SRI KRISHNA AND HIS TEACHINGS

Peacock Feather

Who is Sri Krishna?

  • Sri Krishna was a strategist in the battle of Kurukshetra.
  • Kurukshetra was an 18 day war that took place between two groups of cousins of Kuru, the Kauravas and Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura in which almost nobody survived except for Sri Krishna, the Pandavas and a handful of other people from both sides (according to the scriputure).
  • The main contribution of Sri Krishna is considered to be the Bhagavad Gita which contains the advice ofSri Krishnato warrior-heroArjuna, on the battlefield.
  • Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters which is the sixth book of Bhishma Parva (The book of Bhishma).
  • Bhishma Parva describes the first ten days of the eighteen day Kurukshethra war and it is the sixth book of the eighteen books of Mahabharatha.

Hindu's Belief about Sri Krishna

  • Many Hindus believe that Sri Krishna is an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
    • Avatar comes from Av (down) & Tra (to passover) which means 'to descend down'. Some scholars say that it means descent of a man who is in special relationship with GOD.
    • Vishnu means 'The Sustainer' which is another name of All Mighty GOD according to Hindu Scriptures [Concept of God in Hinduism].
    • Therefore Sri Krishna was a man sent by All Mighty God (as per the concept of Avatar)
  • But many Hindus also believe that Sri Krishna is All Mighty GOD, descended to earth in the form of a man.
  • Let us examine if Sri Krishna claimed divinity or if Sri Krishna said 'worship me'.

What did Sri Krishna believe and Teach

  • The following verses from Bhagavad Gita explain what Sri Krishna taught Arjuna about GOD.

    1. "tam eva saranam gaccha sarva-bhaavena bhaarata tat-prasaadaat paraam saantim sthaanam praapyasi saasvatam" (Oh descendent of a notable family of Bharata (i.e. Arjuna), surrender unto HIM (All Mighty GOD) utterly. By HIS (All Mighty GOD's) grace, you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode) [Bhagavad Gita 18:62]

    2. "kaamais tais tair hrta-gnyaanaah prapadyante anya-devataah tama tama niyamam aathaaya prakrtyaa niyataah svayaa" (Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures) [Bhagavad Gita 7:20]

    3. "antavat tu phalam tesaam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasaam devaan deva-yajo yaanti mad-bhaktaa yaanti maam api" (Men of small intelligence worship the demigods (not the true All Mighty GOD), and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but MY (All Mighty GOD's) devotees ultimately reach MY (All Mighty GOD's) supreme planet) [Bhagavad Gita 7:23]

  • Sri Krishna further taught the importance of following scriptural teachings in the following verse

    1. "asaastra-vihitam ghoram tapyante ye tapo janaah dambhaahankaara-samyuktaah kaama-raaga-balaanvitaah karsayantah sareera-stham bhoota-graamam acetasah maam caivaantah sareera-stham taan viddhy aasura-nischayaan" (Those who undergo severe austerities and penances not recommended in the scriputures, performing them out of pride and egoism, who are impelled by lust and attachment (for material enjoyment), who are foolish and who torture the material elements of the body as well as the supersoul dwelling within, are to be known as demons) [Bhagavad Gita 17:5]

  • When Arjuna inquired Sri Krishna about All Mighty GOD, the following explanation was given by Sri Krishna

    1. "arjuna uvaaca kim tad brahma kim adhyaatmam kim karma purushottama adhibhootam ca kim proktam adhidaivam kim ucyate" (Arjuna inquired: O supreme person (among men), what is Brahma? What is self? What are fruitive activities? What is this material manifestation? And what are demigods? Please exlain this to me.) [Bhagavad Gita 8:1]

    2. "sri-bhagavaan uvaaca aksaram brahma paramam svabhaavo dhyaatmam ucyate bhuuta-bhaavodbhava-karo visargah karma-samagnyitah" (Sri Krishna said: The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Brahma (All Mighty GOD), and HIS eternal nature is called adhyaatma, the self. Action pertaining to the development of the material bodies of the living entities is called karma, or fruitive activities.) [Bhagavad Gita 8:3]

  • Furthermore, Sri Krishna describes the nature of All Mighty GOD as one who does not have a body.

    1. "avyaktam vyaktim aapannam manyante maam abuddhayah param bhaavam ajaananto mamaavyayam anuttamam" (Unable to comprehend MY (All Mighty GOD's) imperishable, exalted and supreme state of being; the spiritually deficient regard ME (All Mighty GOD), the unmanifested as coming into existence. [into a bodily form]) [Bhagavad Gita 7:24]

Other Hindu Scrupture(s) about the Nature of All Mighty GOD

  • The following verse describes All Mighty GOD as one who is not embodied or one who has no body.

    1. "sa paryagac chukram akaayam avranam asnaviram shuddham apapa-viddham kavir manishi paribhuh svayambhur yathatathyato 'rthan vyadadhac chashvatibhyah samabhyaha" (Such a person must know in fact the Greatest of all (All Mighty GOD), WHO is unembodied [or bodyless], omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and uncontaminate, the self-sufficient Philosopher WHO is awarding everyone's desire since time immemorial.) [Yajurveda 40:8]

  • Therefore to assume that All Mighty GOD has taken a body goes against Hindu Scriptures.

Conclusion

  • We can come to the following conclusion that, Sri Krishna taught Arjuna to believe and worship one All Mighty GOD and follow scriptural teachings.