Krishna (कृष्ण)

Krishna (कृष्ण) is a major Hindu deity and, in many Vaishnava traditions, the Supreme Being; also widely described as an avatar of Vishnu. Devotional and narrative traditions especially associate this figure with bhakti, divine love, dharma, wisdom, play, protection and the Bhagavad Gita’s spiritual teaching. Common iconography may include flute, peacock feather, cows, Govardhan hill and discus in royal forms. Important related names include Govinda, Gopala, Madhava, Kanhaiya. The exact stories, ritual customs and visual details can differ by text, region and lineage, so descriptions should distinguish widely shared tradition from local interpretation. For a Madhuma reference page, the strongest people-first angle is to explain who Krishna is, the major stories and symbols, how worship differs across India, important festivals or pilgrimage contexts, and respectful modern practice without presenting devotional belief as historical fact.