Krishna: Difference between revisions

Krisna (Gurmukhi:ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ) is a Gurmat term, that appeared 17 times in Guru Granth Sahib, the primary scripture of Sikhs.

It means Black. As per Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahankosh, Krishna means Kala or Paap-Aatma.^[1] As per Sanskrit Dictionary, Krishna means dark and dark-blue. ^[2]

In Sikh Religion, the interpretations of Krishna are not the same as Hindu Religion though both are related.

Krishna, in Hinduism

Krishna Tends to Radha’s Feet

• Krishna is a deity, worshipped across many traditions of Hinduism.
• Vaishnava groups recognize him as a full avatar of the god, Vishnu or Vishnu himself;
• Some traditions within Krishnaism, consider Krishna to be Svayam Bhagavan or the Supreme Being.
• Krishna was born to Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva in Dwapar Yuga in Mathura. (which means he was Jooni)
• Yashoda and Nand nourished Krishna in Gokula.
• Krishna plays with the gopis (milkmaids) of Brindavana, especially Radha, beloved of the god Krishna.
• Krishna has eight princely wives and other junior wives: Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra, Lakshmana, and other 16,000 or 16,100 junior queens.
• Krishna fought various wars with Rakshashas Tribe.
• Krishna's outspoken Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Mahabharat War.
• Krishna was killed by a Hunter Jara, who hit an arrow in his feet while meditating in Jungles.

• See Wikipedia article on Krishna for more information

Condemnation of considering various material deity in the name of God

Although, there has been many statements in praise of the god Krishna, however worshipping for the material cause has been straightaway rejected.

Condemnation of Material worship:

Material worship or polytheism worshipping is condemned in Sikh scriptures.

Krishna, in Gurmat

Following are lines from Guru Granth Sahib which contains word Krishna: ਪੰਨਾ 98, ਸਤਰ 9, ਮਃ 5
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੰਗੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ॥
गुरमुखि संगी क्रिसन मुरारे ॥
Lord Krishna becomes the Gurmukh's Companion.

ਪੰਨਾ 165, ਸਤਰ 6, ਮਃ 4
ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਬਲਭਦ੍ਰੁ ਗੁਰ ਪਗ ਲਗਿ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥
क्रिसनु बलभद्रु गुर पग लगि धिआवै ॥
Even Krishna and Balbhadar meditated on the Lord, falling at the Guru's Feet.

ਪੰਨਾ 338, ਸਤਰ 5, ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ
ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨ ਮਨ ਹਰਨ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਗਾਊ ਰੇ ॥
बिंद्राबन मन हरन मनोहर क्रिसन चरावत गाऊ रे ॥
In Brindaaban, where Krishna grazes his cows, he entices and fascinates my mind.

ਪੰਨਾ 413, ਸਤਰ 12, ਮਃ 1
ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਸਉਪਉ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਪਰੀਤਿ ॥੫॥
तनु मनु सउपउ क्रिसन परीति ॥५॥
Dedicate your body and mind to the Love of the Lord. ||5||

ਪੰਨਾ 469, ਸਤਰ 15, ਮਃ 2
ਏਕ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੰ ਸਰਬ ਦੇਵਾ ਦੇਵ ਦੇਵਾ ਤ ਆਤਮਾ ॥
एक क्रिसनं सरब देवा देव देवा त आतमा ॥
The One Lord Krishna is the Divine Lord of all; He is the Divinity of the individual soul.

ਪੰਨਾ 470, ਸਤਰ 6, ਮਃ 1
ਜੁਜ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਰਿ ਛਲੀ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਾਵਲਿ ਕਾਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਜਾਦਮੁ ਭਇਆ ॥
जुज महि जोरि छली चंद्रावलि कान्ह क्रिसनु जादमु भइआ ॥
In the Jujar Veda, Kaan Krishna of the Yaadva tribe seduced Chandraavali by force.

ਪੰਨਾ 567, ਸਤਰ 10, ਮਃ 1
ਸੋਵੰਨ ਢਾਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮਾਲਾ ਜਪਹੁ ਤੁਸੀ ਸਹੇਲੀਹੋ ॥
सोवंन ढाला क्रिसन माला जपहु तुसी सहेलीहो ॥
His body is cast in gold, and He wears Krishna's mala; meditate on Him, O sisters.

