti no vainateyo harih

svasti no 'njana-suto hanur bhagavato dadhatu

svasti svasti sumangalaih kesho mahan

shri-krishnaha sac-cid-ananda-ghanaha sarveshvareshvaro dadhatu




"May Lord Govinda, Acyuta, Ananta Shesha, Vasudeva and Lord Vishnu bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Nara-Narayana, Padmanabha and Purushottama bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Vishvaksena, the Lord of the universe, Hrishikesh and Lord Hari bestow auspiciousness upon us. May Garuda and the son of Anjana, who is the great devotee of Lord Rama, Hanuman, bestow auspiciousness upon us. May the great and only Lord of auspiciousness, Sri Krishna, who is like a transcendental cloud full of eternity, knowledge and bliss and who is the Lord of all the demigods, bestow upon us all prosperity and auspiciousness." (Rig Veda, Krishna Upanishad)







karotu svasti me krishnaha

sarva-lokeshvareshvaraha

karshnadayash cha kurvantu

svasti me loka-pavanaha




"May Lord Krishna, the Lord of the demigods, the presiding controller of all the worlds, bestow auspiciousness upon me. May His devotees, who are the saviors of all people, bestow benedictions of auspiciousness upon me." (Sammohana Tantra)








krishno mamaiva sarvatra

svasti kuryat shriya samam

tathaiva cha sada karshnihi

sarva-vighna-vinashanaha




"May Lord Krishna along with His beloved Radha bring about prosperity and auspiciousness at all times. In the same way may the devotee of Krishna, who is able to destroy all obstacles, always bring about auspiciousness."