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Krishna: Difference between revisions
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Krishna is known as the eighth incarnation of [[Vishnu]], the Second Person of the Hindu Triad. His story is told in the Bhagavad Gita, the most popular religious work of India, composed between the fifth and second centuries <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>. and part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. | Krishna is known as the eighth incarnation of [[Vishnu]], the Second Person of the Hindu Triad. His story is told in the Bhagavad Gita, the most popular religious work of India, composed between the fifth and second centuries <small>B</small>.<small>C</small>. and part of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. | ||
Bhagavad Gita means “Song of God.” It is written as a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna describes himself as “the Lord of all that breathes” and “the Lord who abides within the heart of all beings,” meaning one who is in union with God, one who has attained that union that is God. He says: “When goodness grows weak, when evil increases, my Spirit arises on earth. In every age I come back to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, to establish righteousness.”<ref>Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, trans., ''Bhagavad Gita'' (Hollywood, Calif.: Vedanta Press, 1987), p. 58; Juan Mascaro, trans., ''The Bhagavad Gita'' (New York: Penguin Books, 1962), pp. 61–62.</ref> | ''Bhagavad Gita'' means “Song of God.” It is written as a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna describes himself as “the Lord of all that breathes” and “the Lord who abides within the heart of all beings,” meaning one who is in union with God, one who has attained that union that is God. He says: “When goodness grows weak, when evil increases, my Spirit arises on earth. In every age I come back to deliver the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, to establish righteousness.”<ref>Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood, trans., ''Bhagavad Gita'' (Hollywood, Calif.: Vedanta Press, 1987), p. 58; Juan Mascaro, trans., ''The Bhagavad Gita'' (New York: Penguin Books, 1962), pp. 61–62.</ref> | ||
Arjuna is Krishna’s friend and disciple. The setting is the eve of a great battle to determine who will rule the kingdom. Krishna is to be the charioteer for Arjuna. Just before the battle begins, Arjuna falters because he will have to fight and kill his own kinsmen. Krishna explains to Arjuna that he must enter the battle because it is his dharma—his duty or his reason for being. He is a member of the warrior caste, and come what may, he must fight. | Arjuna is Krishna’s friend and disciple. The setting is the eve of a great battle to determine who will rule the kingdom. Krishna is to be the charioteer for Arjuna. Just before the battle begins, Arjuna falters because he will have to fight and kill his own kinsmen. Krishna explains to Arjuna that he must enter the battle because it is his dharma—his duty or his reason for being. He is a member of the warrior caste, and come what may, he must fight. | ||