Krishna is one of the most popular Hindu gods, worshiped throughout India. He is often shown with a flute in his hand and his consort, the milkmaid Radha, standing at his side. Hindus consider Krishna the eighth avatar (physical form) of the god Vishnu. They believe Krishna was born to rid the world of evil and to give delight to his many friends and lovers.
Krishna’s story is told in many Indian writings, most notably in the epic the Mahabharata and in the Bhagavata Purana, a story collection. In a portion of the Mahabharata called the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna appears in human form as the wise chariot driver of the warrior hero Arjuna. Krishna reveals his divine nature and teaches Arjuna the way to achieve freedom while remaining active in the ordinary world. Krishna’s life is described in the Bhagavata Purana. The stories tell how Krishna grew up in a forest near Mathura, India; rid the earth of many demons; and then lived as a prince in what is now the western Indian city of Dwarka.
