Deity · Teacher of the Gita

Krishnaश्री कृष्ण

Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, is loved as the mischievous child of Gokul, the flute-playing cowherd of Vrindavan, the friend of Radha and the gopis, the king of Dwarka and the charioteer who taught Arjuna the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

  • Also known asGovinda, Gopala, Madhava, Murari, Keshava, Jagannath
  • BelovedRadha; consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama
  • ParentsDevaki and Vasudeva; raised by Yashoda and Nanda
  • SymbolsFlute, peacock feather, Sudarshan chakra
  • Sacred placesMathura, Vrindavan, Dwarka, Puri
  • Sacred dayJanmashtami; Ekadashi
Krishna
Image: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

About Krishna

He was born at midnight in a prison in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva and raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul. His childhood leelas — stealing butter, lifting Govardhan hill, subduing the serpent Kaliya — are told in the Bhagavata Purana and sung in bhakti poetry from Surdas to Mirabai.

Many traditions see him not only as an avatar but as the Supreme himself. He is worshipped as Jagannath at Puri, Dwarkadhish at Dwarka, Shrinathji at Nathdwara, Guruvayurappan in Kerala and Banke Bihari in Vrindavan.

Krishna mantra

Mahamantra

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ।
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ॥

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare |
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare ||

O Hari, O Krishna, O Rama — the names of the Lord, repeated in loving remembrance. The Kali-Santarana Upanishad gives this sixteen-word mantra.

Read the Bhagavad Gita with meaning →

Prayers to Krishna 10

Chalisas, aartis, stotras and mantras for Krishna, each with the full text, transliteration and meaning.

Chalisa · 6–8 min Krishna Chalisa कृष्ण चालीसा Hymn to Lord Krishna — celebrating his lilas, teachings, and love for devotees. Read with meaning → Aarti · 5 min Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki आरती कुंजबिहारी की The Krishna aarti of Braj — "Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari ki" — sung on Janmashtami and every evening in Vrindavan, painting Krishna in the groves with Radha, the flute and the peacock crown. Read with meaning → Stotra · 10 min Bhaja Govindam भज गोविन्दम् (मोहमुद्गरः) Bhaja govindam mudhamate — "Worship Govinda, O foolish mind!" Shankaracharya's "hammer for delusion" (Moha Mudgara): simple, rhyming verses on the shortness of life, the emptiness of chasing wealth and pleasure, and the need for devotion, good company and self-knowledge. Read with meaning → Stotra · 4 min Govindashtakam गोविन्दाष्टकम् Satyam jnanam anantam — Shankaracharya's hymn that holds two pictures of Krishna side by side: the infinite Brahman beyond all form, and the toddler crawling in the cowherds' courtyard, scolded by Yashoda for eating mud. Each verse ends "pranamata govindam paramanandam". Read with meaning → Mantra · 3 min Hare Krishna Mahamantra हरे कृष्ण महामन्त्र The sixteen-word Mahamantra of Krishna and Rama, from the Kali-Santarana Upanishad — its meaning, why it is called the great mantra of this age, and how to chant it in japa and kirtan. Read with meaning → Stotra · 2 min Krishnashtakam श्रीकृष्णाष्टकम् Vasudeva-sutam devam — the popular Krishnashtakam whose every verse ends "krishnam vande jagadgurum", I bow to Krishna, the teacher of the world. Simple, rhythmic and easy to learn. Read with meaning → Stotra · 2 min Madhurashtakam मधुराष्टकम् Adharam madhuram — "his lips are sweet". Vallabhacharya's eight verses find sweetness in everything about Krishna: his face, his walk, his flute, the Yamuna, the gopis, even the cows. Each verse ends "madhuradhipater akhilam madhuram" — everything about the Lord of sweetness is sweet. Read with meaning → Mantra · 3 min Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय The Dvadashakshari — the twelve-syllable mantra of Vishnu and Krishna that Narada gave to the child Dhruva — with its meaning, the Shantakaram dhyana verse, and how to chant it. Read with meaning → Aarti · 3 min Shri Govardhan Maharaj — Govardhan Aarti श्री गोवर्धन महाराज The aarti of Giriraj Govardhan sung on Govardhan Puja and during the parikrama of the sacred hill in Braj — with meaning in English and Hindi. Read with meaning → Mantra · 6 min Vishnu and Krishna Mantras विष्णु एवं कृष्ण मन्त्र Eight mantras of Vishnu and Krishna — the Vishnu and Krishna Gayatris, Vasudeva Sutam Devam, Mangalam Bhagavan Vishnuh, Kararavindena, Krishnaya Vasudevaya and more — with meaning. Read with meaning →

Daily shlokas

Karagre Vasate Lakshmiकराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीःOn waking up, looking at the palms

Festivals of Krishna

Temples of Krishna

Dwarkadhish Temple

Dwarkadhish Temple द्वारकाधीश मंदिर

Dwarka, Gujarat · Krishna

One of Char Dham. Krishna's legendary city, now mostly submerged. Current temple is said to be built by Krishna's great-grandson Vajranabh. Sapta Puri — one of seven sacred cities.

