The identity of Lord Krishna is replete in Vedic literature where there are full descriptions of Him as the Supreme Being. These literature assist us in understanding God as Cosmic Consciousness in relation to Self-consciousness. Does Krishna’s descriptions as Supreme Being and His several manifestations help us to understand the nature of God?
In the Mahabaratha Grandfather Bishma advises King Yudhisthira that “Krishna is the Lord of the Universe. He is the God of Gods. He is the foremost of all beings. By Him is pervaded this universe. Meditating on Him and on His many names man can transcend all sorrow. The foremost of all religions is Krishna. He is the highest energy. He is the highest penance. He is the highest refuge. He is the holiest of holies. He is the beginning of all creation and the end of all creation. Krishna is the eternal Brahman. Surrender yourself to Him and you will be one with Him: with Krishna the Lord of the past, the present and the future- the Supreme Soul.”
The Svetasvatara Upanishad VI-6:
“Knowing Him who is the origin and dissolution of the universe – the source of all virtue, the destroyer of all sins, the master of all good qualities, the immortal, and the abode of the universe – as seated in one’s own self, He is perceived as different from, and transcending, the tree of Samsara as well as time and form.” Thus changes in the world are only due to God’s multi-potencies. By logic it takes Someone to watch over, protect and maintain anything.
In the Katha Upanishad 2-II-13.
Who so among the intelligent realize the Self in the (inner space of the) heart as the eternal among the ephemeral, the consciousness among the conscious, who, though one, dispenses the desired objects to many, to them belongs eternal peace, not to others. Thus He is the supreme eternally conscious person who maintains all other living entities. No one can be equal to or greater than Him.
This is further corroborated in the Katha Upanishad: 2-III-9.
His form does not stand within the scope of vision; none beholds Him with the eye. By the intellect restraining the mind, and through meditation is He revealed. Those who know this become immortal. Thus He can be apprehended through a pure transparent mind imbibed with intuitive wisdom born out of unalloyed devotional practices in the very core of one’s own unstinted heart--those who have really got such a vision have gained final beatitude.
The Chandogya Upanishad 3.17.7 –
“Those knowers of Brahman who have purified their mind through the withdrawal of the senses and other means like Brahmacharya) see everywhere (the day – like the supreme light) of the ancient One who is the seed of the universe, (the light that shines in the Effulgent Brahman). May we, too having perceived the highest light which dispels darkness, reach it.
Having perceived the highest light in our own heart we have reached that highest light, which is the dispeller (of water, rays of light and the Pranas), shining in all gods – yea, we have reached that highest light”. This Light of Grace that comes from the Primeval Fountain-Source dispels darkness of illusion like the morning sun dispelling the night darkness. This Light shines far beyond the Universe. When we perceive the highest Purusha or Supreme Person, then one is in blissful ecstasy.
KRISHNA’S PASTIMES and RADHA:
Notwithstanding, the Lord Himself has not been without criticism: Gita 9.11. 'Fools deride me when I descend in the human form' He says. Sometimes one does not understand His activities, pastimes and His extensions which reveal the highest Truths. This level of perception depends on the individual’s depth of spiritual understanding. Otherwise it may lead to bizarre conclusions. Spiritual realization and the life of Krishna are not easily interpreted. One such occasion is His lilas with the cowherd girls in the Vrindavana. All bonds exist in the mind and one must look deep into Krishna’s activities. There, in that lover manifestation, the Lord breaks all limitations of pride.
The Vrindavan was beset with unlimited spiritual bliss of divine love with the Supreme Being. Krishna lilas are eternally going on in the spiritual world. One who has purified his consciousness can witness these activities even in his mortal form. Thus Svetasvatara Upanishad (4.20) explains “His form of beauty is imperceptible to mundane senses. No one can see Him with material eyes. Only those who realize, through deep pure-hearted meditation, this Supreme Personality, who resides in everyone’s heart, can attain liberation.” Om
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says,
purnam idam purnat purnam udacyate: “Although He expands in many ways, He keeps His original personality. His original spiritual body remains as it is.” Thus, we can understand that God can expand His energies in many ways, but is not affected or diminished in His potency. The invocation mantra of the Sri Ishopanishad says something similar:
Om purnam adah purnam idam
purnat purnam udachyate
purnasya purnam adaya
purnam evavashishyate
This means, in essence, that the Supreme Being is complete and perfect, and whatever is expanded from His energies is also complete and does not take away from His potencies in any way. He remains as He is, the complete whole and the complete balance.
Gita 10.33.36 states that
“when the Lord assumes a humanlike body, it is to show His mercy to His devotees. Then He engages in the sort of pastimes that will attract those who hear about them. Then they may become dedicated to Him. In this He expands Himself to call all conditioned souls through His love.
Srimati Radharani, is but an expansion of Krishna’s energy. Thus, the spiritual exchange of divine love between Radha and Krishna is the display of the internal energy of the Lord, and is not easily comprehended in a material perspective. But the more we awaken our dormant love for God, which is natural state of being for a fully awakened soul, then the more we can comprehend and actually enter into such spiritual loving exchanges. Man is to awaken his spiritual position and be of service to Him. This is unconditional devotion – the purpose of human life. It is within this context that one understands that the supreme object of devotion, Krishna, worships the highest devotion, Radha. Through Srimati Radha one comprehends spiritual identity and connection with the Supreme.
