The Hindu deity Krishna and his brother Balarama tend cows
The Life of Krishna
Raised in a small village in Braj in North India, Krishna was an adorable and mischievous child [1]. He played tricks and made messes. But even when he stole a delicious butterball [2] he was forgiven. As a charming young man, he captured hearts with his flute playing and dancing [3, at left].
Stories about Krishna’s life come from various religious texts, and some have become popular subjects in art and literature. Memorable and easily relatable with ordinary human experience, these episodes from the life of the great god exemplify his perfect character and extraordinary powers, serving as metaphors for religious values.
Krishna had the role of protector, destroying all evil forces that threatened his village. But such destruction was always merciful and just. Once, a powerful serpent was poisoning the river in which it lived. Krishna dived into the river and began dancing on the serpent’s multiple heads to trample and kill it. But when the serpent and his wives appealed for compassion, Krishna spared his life [4].
A favorite story is Krishna’s youthful prank of stealing the clothes of the village girls as they bathed in the river [5]. On one occasion Krishna teased the young cowherding women, as lovers tease their beloveds, and he climbed a tree with their clothes, refusing to return them until the they came out to retrieve them. This episode is sometimes interpreted to mean that we humans must put aside our egos and concerns with material things to approach the divine with our souls laid bare.
The god’s presence everywhere and for everyone is exemplified in another popular episode: the young cowherd’s good looks, flirtatious charm, and alluring flute playing entranced all the village women, who readily ignored their domestic duties, husbands, and fathers when Krishna was present. On one occasion, when the village women came to dance with Krishna, they were disappointed that he could dance with only one at a time. In his infinite divine capacity, Krishna appeared to all of them simultaneously, and they all danced together in a circle [6].
