Why the name Krishna?

JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

We concluded the last article with an unanswered question which was asked by arjuna to Lord Shri Krishna. Arjuna wanted to know in detail about the infinite multitudes of auspicious attributes of the Lord. Truly His (Lord Krishna’s) sovereignty over the whole world is unrivalled and the universe is governed by His will, as it constitutes His body, with Him for its Self.

All the demi-gods like indra, agni (fire-god), shiva, bramha, Vishnu, yama etc have limited power. Indra is the king of all demi-gods. The agni deva (fire-god) rules the element of fire which has the capacity to burn anything. Shiva is given the power of annihilation i.e. the power to destroy anything. Bramha is given the power of creation i.e. he has the authority to create all living things like human-beings, animals, plants and so on. Vishnu is given the responsibility of maintaining the harmony or balance of the universe. Any abnormalities happening anywhere in the universe have to be set right by Him. Yama is the god of death. His job is to take the ‘life’ of everyone i.e. animals, plants, human beings etc at the right time.

But its Lord Krishna who is at the top of all of them and who has the supreme authority.

Just like the decision of the Supreme Court is deemed to be final and cannot be challenged by anyone so also any decision taken or anything done by Lord Krishna cannot be undone by anything or anyone.

Moving now towards the answer to the unanswered question of last article,

Lord Krishna says,

Hannta te KaTHayiSHyami DivyaHyatmaVibhutyaha
Pradhanyataha kurukshresHthaha nastyantO vistarasya mae

Indeed I shall tell you, O Arjuna, My auspicious manifestations (Vibhutis)-those that are prominent among these. There is no end to their extent.

Chapter 10 verse 19

Meaning: O Arjuna, I shall tell you My auspicious manifestations-those that are prominent among these. The term ‘Pradhanya’ connotes pre-eminence (importance). I shall tell you those manifestations of Mine that are prominent in the world. For it would not be possible to tell or listen to them in detail, because there is not limit to them.

Shri Krishna clearly declares that He rules over all the creatures by actuating them from within as their self. He also declares His being the creator, sustainer and destroyer of everything.

Ahamaathma gudaakesha SarvabHutashayastithaha
Ahamaadishrava madhyam cha bHutanamantaha aeva cha

I am the Self, O Arjuna, dwelling in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all beings.

Chapter 10 verse 20

Meaning: I am the Self (soul) dwelling in the heart of all beings who constitute My body. The word ‘Self ‘ here should be interpreted as the supporter, controller and the principal of a body. Its something, in the absence of which a body by itself cannot exist. The meaning of ‘I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all beings’ is that ‘I am the cause of the origination, sustentation and dissolution of everyone and everything. This is the message that Lord Krishna wants to convey through the above shloka.

As the Lord abides as the Self in all, the final significance of all terms culminates in Him. Terms such as God, man, bird, tree etc., though they signify the respective physical forms of those objects, they culminate through them in the selves in them as their final significance. The soul in them is the most important reason for their existence. Just like that here it is going to be stated in the conclusion of the account of the manifestations of the Lord, that the Lord’s immanence in them as their Self is the basis for describing them in such co-ordinate predication (as He Himself).

Thus having explained the Lord’s immanence in all beings, which are His manifestations having Him, as their Self, is the ground for naming them in the manner of Samanadhikaranya or co-ordinate predication with Him (i.e., predication that they are He Himself), Shri Krishna proceeds to present some specific or distinguished manifestations in the same style of co-ordinate predication.

We will have a glance at those manifestations in our forthcoming articles.

Sarvam Guruvarpanam