Keshava — Slayer of Keshi, Lord of Beautiful Hair

"Keshava" has two traditional meanings: the slayer of the horse-demon Keshi, and the one with beautiful flowing hair. It is the first of Vishnu's twelve principal names.

Both traditional meanings of "Keshava" are widely accepted. The first comes from "kesha", hair: Keshava is the one with long, beautiful, curling locks. The poets of Vraja never tire of describing Krishna's dark curls crowned with a peacock feather. The second meaning comes from his victory over the demon Keshi.

According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Kamsa sent Keshi, a huge and fearsome demon in the form of a horse, to Vraja. He came neighing and shaking the earth with his hooves. Krishna faced him without fear, thrust his arm into the demon's open mouth and expanded it until Keshi could no longer breathe and fell lifeless. Afterwards the sage Narada came and offered prayers to the Lord.

Keshava is the first of the twelve principal names of Vishnu. Achamana, the purifying sip of water before worship, begins with "Om Keshavaya namah", and the same twelve names are recited by Vaishnavas while applying tilak. In the Gita, Arjuna calls the Lord Keshava several times. At the opening of the third chapter he asks, "Then why, O Keshava, do you urge me to this terrible deed?"

Name Sa

केशव

Name Roman

Keshava

Meaning

slayer of the demon Keshi; one with beautiful hair

Gita Refs

1.31, 3.1, 10.14

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10 (Keshi vadha)