Krishna – The Lord of the Yadava Clan

3 minutes

For millennia, the legends of a dark-skinned, playful, young cowherd have been passed down from generation to generation among Indian families.

Sporting his bright peacock feather, Krishna spent his childhood wandering in the fields with his friends. They all belonged to a pastoral community known as the Yadavas. The music that he played from his flute is said to be nectar to the ears, and he used this to entice – the cattle would move closer and stop walking, and people would stop in their tracks when they heard his tunes.

Krishna. [god poster]. Retrieved from https://library.artstor.org/asset/SS34822_34822_11367048

He was the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu (the Preserver of the Universe).

Vishnu has 10 incarnations, out of which nine have taken place. The tenth, Kalki, is yet to come, and will do so to wipe out all the evils on earth.

“Marks and inscriptions
1. The Fish denotes the fatal day / When Earth beneath the Waters lay. / Macha Awataram’ The fish incarnation of Vishnu (Matsya avatara)
2. Th’amphibious Turtle marks the time / When it again the shores could climb. / Koorma Awataram.’ The turtle incarnation of Vishnu (Kurma avatara)
3. The Boar’s an emblem of the God / Who raised again the mighty clod. / Waraha Awataram’ The boar incarnation of Vishnu (Varaha avatara)
4. The Lion-king and savage trains / Now roam the woods, o[r] graze the [plains]. / Narasheem Awataram’ The man-lion incarnation of Vishnu (Narasimha avatara)
5. Next [came the] Little Man’s reign / Oe’r earth an[d wa]try’ main / Wamana Awataram’ The dward incarnation of Vishnu (Vamana avatara)
6. Ram with the Axe then takes his stand, / Fells the thick forests – clears the land. / Parasurama Awataram’ Rama with the Axe (Parasurama avatara)
7. Ram with the Bow ‘gainst tyrants fight[s] / And thus defends the people’s rights. / Shreerama Awataram’ Rama with the bow (Rama avatara)
8. Ram with the Plough turns up the soil, / And teaches man for food to toil. / Balarama Awataram’ Rama with the Plough (Balarama avatara)
9. Buddha for Reformation came, / And formed a Sect well known to fame. / Boodha Awataram’ Vishnu as the Buddha (Buddha avatara).
10. When Kalki mounts his milk white Steed, / Heav’n, Earth, and all will then recede! / Kalkeekawataram’ Vishnu as a warrior on a white horse (Kalki avatara)“
(AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dasavatar,_19th_century.jpg

Sometimes, instead of Krishna, his brother Balarama is considered as the eighth avatar, as in this 19th century painting above.

In his adulthood, one of Krishna’s most prominent roles is in the Mahabharata – the world’s longest epic poem. In the story of the Mahabharata, it is during the Kurukshetra War that Krishna recites the Bhagavad Gita – one of the most sacred texts in Hinduism.

So Krishna is a character who fascinates me. He is God and Mortal, playful yet good-hearted, and is one of the most popular Gods. And that inspired me to try to draw him!

Drawn using Krita

I hope you liked this post and learnt something new!