Krishna — The Dark, All-Attractive Lord

The name "Krishna" means the dark-hued one and the one who draws all hearts to himself. It was given by the sage Garga at the naming ceremony in Gokul.

The word "Krishna" literally means dark or deep blue-black. The Lord's complexion is described as the colour of a fresh rain cloud, so the name first of all points to his beautiful form. Tradition also gives it a deeper sense: the root "krish" means to draw or attract, so Krishna is the one who draws every heart towards himself.

According to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Nanda Baba invited Garga Muni, the family priest of the Yadavas, to Gokul, and the sage performed the naming ceremony quietly so that Kamsa would not learn of it. Garga explained that this child had taken white, red and yellow complexions in other ages, and had now appeared with a dark complexion, so he would be called Krishna. He added that the boy would come to have many more names, according to his qualities and deeds.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna addresses the Lord as "Krishna" again and again, for example in the first chapter when he sees his own relatives arrayed for battle. In devotion this is the dearest and simplest of all names. It sounds in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, in the Pushtimarg refrain "Shri Krishna sharanam mama", and in the everyday greeting "Jai Shri Krishna". Devotees believe that this one name, taken with love, is enough to purify the heart.

Name Sa

कृष्ण

Name Roman

Krishna

Meaning

the dark-hued one; the one who attracts all

Gita Refs

1.28, 1.32

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10 (naming by Garga Muni)