Yogeshwar Shri Krishna, the Purnaavtara

“Krushnam vande jagat gurum” means I bow to Krishna, the teacher of the world.
 
Shri Krishna is historical figure and the Purnaavtara (complete incarnation) who appeared in this world on 18th July, 3102 BC, in the last part of Dwapar Yuga of 28th Manyavantra (around 5122 years ago).  He appeared before Ma Devaki as four armed Vishnu at mid-night, Sravani Krishna Astami. The Vishnu Purana stated that it was a dreadful night with heavy rain and violent wind. He was 8th incarnation (Avatar) of Vishnu Bhagwan. He lived and died for the fellow human beings. He shared the joys and sorrows of kings and commoners alike. Not only he transmitted the wisdom of Upanishads & Vedas in form of Bhagavad Gita, but His life was also lessons on bhakti yoga, karma yoga, jnana yoga and Raja Yoga. The four dimensional perspective of His personality has been attempted in this article.
 
No scripture could recount the entire life of Shri Krishna. It is told primarily through Srimad Bhagavatam, Garga Samhita, Visnu Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana, Mahabharata, Harivamsa and several other puranas.
 
Why called as Purnaavtara (complete incarnation of the almighty):
Shri Krishna proclaimed himself as Almighty and liberated many during his lifetime. He performed several humanly impossible tasks, showed Virat form and extra-ordinary qualities.

1. During childhood, one day, Balkrishna’s playmates complained to mother Yosada that He had eaten earth. Wanting to show His mouth, Ma Yashoda opened his mouth, she was astonished to see the entire universe inside Krishna’s mouth.
2. When Shri Krishna went to Kuru Mahasabha with peace proposal on behalf of Pandavas. Duryodhna dismissed all the peace proposals and ordered his soldiers to arrest Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna laughed and displayed his divine form, radiating intense light.
3. In chapter 11 (shloka 9-28) of Bhagwat Gita, there is mention that Shri Krishna showed Vishwaroopa (universal form) to Arjuna in the Kurukshetra war. Arjuna observed with divine eyes the whole universe in the supreme form of Shree Krishna having numerous mouths, arms, bellies and eyes on all ten directions, numerous wonderful sights, numerous divine ornaments, numerous divine weapons uplifted etc. Apart Arjuna, four persons saw Virat form of Shri Krishna viz. Hanuman (who was in flag of Arjuna above his chariot),
   Barbarika (son of Gatotkach, grandson of Bheema), Sanjay and Sri Krishna Dwaipayana Vedavyasa. All Deva/Devata, Yaksha, Gandharva, Kinnara, Kimpurusha, Naaga, Garuda, Apsaras seen this Vishvaroopa.

 
Shri Krishna is a perfect personification of divinity. He was a revolutionary of his time. He accomplished the protection of feeble & gentle, destruction of evil-doers and installation dharma. He believed that whenever popular righteous is in opposition, one should follow the higher cause of dharma.

He is symbol of compassion, tenderness, love, destroyer of evil-doers, perfect in his different roles, man of wisdom and above all yogeshwar.

1. Symbol of love, music & dance and taught Bhakti Yoga –

In Braj, Balkrishna was loved by everybody. He spread pure love and happiness by playing flute, dance and childlike plays. Balkrishna performed Rasa Lila with gopis at the age of 8 years 3 months while Radharani was 3 years 3 months only. Dongra ji Maharaj has explained that Raaslila was not an ordinary meeting of man and woman but meeting of Jivatmas with Parmatama. This divine love was taught by Medieval Acharyas (Vallabhacharya, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc.) as Bhakti yoga, one of the four paths of liberation. Shri Krishna-related literature has inspired numerous performance arts such as Bharatnatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Manipuri dance.

1. Destroyer of evil-doers and taught Karma Yoga –
   1. Since birth, he was attacked by a number of demons. By killing them, he proved that he is almighty.  He stayed in Braj up to the age of 11 years 6 months. During the stay in Gokula up to the age five years, he
      killed Putana, Sakatasura, Trinivarta demons. Balkrishna moved to Vrindavan at the age of five years to play with Gopis & Gopals. He stayed there for around three years. During the stay at Vrindavan, he killed Vatsasur, Bakasura, Aghasura, Aristasura, Kesi, Dhenukasura, Pralambasura & Kalia serpent.
   2. After the age of 11 and half years, he went to Mathura where he stayed another 10 years 6 months. He completed his studies and faced 17 attacks of Jarasandh.
   3. To avoid more bloodshed and losses, he left for Dwarka and built a large kingdom. He stayed there around 103 years and then left to Vaikunth on 23rd June, 3227 BC. During that period, Shri had slain a number of autocratic kings such as Kansa, Shishupal, Jarasanha (through Bhima), Narakasur etc.  
      

1. Taught Jnana Yoga –

During the start of war between Kaurvas and Pandavas at Kurushetra, Arjuna fell in great sorrow and dilemma (confusion) that whether battle with the loved ones is justified. Shri Krishna removed the doubts of Arjuna through a clear description of the nature of the Atman and the origin and destruction of all created things. Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, the song of Bhagwan, is the dialogues of Shri Krishna and Arjuna. Bhagavad Gita is the most revered practical guide world over and is tip of ocean of bliss and knowledge. Bhagavad Gita exhorts the mankind towards work and not renunciation (not to become Sanyasi) through Karma Yoga. It is cream of Vedas and Upanishads, in most simple Sanskrit language. If Upanishads are cows, Shree Krishna is milkier, Bhagavad Gita is the divine nectar milked for entire humanity and Arjuna is the calf who first tasted it. Bhagavad Gita is translated in most languages in the world after Bible.
 

1. Taught control over senses, balance in life and Yoga:

Shri Krishna is addressed as a Yogeshwar because he preached and practiced Yoga. He advocated complete balance in life, be it in food or behavior in society or in our Karma that is action in pursuance of duty to self and society. Sanjay had called Shri Krishna as the Yogeshwar. One who is Yogi and has an ability to teach the secrets of the Yoga (spiritual knowledge) is called, Yogeshwar. He taught secrets of Vedas and Upanishads.