the background to krishna

"Hindu Deity"

Krishna was dark and extremely handsome, the word Krishna literally means 'black', and black also connotes mysteriousness. For generations if Krishna has been an agonising enigma to some, he has put millions into ecstasies.

Whether he was a human being or a God-incarnate, there is no gainsaying the fact that he has been ruling the hearts of millions for over three millennia. In the words of Swami Harshananda, "If a person can affect such a profound impact on the Hindu race affecting its psyche and ethos and all aspects of its life for centuries, he is no less than God."

Bhakti, meaning devotion, is not confined to any one deity of Hinduism, however Krishna has become the most important and popular focus of the devotional and ecstatic aspects of Hindu religion. Devotees of Krishna subscribe to the concept of lila, (divine play), as the central principle of the universe. The lilas of Krishna, with their expressions of personal love that transcend the boundaries of formal reverence, serve as a counterpoint to the lilas of another avatar of Vishnu: Rama, "He of the straight & narrow path of maryada, or rules & regulations."

Sculptures - Wooden Krishnas / Brass Krishnas