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UnityofTrinity
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In Hinduism, isn’t Krishna also seen as the incarnation of God as Jesus? So what makes Jesus different from Krishna?
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MarcusAndreas
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…No? 
Krishna is believed to be an avatar of Vishnu.
Krishna is believed to be an avatar of Vishnu.
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Sufjon
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Dear Friend Unity of Trinity: In Hinduism, Sri Krishna is an incarnation of God (or Avatar) like Jesus, although He came somewhat earlier. The word Avatar is actually Sanskrit and is many thousands of years old. Avatars such as Krishna and Jesus are thought to be incarnations of Vishnu, which is the sustaining aspect of the Hindu Holy Trinity (or Trimurti). Among Hindus who are aware of Jesus, many would count Him as an Avatar of Vishnu as well. There are at least ten major Avatars of Vishnu (depending on who you ask), and a major Avatar such as Jesus, Krishna or Rama would be called a Mahavatar (Mah meaning great, and Avatar - incarnation of God - hence you have Mahavatar). Many believe that there have been numerous other Avatars after Jesus, among them being for instance Sri Ramakrishna (mid 19th century) whose name is made up of the names of two earlier Avatars (Rama and Krishna). His picture is always at the bottom of my signature, along with a passage from scripture called the Sri Isha Upanishad.
This is the perspective of a Hindu who is aware of Jesus. Many are aware of Jesus. Many aren’t concerned much about that idea, since we have our own Avatars who are more specific to our plane of spirituality. I do recognize Him and sometimes say the Rosary that I learned from a Catholic nun once. I have a hard time visualizing the Glorious Mysteries so I stick to the Sorrowful and Joyful ones. I can relate to those, so I do what I can do.
Your friend,
Sufjon
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jakasaki
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Hi there Sufjon…
I’ve always wanted to ask you who is the man in your signature, but never got around to it…
So now I know… Thanks!!
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Sufjon
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Hi Jakasaki: Well, now ya know.Hi there Sufjon…
I’ve always wanted to ask you who is the man in your signature, but never got around to it…
So now I know… Thanks!!
You can always ask me - it’s always good to hear from you.Your friend
Sufjon
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ClamDigger
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As a Catholic-turned-Hare-Krishna-reverted-to-Catholic, I hope I can answer your question sufficiently
Jesus is the sole incarnation of God the Son.
Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.
Jesus incarnated in a physical, flesh-and-blood body.
Krishna incarnated in a purely spiritual body.
Jesus was incarnated by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary in Nazareth.
Krishna was incarnated of the Hindu deity Vishnu in the womb of a woman named Devaki (who had had eight children before him, but they were all killed by her brother, Kamsa) in Mathura and was subsequently adopted by a milkmaid named Yashoda in Vrindavana/Vraja.
Jesus is recorded as first publicly revealed his divine identity when he was around 30 at the marriage feast of Cana.
Krishna is recorded as regularly showing off his divinity from his childhood. For example, he is said to have swallowed a forest fire in order to save his friends, to have vanquished a sea-serpent, and to have lifted a mountain, among other things.
Jesus was celibate.
Krishna had many milkmaid girlfriends in his youth in Vrindavana/Vraja, the most prominent among them being Radha. He later went on to marry many princesses after leaving for Mathura (his city of birth).
Jesus chose 12 apostles.
Krishna did not choose any apostles. He had disciples, but he did not choose them.
Jesus was crucified.
Krishna died by being shot through the ankle by a hunter.
Jesus rose from the dead after being crucifed.
Krishna did not rise again, but he was cremated and his ashes are now venerated at the Jagannatha temple complex in Orissa.
The main focus of Christianity is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
The main focus of Vaishnavism (Krishna-centered Hinduism) is the dalliance of Krishna with Radha, his most prominent milkmaid girlfriend.
Although Jesus and Krishna are very different, there are, however, many similarities in the way their devotees worship them. Jesus’ life is meditated on when we pray the rosary. Vaishnavas meditate on Krishna’s life while praying on a “japa mala” of 108 beads the mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Ram Rama Rama Hare Hare”. Both have celibate monastics. Both have mystics (e.g.- Teresa of Avila in Catholicism and Mira Bai in Vaishnavism). They both use holy water. They both bless their food. Both recognize and pray to saints. Both light candles during prayer. They both have rituals that involve the blessing of food (the Eucharist in Catholicism and the Puja ritual in Vaishnavism). I’m sure there are more, but those are the ones I can think of just off the top of my head.
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ClamDigger
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I love Ramakrishna. His teachings are beautiful.