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Jagannath Temple

Jagannath Temple जगन्नाथ मंदिर

Puri, Odisha · Jagannath (Krishna)

One of Char Dham. Famous for annual Rath Yatra (chariot festival). Mahaprasad from the world's largest temple kitchen. Deities carved from neem wood. Non-Hindus not permitted inside sanctum.

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Guruvayur Temple

Guruvayur Temple गुरुवायूर मंदिर

Guruvayur, Kerala · Krishna (Guruvayurappan)

Krishna as a 4-handed child (Bala Krishna) with conch, discus, mace, lotus. "Bhuloka Vaikuntham" (Vaikuntha on earth). Famous Elephant Sanctuary (Punnathurkotta). Strict dress code and non-Hindu entry restriction.

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Udupi Krishna Temple

Udupi Krishna Temple उडुपी कृष्ण मंदिर

Udupi, Karnataka · Krishna (child)

Founded by Madhvacharya. Krishna visible only through 9-hole window (Kanakana Kindi) — tradition of saint Kanakadas. Famous Udupi cuisine originated from temple kitchens. 8 Madhva mathas rotate priesthood.

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Banke Bihari Temple

Banke Bihari Temple बांके बिहारी मंदिर

Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh · Krishna (Banke Bihari)

Haridas Swami discovered idol in Nidhivan. Krishna in his original "Banke Bihari" form (three bends — crooked). Curtain drawn every few minutes — devotees cannot stare too long. No conch/bell — Krishna shouldn't be awakened.

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ISKCON Vrindavan

ISKCON Vrindavan इस्कॉन वृन्दावन

Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh · Krishna-Balaram

Founded by Srila Prabhupada. Home to the Krishna Balaram Mandir and Prabhupada's samadhi. Non-stop 24-hour kirtan hall. 108 Gopuram project nearby — world's tallest planned Krishna temple (Chandrodaya Mandir).

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Dwarkadhish Temple Mathura

Dwarkadhish Temple Mathura द्वारकाधीश मंदिर मथुरा

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh · Krishna (Dwarkadhish)

Dwarkadhish form of Krishna. Within walking distance of Krishna Janmasthan (birthplace). Jhulan Yatra and Holi celebrations particularly grand.

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Bet Dwarka Temple

Bet Dwarka Temple बेट द्वारका मंदिर

Dwarka (island), Gujarat · Krishna

Krishna's residence (Bet = island). Boat ride from Okha. Where Krishna met Sudama. Multiple temples cluster. Hanuman Dandi for Hanuman meeting Makardhwaj.

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ISKCON Delhi

ISKCON Delhi इस्कॉन मंदिर दिल्ली

New Delhi, Delhi · Radha-Krishna

One of ISKCON's largest temples in India. Multimedia centre on Vedic culture. Gigantic Gita book sculpture. 24-hour kirtan hall.

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Shree Govindajee Temple

Shree Govindajee Temple श्री गोविंदजी मंदिर

Imphal, Manipur · Radha-Govinda (Krishna)

The most important Vaishnava temple of Manipur, beside the old royal palace in Imphal, and a centre of Manipuri Raas Leela and sankirtan traditions.

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Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir

Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir श्री मायापुर चंद्रोदय मंदिर

Mayapur, West Bengal · Radha Madhava, Pancha Tattva and Narasimha

The main temple of ISKCON's world headquarters at Mayapur, on the Ganga, revered in Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition as the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Pilgrims come here for kirtan, darshan of Radha Madhava and the Pancha Tattva, and the Gaura Purnima festival.

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Vitthal Rukmini Temple

Vitthal Rukmini Temple विट्ठल रुक्मिणी मंदिर

Pandharpur, Maharashtra · Vithoba (Vishnu/Krishna) and Rukmini

The main shrine of Lord Vithoba and Rukmini on the Chandrabhaga river, heart of the Warkari tradition, where lakhs of pilgrims walk from across Maharashtra for Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi.

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Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple जगदीश मंदिर

Udaipur, Rajasthan · Vishnu (Jagannath / Jagdish)

Udaipur's largest temple, built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh I beside the City Palace, a richly carved Maru-Gurjara shrine of Lord Vishnu as Jagannath that has been in continuous worship ever since.

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Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja Perumal Temple वरदराज पेरुमाल मंदिर

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu · Vishnu (Varadaraja)

One of the most sacred Divya Desams, the great Vishnu temple of Kanchipuram on Hastigiri hill, linked with Ramanuja, famous for its hundred-pillared hall, golden and silver lizards and the rare Athi Varadar darshan.

