Krishna (; Sanskrit: कृष्ण, pronounced in Sanskrit pronounced as /ˈkr̩ʂ.ɳɐ/ (Classical Sanskrit) and in Sanskrit pronounced as /kr̩ʂ.ɳɐ́/ in (Vedic Sanskrit) is a Hindu deity worshipped across many traditions of Hinduism in a variety of different perspectives. In Hinduism, Krishna is recognized as the complete and eighth incarnation of Vishnu, or as the Supreme God (Svayam Bhagavan) in his own right.[1]
As one of the most popular of all Hindu deities, Krishna has acquired a number of epithets, and absorbed many regionally significant deities, such as Jagannatha in Odisha and Vithoba in Maharashtra. The Hindu texts portray him in various perspectives: a lovable infant, a divine child, a prankster, a cowherd, a model lover, a divine hero, a diplomat, a king, a kingmaker, a selfless friend, a philosopher, charioteer to Arjuna and a dispenser of spiritual discourse, in the Bhagavad Gita. Among the principal scriptures that discuss Krishna's legend are the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Vishnu Purana. The Vishnu Sahasranama, the list of Vishnu's thousand names, also includes many of the titles and names of Krishna.
In popular culture, Krishna is often associated with 108 names.[2] [3] The following is a list of fifty of among the most popular names, titles, and epithets associated with the deity Krishna:
| Name | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अच्युत | He who is infallible[4] | |
| माधव | He who is the lord of knowledge;[5] He who is like honey | |
| गोविन्द | He who is a cow-protector[6] | |
| जनार्दन | He who is the original abode and protector of all living beings | |
| केशव | He who has long locks of hair;[7] slayer of Keshi; He who is himself the Trimurti | |
| हरि | He who takes away (sins)[8] | |
| द्वारकानाथ | He who is the lord of Dvaraka | |
| मुरारि | He who is the slayer of the asura Mura[9] | |
| वासुदेव | He who is the son of Vasudeva | |
| मुकुन्द | He who offers liberation[10] | |
| पार्थसारथि | He who is the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna)[11] | |
| मधुसूदन | He who is the slayer of the asura Madhu[12] | |
| दामोदर | He who has a rope around his stomach | |
| जगन्नाथ | He who is the lord of the universe | |
| गोपाल | He who is a cow-protector[13] | |
| पुरुषोत्तम | He who is the highest being | |
| नन्दकुमार | He who is the prince (son) of Nanda | |
| मनोहर | He who is lovely | |
| जगदिश | He who is the protector of the universe | |
| सुरेश | He who is the lord of the suras (devas) | |
| श्रीकान्त | He who is beloved by Shri (Lakshmi) | |
| श्रीनाथ | He who is the husband of Shri (Lakshmi) | |
| परमेश्वर | He who is the supreme lord | |
| मोहन | He who is enchanting | |
| गिरिधर | He who bears mountains | |
| सर्वजन | He who is omniscient | |
| पुण्य | He who is supremely pure | |
| मुरलीधर | He who bears the flute[14] | |
| देवकीपुत्र | He who is the son of Devaki | |
| नवनीत | He who eats butter | |
| निरञ्जना | He who is unblemished | |
| हृषीकेश | He who is the master of the senses | |
| पतितपावन | He who is the purifier of the fallen[15] | |
| श्यामसुन्दर | He who is dark and handsome | |
| यदुनन्दन | He who belongs to the Yadu dynasty | |
| ईश्वर | He who is the lord[16] (of the universe) | |
| ज्ञानेश्वर | He who is the lord of wisdom | |
| चतुर्भुज | He who has four arms | |
| दयानिधि | He who is the treasure of mercy[17] | |
| दयालु | He who is the repository of compassion | |
| अनिरुद्ध | He who cannot be obstructed | |
| अक्षरा | He who is indestructible | |
| अद्भुत | He who is astonishing | |
| रुक्मिणीपति | He who is the husband of Rukmini[18] | |
| योगेश्वर | He who is the lord of yoga | |
| राधावल्लभ | He who is the beloved of Radha[19] | |
| पाण्डुरङ्ग | He who is the lord of Pandharpur | |
| ഗുരുവായൂരപ്പൻ | He who is the father of Guruvayur | |
| கண்ணன் | He who is dear[20] | |
| कान्हा | He who is dark-skinned | |
| पद्मनाभ | one from whose navel the lotus emanates | |