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Sufjon
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Thanks ClamDigger. I don’t run into too many people who are all that familiar with his teachings. The fact that you have read them makes me feel more at home!I love Ramakrishna. His teachings are beautiful.
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Ranklyfrank
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Dear Sufjon,
Jai Sri Ramakrishna! How refreshing to see you on here!
I am grateful for your quote from the Sri Isha Upanishad. I have often posited on here that the only possible practical morality is that which recognizes, especially experientially, the Essence of the “other” as identical with one’s own. That, to me, is the Source of The Great Commandment and the four forms of the Golden Rule. It is arrived at, other than by grace, by practicing self inquiry, or neti-neti. In the West we know that as “Know Thyself” or “Gnothi Seauton.” But I’m sure you are aware of all that in some way or another. My statements have not been popular, lol! But here we are. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance
RF.
Jai Sri Ramakrishna! How refreshing to see you on here!
I am grateful for your quote from the Sri Isha Upanishad. I have often posited on here that the only possible practical morality is that which recognizes, especially experientially, the Essence of the “other” as identical with one’s own. That, to me, is the Source of The Great Commandment and the four forms of the Golden Rule. It is arrived at, other than by grace, by practicing self inquiry, or neti-neti. In the West we know that as “Know Thyself” or “Gnothi Seauton.” But I’m sure you are aware of all that in some way or another. My statements have not been popular, lol! But here we are. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance
RF.
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ClamDigger
Guest
I was very happy to see a Hindu posting on these threads as well! Hinduism is one of my favorite religions. I find that many of it’s teachings are applicable to all religions. Are you familiar with Anandamayi Ma? She is another guru I have a great affection for.Thanks ClamDigger. I don’t run into too many people who are all that familiar with his teachings. The fact that you have read them makes me feel more at home!
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Sufjon
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Hi Ranklyfrank: You are one of the very few people I have encountered among any religions (including my own) who understood the far-reaching implications of that passage. I surprised that we haven’t run into one another before, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well!
Your friend
SufjonI
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Sufjon
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Hi ClamDigger: It’s funny you should mention Anandamayi Ma. I have her picture in my temple. You must be psychic!
I am very glad to meet someone like yourself who sees the common thread throughout the various approaches to God.
Your friend
Sufjon
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ClamDigger
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She was the background on my computer all last week, no joke! hahahaHi ClamDigger: It’s funny you should mention Anandamayi Ma. I have her picture in my temple. You must be psychic!
I am very glad to meet someone like yourself who sees the common thread throughout the various approaches to God.
Your friend
Sufjon
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Pieman333272
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I have a question on this topic that maybe someone more knowledgeable about Hinduism can answer - I’ve not read much on the east Asian religions, so please forgive my ignorance. Anyway, is there a “historical Krishna” like the was a “historical Jesus”, “historical Zoroaster”, etc.? Or is he taken to have lived his life in the heavens?
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ClamDigger
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Hmmm… It’s hard to say as the historicity of Jesus, Zoroaster, Muhammad, and even Shakespeare is debated by scholars! So, from a scholarly point of view, I would say there is no evidence either way as to whether or not Krishna lived on earth. However, Hindus and many scholars do believe that Krishna lived on earth a few thousand years before Jesus’ incarnation.
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Pieman333272
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Interesting. Thank you!
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ClamDigger
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Any time!
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Ahimsa
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In the scriptures, Krishna is said to have founded the western India coastal city of Dwarka, which subsequently got submerged under water during an earthquake. (The present-day Dwarka does exist, rebuilt after previous forms of the city got submerged.) Recent archaeological findings indicate that the remains of human-built stone structures exist off the coast of present-day Dwarka, providing some evidence of the historicity of an ancient Dwarka, and possibly the historicity of Krishna Himself.
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Ahimsa
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Some Vaishnavas believe that. Other Vaishnavas believe that Krishna is the Ultimate Divine Person, with Vishnu as one of His forms.As a Catholic-turned-Hare-Krishna-reverted-to-Catholic, I hope I can answer your question sufficiently
Jesus is the sole incarnation of God the Son.
Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.
Then again, the Resurrected Body of Jesus was not a usual “flesh-and-blood body”, and was more like a “spiritual body” that could disappear at will and do other miraculous things.
Interesting coincidence: the area occupied by the Vatican City is 108 acres.
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Pieman333272
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It is important to note that while Jesus’ body did have “spiritual” traits like being able to teleport, that it still was physical in composition. Some of the worst heresies and biggest grinding points between atheists and Christians have been born out of this misunderstanding - I’m not saying you’re wrong, but do be careful in phrasing.
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