8 Lesser-Known Facts About Lord Krishna That Will Amaze You

A deity worshiped by millions around the globe. Krishna's life is a story of miracles, wisdom, and divine interventions as narrated in the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita. While everything has been said and written about his antics as a child and his role in the Kurukshetra war, followed by his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, there are facts, lesser-known but very much true, about Lord Krishna that remain almost a taboo in popular discussions. Here are eight of them that should astonish you beyond your imagination.
Most people may know Lord Krishna and Balram were brothers, yet very few realize that before Balram, Vasudeva and Devaki had an elder son. This child, Kirtiman, was one of the six elder brothers of Krishna killed by Kansa. These six sons were originally the Maruts (celestial beings) who were cursed to enter this world and perish at the hands of Kansa, owing to past karma. This little-known part adds another dimension to the divine birth and mission of Krishna.
We all associate the name 'Krishna' with the divine avatar of Vishnu. Yet the name Krishna existed before his advent. 'Krishna' in Sanskrit means 'dark' or 'attractive' and was used quite commonly in the times gone by. Krishna has referred to quite a few figures in the Rigveda. This shows that such was the strength of Krishna's presence that now the name stands exclusively for him.
One of the most fascinating things about Krishna is the fact that he married 16,108 women. But what many do not know is that, out of these, only eight were his primary queens, known as the Ashtabharya: Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra, and Lakshmana. The rest of the 16,100, ostensibly his lesser queens, had been captured by the demon king Narakasura. When Krishna rescued them, the social community was not prepared to accept them for fear that they had been polluted. To save their honor and restore their social standing, Krishna married all of them, even though he did not enter into a normal conjugal state with them. This act manifested his acute sense of justice and compassion.
One of the most prominent symbols of Krishna is his flute, which represents divine music, love, and harmony. The instrument, however, has a much deeper meaning in spirituality. It said that the flute symbolizes the human soul, devoid of ego and desires, which allows the channel for divine energies. The flute was made of bamboo, which does not have any knots, symbolizing that only a pure and surrendered soul can become a fitting channel for the divine.
We often come across an image showing Krishna in blue attainment in reality, he was dark or almost black in complexion. The bluish shade is symbolic of an emanating divine aura, a characteristic anons well-known: the sea or sky are colorless but appear blue because of the emitted glow. The actual color of Krishna's complexion is called "Shyam", which best compares to that of the black monsoon clouds. Some people think that his celestial radiation brings him into different perceptions for different individuals depending on their respect and understanding.
Although Krishna was the very savior of Dharma, He already knew that the Yadavas, his clan, would be massacred there and then. Once their sin increases, it later on creates a situation for their self-destruction. The Yadavas turned to reckless behavior when the war of Mahabharat was completed. Advised by some grievous-looking ascetics who felt slighted, the all-destroying Yadava clan through internal conflict remains a story of acts of fate as per the sacrifice performed by the sages. Krishna, who always knew the pain of the weary minds, let the happenings go on and provided blessings to soothe Himself. This narrow piece of history uncovers yet another light, where we see Krishna bow down to destiny and maintain cosmic balance everywhere.
In the stories of many other gods from Hindu mythology, it is shown that while giving blessings of salvation, curses were always delivered alongside them with indifference. Yes, Krishna has never cursed him directly on a person. Krishna has instead always turned what seemed to be bad luck into a source of new freedom and enlightenment, positive shifts, or openings into other realities. And yet, as Putana, reaches out to poison Him and releases her early into her power as an innocent demon, Krishna lets her hold their hand with all his concern: to help even his enemies like Kansa into moksha, for profane evil has to suffer less because of His involvement, to give moksha to all-accommodation and freedom, by Krishna.
Krishna's death was neither an accident nor a punishment; it was an event in the cosmic plan. Jara, a hunter, shot an arrow at Krishna's foot, thinking it was a deer; however, this occurrence was not random but willed by Krishna. This incident was Krishna's own wish because he considered the earthly work accomplished, and being an incarnation of Vishnu, it was Krishna's desire to exit in this manner. The legend goes that he forgave Jara and smiled away the death, thus teaching us life is transitory, while the soul is eternal.
The life of Lord Krishna is a veritable treasure trove of wisdom, compassion, and divine mystique. The valorous exploits attributed to Krishna and his instructive Bhagavad Gita continue to inspire billions; however, these lesser-known facts about him manifest a deeper, more esoteric aspect of his life. From being an Avatar who brings succor to accepting destiny, Krishna's life stands as a number of threads running throughout the spiritual weave of intermingling myths and cultures. The life of Krishna gloriously teaches us all to elegantly accept our destiny while loving selflessly and walking the righteous path.