Vrindavan Krishna cultivates diverse moods

The Krishna of Vrindavana is a flute playing cow herder who attracts the men (gopas) and women (gopis) of the pastoral town by his playful activities and beauty.

• The Krishna of Vrindavana is a flute playing cow herder who attracts the men (gopas) and women (gopis) of the pastoral town by his playful activities and beauty.

Vrindavan Krishna cultivates diverse moods (rasa) of closeness and intimacy through his many attractive features and activities (rasa lilas), for example:

• Vrindavan Krishna cultivates diverse moods (rasa) of closeness and intimacy through his many attractive features and activities (rasa lilas), for example:

• Friendship: a person relates to Krishna as to a close friend.
• Romantic Love: a person relates to Krishna as to a lover.
• Krishna’s madhurya qualities form the basis of such moods of intimacy. “Madhurya” means “sweet.” Krishna’s madhurya qualities are his human qualities that attract devotees to a close relationship with him. These qualities are emphasized in Krishna of Vraj.

The Godhead of Krishna is emphasized at the battle at Kurukshetra in the Bhagavad Gita text (Mahabharata War)

• The Godhead of Krishna is emphasized at the battle at Kurukshetra in the Bhagavad Gita text (Mahabharata War)

• The Krishna of the Gita is overtly God manifested in human form on earth to reinstate moral order and provide spiritual guidance to humanity.

Krishna intervenes in the Pandava-Kaurava conflict.

• Krishna intervenes in the Pandava-Kaurava conflict.

• Krishna refused to fight in the war, but he offered himself as charioteer (for one side) and his invincible army (for the other side).

• The Kauravas chose to accept Krishna’s army.

• The Pandavas chose Krishna himself, even though his role would be confined to guiding the chariot of his cousin and friend Arjuna.

Bryant, Edwin (trans). Krishna: the Beautiful Legend of God, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Book X. Penguin Books, 2003.

• Bryant, Edwin (trans). Krishna: the Beautiful Legend of God, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Book X. Penguin Books, 2003.

• Menon, Ramesh (trans). The Mahabharata : a modern rendering. New York: iUniverse, Inc., 2006.

• Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Krishna: The Supreme Personality of the Godhead. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1970.

• Rosen, Steven (ed). Holy War: Violence and the Bhagavad Gita. Deepak Heritage Books, 2002.

• Rosen, Steven. The Hidden Glory of India. Bhaktivendanta Book Trust, 2002.

• Singer, Milton (ed). Krishna: Myths, Rites, and Attitudes. University of Chicago Press, 1966.

• Tripurari, Swami B.V.. Aesthetic Vedanta. Mandala, 1998.

• Vanamali, Devi. The Play of God: Visions of the Life of Krishna. Blue Dove Press, 1998.