ਪੰਨਾ 788, ਸਤਰ 14,ਮਃ 3
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਅਤਿ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮੁਰਾਰਿ ॥
मनु तनु निरमलु अति सोहणा भेटिआ क्रिसन मुरारि ॥
The mind and body become immaculately pure and very beautiful, when one meets the Lord, the Destroyer of ego.

ਪੰਨਾ 903, ਸਤਰ 2, ਮਃ 1
ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਸਰਾ ਨਿਬੇੜੀ ਕਾਜੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਹੋਆ ॥
कलि कलवाली सरा निबेड़ी काजी क्रिसना होआ ॥
In this turbulent age of Kali Yuga, Muslim law decides the cases, and the blue-robed Qazi is the judge.

ਪੰਨਾ 974, ਸਤਰ 14, ਭਗਤ ਬੇਣੀ ਜੀ
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਅਰਪੈ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਪਰੀਤਿ ॥੬॥
मनु तनु अरपै क्रिसन परीति ॥६॥
He dedicates his mind and body to the Lord's Love. ||6||

ਪੰਨਾ 988, ਸਤਰ 11, ਭਗਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਜੀ
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਓਢੈ ਕਾਂਬਲੀ ॥੧॥
धनि धनि क्रिसन ओढै कांबली ॥१॥
blessed, blessed is the blanket worn by Krishna. ||1||

ਪੰਨਾ 1041, ਸਤਰ 6, ਮਃ 1
ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨਿ ਗੋਵਰਧਨ ਧਾਰੇ ॥
गुरमति क्रिसनि गोवरधन धारे ॥
Through the Guru's Teachings, Krishna lifted up the mountain of Govardhan.

ਪੰਨਾ 1191, ਸਤਰ 14, ਮਃ 4
ਦੀਨਾ ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲ ਭਏ ਹੈ ਜਿਉ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਬਿਦਰ ਘਰਿ ਆਇਆ ॥
दीना दीन दइआल भए है जिउ क्रिसनु बिदर घरि आइआ ॥
God is Merciful to the meekest of the meek; Krishna came to the house of Bidar, a devotee of low social status.

ਪੰਨਾ 1263, ਸਤਰ 8, ਮਃ 4
ਕਾਂਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਗਾਊ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੋਭਾ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥
कांसी क्रिसनु चरावत गाऊ मिलि हरि जन सोभा पाई ॥२॥
Krishna grazed cows in Kaashi; through the humble servant of the Lord, these places became famous. ||2||

ਪੰਨਾ 1309, ਸਤਰ 14, ਮਃ 4
ਬਿਦਰ ਦਾਸੀ ਸੁਤੁ ਛੋਕ ਛੋਹਰਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਅੰਕਿ ਗਲਿ ਲਾਵੈਗੋ ॥੨॥
बिदर दासी सुतु छोक छोहरा क्रिसनु अंकि गलि लावैगो ॥२॥
Bidur, the son of a slave-girl, was an untouchable, but Krishna hugged him close in His Embrace. ||2||

ਪੰਨਾ 1351, ਸਤਰ 17, ਭਗਤ ਬੇਣੀ ਜੀ
ਰੇ ਲੰਪਟ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਅਭਾਖੰ ॥੪॥
रे ल्मपट क्रिसनु अभाखं ॥४॥
You are lewd and depraved - you do not chant God's Name. ||4||

ਪੰਨਾ 1390, ਸਤਰ 8, ਭਟ ਕਲ-ਸਹਾਰ
ਦੁਆਪੁਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮੁਰਾਰਿ ਕੰਸੁ ਕਿਰਤਾਰਥੁ ਕੀਓ ॥
दुआपुरि क्रिसन मुरारि कंसु किरतारथु कीओ ॥
In the Brass Age of Dwaapur Yuga, You were Krishna; You killed Mur the demon, and saved Kans.

While in the Vedas the names Rama, Vishnu, and thousands of other names are understood as Devtas (lit. bright, shining ones) or Avatars of God, or maybe God himself but in Gurmat God is One, Undefinable and Formless. One of the early Sanskrit words or names, that Hindus worship as an aspect of God, has the same meaning in Panjabi and most of the other languages of India. The word Krishna means - dark or black.

