Significance
- Vaishnavas revere Krishna as the single, omnipotent, supreme God.
- According to Vaishnava theology, fifty centuries ago Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita (literally meaning "Song of God"), known as "the Bible of Hinduism" to the warrior Arjuna. It covers many topics, including love, stress, self-development, creation and life after death.
- In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna explains why He appears: "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself."
- A unique quality of Krishna is that he reciprocates his devotees’ love in very human ways. He is a son to Vasudeva and Devaki, a friend to Arjuna, a lover to the cowherd damsels of Vrindavana, a husband to thousands of wives, and more. This fact, that he responds to the distinct feelings and desires held most deeply in the heart of every single worshipper, makes him most loved as a deity.
- There are various different meanings given for the name "Krishna": Steven J. Rosen’s "Hinduism" cites the literal Sanskrit meaning: "black" or "dark blue." Vedic Scriptures and oral tradition also define the word as "all-attractive." And several other sources also explain that the root "kr" indicates "existence" and the syllable "na" indicates "bliss." (http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/mar96/0128.html)
