Bhāgavata Purana: “Krishna”
Bhāgavata Purana: “Krishna”
Bhāgavata Purana: “Krishna” (PDF)
Author: possibly Srila Vyasadeva
Date: c. 8th-10th centuries CE
Location: India
Course Unit: Extraordinary People
Context:
"The very name 'Bhāgavata' indicates that this Purāna is about Bhagavān - the glorious Lord. The Bhāgavata leaves little doubt that the supreme divinity is a person - namely, Krishna, who assumes multiple forms, avatāras, to address the needs of the world and engage with his devotees [...] At the same time, this supreme person is the origin of the world, ever present in all things and in all beings. He is perceived by the accomplished yogi through meditation, by the learned sage through contemplation, and by the righteous worker through the performance of ritual and social duties. Nevertheless, it is the loving devotee whom the Bhāgavata regards as the highest exemplar, for devotion (bhakti) has the power to intimately connect the human being with God." (Gupta and Valpey 9)
Gupta, Favi M., and Kenneth R. Valpey. Bhāgavata Purana: Selected Readings. Columbia University Press, 2017.
Topics/Questions to Consider While Reading:
Why is Krishna an extraordinary person?
What does Krishna accomplish?
What are Krishna's values?