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Chaturbhuj Temple

Chaturbhuj Temple चतुर्भुज मंदिर

Orchha, Madhya Pradesh · Vishnu (Radha-Krishna now worshipped)

A towering 16th-century Bundela temple at Orchha, built for Lord Rama, whose image famously stayed in the queen's palace nearby; its soaring spires blend temple, fort and palace design and dominate the town's skyline.

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Parthasarathy Temple

Parthasarathy Temple पार्थसारथी मंदिर

Chennai (Triplicane), Tamil Nadu · Krishna (Parthasarathy)

One of Chennai's oldest temples and a revered Divya Desam at Triplicane, where Krishna is worshipped as Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer, with a moustache and battle marks, alongside four other forms of Vishnu.

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Govind Dev Ji Temple

Govind Dev Ji Temple गोविंद देव जी मंदिर

Jaipur, Rajasthan · Radha-Govind Dev (Krishna)

Jaipur's most beloved temple, where the image of Govind Dev brought from Vrindavan is worshipped in the City Palace gardens. The rulers of Jaipur regarded the deity as the true king of the state, and seven daily darshans draw large crowds.

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Jagannath Temple, Hauz Khas

Jagannath Temple, Hauz Khas जगन्नाथ मंदिर, हौज़ खास

New Delhi, Delhi · Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra

The main Jagannath temple of the Odia community in Delhi, known for its Rath Yatra through the streets of South Delhi and for bringing the traditions of Puri to the capital.

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Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple अम्बलप्पुझा श्रीकृष्ण मंदिर

Ambalappuzha, Kerala · Krishna (Parthasarathi)

A celebrated Krishna temple in Alappuzha district, famous for its sweet palpayasam, the legend of Krishna and the chessboard, and for sheltering the Guruvayur idol during the 18th-century raids.

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Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple

Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple तिरुवम्बाडी श्रीकृष्ण मंदिर

Thrissur, Kerala · Krishna (Unnikrishnan) and Bhagavati

A Thrissur temple where the child Krishna and the goddess Bhagavati are worshipped with equal honour, and one of the two great rival groups that lead the world-famous Thrissur Pooram.

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Radha Raman Temple

Radha Raman Temple राधा रमण मंदिर

Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh · Krishna (Radha Raman)

One of the seven historic Goswami temples of Vrindavan, where Krishna is worshipped as Radha Raman in a small image that, by tradition, emerged on its own from a Shaligrama stone kept by Gopala Bhatta Goswami.

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Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad

Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad जगन्नाथ मंदिर, अहमदाबाद

Ahmedabad, Gujarat · Jagannath (Krishna) with Balabhadra and Subhadra

The Jagannath temple in Jamalpur, old Ahmedabad, starting point of one of India's largest Rath Yatras outside Odisha, held every year on Ashadhi Bij as a grand festival of the whole city.

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Jagannath Temple, Ranchi

Jagannath Temple, Ranchi जगन्नाथपुर मंदिर, रांची

Ranchi, Jharkhand · Jagannath (Krishna) with Balabhadra and Subhadra

A hilltop Jagannath temple built in 1691 in the style of Puri, whose Rath Yatra and fair are among the biggest festivals of Jharkhand, drawing both tribal and non-tribal devotees.

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ISKCON Temple, Bengaluru

ISKCON Temple, Bengaluru इस्कॉन मंदिर, बेंगलुरु

Bengaluru, Karnataka · Radha Krishna (Sri Radha Krishnachandra)

One of the largest ISKCON temples in the world, on Hare Krishna Hill in north-west Bengaluru, dedicated to Radha Krishna and known for its festivals, kirtan and free prasadam.

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Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple

Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple तिरुमित्तकोड अञ्चुमूर्ति मंदिर

Thirumittakode, near Pattambi, Kerala · Vishnu (Uyyavandha Perumal / Abhayapradhan) and Shiva

A Divya Desam on the banks of the Bharathapuzha, praised by Kulasekhara Alvar, where Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped together among five deities. It is also counted among the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala.

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Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple आरन्मुला पार्थसारथी मंदिर

Aranmula, Kerala · Krishna (Parthasarathy)

A Divya Desam on the Pamba river where Krishna is worshipped as Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer. Linked by legend with Arjuna, it is famous for the Aranmula snake boat race and as a halt for Ayyappa's sacred ornaments.

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Frequently asked questions

When was Krishna born?

Tradition places his birth at midnight on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami (Shravan in the purnimanta calendar), under the Rohini nakshatra, celebrated every year as Krishna Janmashtami.

Is Krishna an avatar of Vishnu?

Most Puranas count him as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Gaudiya Vaishnavas and some other traditions hold that Krishna is the Supreme himself and the source of all avatars.

What is the main teaching of Krishna in the Gita?

To do one's duty without attachment to results (karma yoga), to know the self as eternal (jnana), and to surrender to the Lord in devotion (bhakti) — offered to Arjuna as one path seen from three sides.