The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism: A New Look at the World’s Oldest Religion by Linda Johnsen

Author:Linda Johnsen [Johnsen, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: DK Publishing
Published: 2011-04-14T18:30:00+00:00

King of Mathura

As a young man, Krishna left Vrindavan to fulfill his destiny in Mathura, where he overthrew the vicious king Kamsa. But back in his village, the gopis pined for him night and day, especially Radha, his favorite girlfriend. Krishna never returned to Vrindavan, but the gopis ached for him every moment of their lives, until they actually began to see him in everyone and everything around them. Merging into Krishna’s true Self, the all-pervading consciousness that sustains all reality, they each attained enlightenment. Many Hindus still cherish the memory of the gopis as the greatest devotees who ever lived.

Krishna eventually became king of Mathura. As the Mahabharata relates, he would go on to help his friend Arjuna win the disastrous war against the Kauravas. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the wisest scriptures in the world’s spiritual library, recounts Krishna’s advice to Arjuna as Arjuna confronts the consequences of serious political errors and the inevitability of death.

Once when hundreds of women from a nearby kingdom were carried off by a pillaging army, Krishna rushed to the rescue. After he’d saved them, the women cried that their husbands and fathers wouldn’t accept them back because they were impure since they’d been raped. Krishna called for a priest and married them all on the spot! It’s easy to see why Krishna is so popular with women devotees to this day!

Krishna may well be the single most beloved figure in the history of Hinduism. He’s more loved than Vishnu himself, even though he’s supposed to be just one of Vishnu’s 10 major incarnations. The character of Krishna, who combines unsurpassed wisdom with masculine charm and heroic deeds, may actually be the most enchanting figure in world literature.

Quick Quiz

1. Vishnu stepped on Bali’s head …a. Because Bali’s skull was Vishnu’s shoe size.

b. By accident when the lights went out.

c. To teach him humility.

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