Krishna–the Butter Stealer
A MAJOR DEITY: LORD KRISHNA
If there is one deity in Hinduism that is popular amongst and revered by most of the believers and followers of the religion, it is the famed Lord Krishna. Krishna is one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu and is, in fact, his most powerful one which has made him the representative face on many occasions.
The name Krishna literally means ‘black’. This shows that he was a dark and handsome fellow as well as a mysterious and strange one, making him a subject of intrigue and fascination. He is known by a plethora of names including Govinda, Vasudeva, and Makhan Chor, which literally means butter stealer.
ORIGIN OF KRISHNA
The eighth incarnation of the Lord Vishnu, Krishna finds the origin of his mythology in the epic of Mahabharata and a couple of other historical books.
The story of his birth tells us that Krishna was born to a couple named Devaki and Vasudeva. Devaki’s brother was a cruel ruler who was told that one of his sister’s children would kill him. As such, he would kill any offspring that was born to Devaki.
When Krishna was born, his father took him across the Yamuna lake and exchanged him for another baby. When the tyrant tried to kill it, the baby revealed itself to be the Goddess Durga who announced his impending demise.
Krishna was brought up by foster parents as a sheep herder and was famed to be a mischievous and notorious kid. As he grows older, he eventually does overthrow his uncle and kills him.
THE SYMBOLISM IN THE ICONOGRAPHY OF KRISHNA
Krishna’s iconography has changed and evolved throughout history and time. He has been depicted in all stages of his life, be it childhood, his life as a young adult, and adulthood as a powerful and successful ruler and avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Posture
Krishna, when shown in his teenage days, is depicted to be standing in a Tribhanga posture while playing his flute, a posture that is very commonly observed in Indian dances.
Flute
The flute of Krishna represents the heart of a man, which faces struggles and hardships that are akin to the holes in flute. The owner of the heart must now use these holes to his advantage and make music out of them, turning his sour experiences into positives for tomorrow.
Peacock Feather
One of the most popular depictions of Krishna shows him wearing a peacock feather on his head. The peacock feather has long since been thought to represent knowledge and beauty. Being the god of love, it shows that both, knowledge and beauty are extremely important factors in love and success and without these, it remains hollow and empty.
Cows and Cattle
Krishna is often depicted surrounded by cows and other cattle as well as several milkmaids to show his role as a sheep herder in the days of his youth.