In Gurbani, Mann (one's thoughts or mind) is considered Black, especially if someone does not listen to their inner soul.

In Gurbani, the Dark part of one's soul is referred to as Krishna (darkness), and the light part of one's soul is referred to as Rama, each person's soul has two parts KRISHNA and RAMA. The Positive is RAMA and the Negative is Krishna, but if these two are one then the next step is how does one get to god? First, we must work to rid our lives of negativity, living our lives positively, as our RAMA guides us from the inside.

Gurbani rejects the material philosophy of Worship in many ways, like:- ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਔ ਬਿਸਨ ਜਪੇ ਤੁਹਿ ਕੋਟਿਕ ਰਾਮ ਰਹੀਮ ਭਲੀ ਬਿਧਿ ਧਿਆਯੋ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਜਪਿਓ ਅਰੁ ਸੰਭੁ ਥਪਿਓ ਤਿਹ ਤੇ ਤੁਹਿ ਕੋ ਕਿਨਹੂੰ ਨ ਬਚਾਯੋ ॥……..ਤੋਹਿ ਬਚਾਇ ਸਕੈ ਕਹੁ ਕੈਸੇ ਕੈ ਆਪਨ ਘਾਵ ਬਚਾਇ ਨ ਐਹੈ ॥ਕੋਪ ਕਰਾਲ ਕੀ ਪਾਵਕ ਕੁੰਡ ਮੈ ਆਪ ਟੰਗਿਓ ਤਿਮ ਤੋਹਿ ਟੰਗੈਹੈ ॥

Thou hast meditated on millions of Krishnas, Vishnus, Ramas and Rahims. Thou hast recited the name of Brahma and established Shivalingam, even then none could save thee…….They cannot save themselves form the blow of death, how can they protect thee? They are all hanging in the blazing fire of anger, therefore they will cause thy hanging similarly. (pg111)

ਮੈ ਨ ਗਨੇਸ਼ਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਮਨਾਊਂ ॥ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਬਿਸ਼ਨ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨਹ ਧਿਆਊਂ ॥ਕਾਨ ਸੁਨੇ ਪਹਿਚਾਨ ਨ ਤਿਨ ਸੋਂ ॥ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਮੋਰੀ ਪਗ ਇਨ ਸੋਂ ॥੪੩੪॥ (ਕ੍ਰਿ.ਵਤਾਰ)

I do not adore Ganesha in the beginning and also do not meditate on Krishna and Vishnu; I have only heard about them with my ears and I do not recognize them; my consciousness is absorbed at the feet of the Supreme Lord.434.

Gurbani Says:

In the Tuk (line of Bani) below, Mann (a mind Tangled in Maya) gets blackened, as it travels through countless incarnations:

ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕੀ ਇਸ੝ ਮਨ ਕਉ ਮਲ੝ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਾਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਆਹ੝ ॥
The filth of countless incarnations sticks to this mind; it has become pitch black.

Moreover, Mann which is tangled in Maya (Attentions) is also compared to a Crow (very black) or a Snake (often black) in Gurbani.

O my Father, Lord of wealth, blessed are You, long-haired, dark-skinned, my darling. ||1||Pause||

ਕਰ ਧਰੇ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਗਜ ਹਸਤੀ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਉਧਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ You hold the steel chakra in Your hand; You came down from Heaven and saved the life of the elephant.

ਦੁਹਸਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਸਭਾ ਦ੍ਰੋਪਤੀ ਅੰਬਰ ਲੇਤ ਉਬਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥ In the court of Duhsaasan, You saved the honor of Dropati, when her clothes were being removed. ||1||

ਗੋਤਮ ਨਾਰਿ ਅਹਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੀ ਪਾਵਨ ਕੇਤਕ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ You saved Ahliyaa, the wife of Gautam; how many have You purified and carried across?

ਐਸਾ ਅਧਮੁ ਅਜਾਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਤਉ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਆਈਅਲੇ ॥੨॥੨॥ Such a lowly outcaste as Naam Dayv has come seeking Your Sanctuary. ||2||2|| (SGGS: 988)

Pondering over the above Shabad, wasn't it Krishna who saved the honor of Draupadi? Also, God is formless, and Chakra is related to Krishna.