Hara Hara Mahadeva by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
LORD KRISHNA - 108 Names
Achala – Krishna Who is Still and Motionless
Achyuta – Krishna Who is Infallible
Adbhutah – Krishna Who is Opulant and Wondrous
Adidev – Krishna who is the God of gods and goddesses
Aditya – Krsna who is the Son Of Aditi
Ajanma – Krsna Who Is Infinite And Boundless
Ajaya – Krishna Who is Beyond both Life And Death
Akshara – Krishna Who is Indestructible
Amrut – Krsna Who Is Sweet As Nectar and Immortal
Anaadih – Krsna Who Is The First Cause
Anandsagar – Krishna Who is an Ocean of Bliss
Ananta – Krishna who is Infinite
Anantajit – Krsna who is Ever Victorious
Anaya – Krsna, above Who there is none
Aniruddha – Krsna Who is the Lord of Obsticles
Aparajeet – Krishna Who Cannot Be Defeated
Avyukta – Krsna Who Is As Clear As Crystal
Balgopal – The Child Krishna, The All Attractive One
Bali – The Lord Of Strength
Chaturbhuj – Four-Armed Lord (Vishnu)
Danavendra – Krishna Who is the Granter Of Boons
Dayalu Krsna who is the Repositiory Of Compassion
Dayanidhi – Krsna from Whom Compassion is Born
Devadidev – Krishna who is Supreme among Gods
Devakinandan – Krishna Who is the Son Of Mother Devaki
Devesh – Lord Of The Lords
Dharmadhyaksha – The Lord of Dharma
Dwarkapati – Lord Of Dwarka
Gopal – Krsna Who Plays With The Cowherds (Gopas)
Gopalpriya – Lover Of Cowherds
Govinda – Krsna Who pleases the cows, the Earth and all of Nature
Gyaneshwar – The Lord Of Knowledge
Hari – The Lord Of Nature
Hiranyagarbha – The All Powerful Creator
Hrishikesh – Krsna who is the Lord of the Heart
Jagadguru – Preceptor Of The Universe
Jagadisha – Protector Of All
Jagannath – Lord Of The Universe
Janardhana – Krishna Who bestows boons on one and all
Jayantah – Krsna who is the Conqueror of all Enemies
Jyotiraaditya – Krsna Who shines with the Effulgence of a Billion Suns
Kamalnath – Krishna Who is the Lord of the Goddess Lakshmi
Kamalnayan – Krsna Whose eyes are like Lotuses
Kamsantak – Krsna, Slayer Of Kamsa
Kanjalochana – The Lotus-Eyed God
Keshava – Krsna Who Has Long, Black Matted Locks
Krishna – Dark-Complexioned Lord
Lakshmikantam – The Lord Of Goddess Lakshmi
Lokadhyaksha – Krsna Who is the Lord Of All The Three Lokas (Worlds)
Madan – The Lord Of Love
Madhava – Krsna Who is Lord of Nature
Madhusudan – Krishna, Slayer Of Demon Madhu
Mahendra – Krishna, Lord Of Indra
Manmohan – Krsna Who Captivates the mind utterly
Manohar – Krsna Who Attracts
Mayur – Krishna Who Has A Peacock Feathered-Crest
Mohan – Krishna Whose Beauty Intoxicates
Murali – Krishna, Who plays the Flute
Murlidhar – One Who Holds The Flute
Murlimanohar – The Flute Playing God
Nandgopala – The Son Of Nand
Narayana – Krishna, the Refuge Of All Beings
Niranjana – Krsna, the Unblemished
Nirguna – Krsna Who is Beyond All Descriptions
Padmahasta – Krishna, Whose Hands are Like Lotuses
Padmanabha – The Lord Who Has A Lotus Shaped Navel
Parabrahmana – Krsna Who is the Supreme Absolute Truth
Paramatma – The Soul of Souls
Parampurush – Supreme Personality
Parthasarthi – Charioteer Of Partha – Arjuna
Prajapati – Krishna Who is the Creator Of All Creatures
Punyah – Krishna Who is Supremely Pure
Purshottam – Krsna as the Supreme Soul
Ravilochana – Krsna Whose Eye Is The Sun
Sahasraakash – Thousand-Eyed Lord
Sahasrajit – Krsna Who Vanquishes Evil Hordes by the Millions
Sahasrapaat – Thousand-Footed Lord
Sakshi – All Witnessing Lord
Sanatana – The Eternal Lord
Sarvajana – Omniscient Krsna
Sarvapalaka – Protector Of All
Sarveshwar – Krsna Who is in Charge of all Gods
Satyavachana – Krsna Who speaks only the Truth
Satyavrata – The Truth Dedicated Lord
Shantah – Lord of Pure Peace
Shreshta – The Most Glorious Lord
Shrikanta – Krishna who is Beautiful
Shyam – Dark-Complexioned
Shyamsundara – Krsna who is the All Attractive, Dark Colored God
Sudarshana – He Whose Sight is Auspicious
Sumedha – Lord of Intelligence
Suresham – Lord Of All Demi-Gods
Swargapati – Krsna Who Rules all Heavens
Trivikrama – Conqueror Of All The Three Worlds
Upendra – Brother Of Indra
Vaikunthanatha – Lord Of Vaikuntha, The Heavenly Abode
Vardhamaanah – The Formless Lord
Vasudev – Son of Vasudeva
Vishnu – All Prevailing Lord
Vishwadakshinah – Skilfull And Efficient Lord
Vishwakarma – Krsna, Creator Of The Universe
Vishwamurti – The Universe Whose Form is Krsna
Vishvarupa – Krsna, Whose Universal Form Encompasses every form and formlessness
Vishwatma – Soul Of The Universe
Vrishaparvaa – Lord Of Dharma
Yadavendra – Krsna, King Of The Yadav Clan
Yogi – The Supreme Master
Yoginampati – Lord Of The Yogis