Shri Krishna Avatar: The Supreme Lord Himself

Shri Krishna, who appeared at the end of Dvapara Yuga and whom the Bhagavatam calls the Lord himself; in some lists the eighth avatar is Balarama.

In the most widely known list Shri Krishna is counted as the eighth avatar, though in some lists the eighth place belongs to Balarama and Krishna is revered as the source of all avatars. He appeared at the end of Dvapara Yuga in the prison of Mathura as the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva, to relieve the earth of the burden of tyrants such as Kamsa and to establish dharma.

On the very night of his birth Vasudeva carried him across the Yamuna to Gokula, where he was brought up in the home of Nanda Baba and Mother Yashoda. As a child he stole butter, slew demons sent by Kamsa such as Putana, lifted Govardhana hill to shelter the people of Vraja, and enchanted everyone with his flute. Later he returned to Mathura and slew Kamsa, founded the city of Dvaraka, and stood beside the Pandavas as their friend and guide. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra he gave Arjuna the eternal teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.

The Shrimad Bhagavatam calls him bhagavan svayam, the Supreme Lord himself. Shri Krishna teaches that God can be reached through love, that one should do one's duty without attachment to its fruits, and that whoever takes refuge in him is never lost.

Number

8

Yuga

Dvapara Yuga

Form

Cowherd boy of Vraja and Lord of Dvaraka

Note

Balarama in some lists

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10; Mahabharata