ਨਿਰਾਹਾਰੀ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥ He is beyond the need of any sustenance, free of hate and all-pervading.

ਧਾਰਿ ਖੇਲੁ ਚਤੁਰਭੁਜੁ ਕਹਾਇਆ ॥ He has staged His play; He is called the four-armed Lord.

ਸਾਵਲ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਰੂਪ ਬਣਾਵਹਿ ਬੇਣੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਸਭ ਮੋਹੈਗਾ ॥੯॥ He assumed the beautiful form of the blue-skinned Krishna; hearing His flute, all are fascinated and enticed. ||9||

ਬਨਮਾਲਾ ਬਿਭੂਖਨ ਕਮਲ ਨੈਨ ॥ He is adorned with garlands of flowers, with lotus eyes.

ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕੁੰਡਲ ਮੁਕਟ ਬੈਨ ॥ His earrings, crown, and flute are so beautiful.

ਸੰਖ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਧਾਰੀ ਮਹਾ ਸਾਰਥੀ ਸਤਸੰਗਾ ॥੧੦॥ He carries the conch, the chakra, and the war club; He is the Great Charioteer, who stays with His Saints. ||10||

ਪੀਤ ਪੀਤੰਬਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਧਣੀ ॥ The Lord of yellow robes, the Master of the three worlds.

ਜਗੰਨਾਥੁ ਗੋਪਾਲੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਭਣੀ ॥ The Lord of the Universe, the Lord of the world; with my mouth, I chant His Name.

ਸਾਰਿੰਗਧਰ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਬੀਠੁਲਾ ਮੈ ਗਣਤ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਸਰਬੰਗਾ ॥੧੧॥ The Archer who draws the bow, the Beloved Lord God; I cannot count all His limbs. ||11|| ( SGGS: 1082)

ਸੰਖ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਮਾਲਾ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਬਿਰਾਜਿਤ ਦੇਖਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪੁ ਜਮੁ ਡਰਿਓ ॥ He is adorned with the conch, the chakra, the mala, and the ceremonial tilak mark on his forehead; gazing upon his radiant glory, the Messenger of Death is scared away. (SGGS: 1105)

Bal Leela

The Bal Leela (the 'play' of the God Krishna, while a small child) has very less or no relevance to Gurmat or Sikhs.

But remembering, the purpose of human life is forgotten by the Mind lost in Maya.

siv saktee ghar vaasaa paa-i-aa.

He came to dwell in the home of the Shiva and Shakti, energy and matter.

ayk visaaray taa pirh haaray anDhulai naam visaaraa hay. ||6||

But he forgot the One Lord, and he has lost the game.

The blind person forgets the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||6||

ਬਾਲਕ੝ ਮਰੈ ਬਾਲਕ ਕੀ ਲੀਲਾ ॥

The child dies in his childish games.

ਕਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਬਾਲ੝ ਰੰਗੀਲਾ ॥ They cry and mourn, saying that he was such a playful child.

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਾ ਸੋ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਲੀਆ ਭੂਲਾ ਰੋਵਣਹਾਰਾ ਹੇ ॥੭॥

The Lord who owns him has taken him back.

Those who weep and mourn are mistaken. ||7||

Mann (Mind) is like Child, which remains tangled in worldly attachments. When the lord snatches a young child or an aged person who lives his life seeking the worldly pleasures of a child, their parents, friends, and relatives, cry and mourn for the sake of Maya, but one who understands himself, does not cry or mourn for when he meets the True Guru, then he understands.

When one forgets Bal Leela and starts living his life in accordance with God's Hukam one has entered the stage of Ram Leela or Raj Leela.

ਰਾਜ ਲੀਲਾ ਤੇਰੈ ਨਾਮਿ ਬਨਾਈ ॥
The pleasures of royalty are derived from Your Name = Hukam.

ਜੋਗ੝ ਬਨਿਆ ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਰਤਨ੝ ਗਾਈ ॥੧॥
I attain Yoga, singing the Kirtan of Your Praises. ||1||

The above is the stage of Bal Leela to Raj Leela.

References