Krishna
Vishnu's eighth incarnation
Krishna has generated many legends and tales, far more than any other character
in Indian mythology. He came on to the earth to destroy Kansa a demon king of
Mathura. As a child he performed great feats of strength much to the
astonishment of his simple mother and others. As a youth, like anyone at that
age, he dallied with Radha and other village belles. When he grew up as a man he
achieved that for which he was born, ie vanquishing Kana. In his middle age he
became the ruler of Dwarka and took active part in the Mahabharata war, acting
as Arjuna's charioteer and pronouncing his great teachings on the subjects of
gyan, dharma and bhakti ie knowledge and righteousness,
duty and submission of self to the Supreme Being. Krishna's childhood and his
romance with Radha and other village belles in Vrindabana is one of the
favourite subjects of Indian artists and poets.