Krishna: A Playful Divine

Krishna A Playful Divine explores the legend and mystique of Krishna. Krishna is a deity who inspires millions and evokes deep emotions from people all across the country. The book looks at the reasons behind this.In a land that believes that the divine can manifest itself in various forms no other form holds as much widespread grip on the nation's psyche as this playful personality. and it is this inherent playfulness that perhaps explains why this is so.The author of this book traces the evolution of faith around Krishna from the time of the Mahabharata the Puranas and other classical works to the Bhakti movement and religious revivalism in the country. Through it all the concept of Krishna Bhakti grew and spread out.The book examines each aspect of Krishna and his life. It looks at the mischievous child who was a cowherd and yet performed miraculous acts. It showcases the prankster who stole butter and teased the other inhabitants of Gokula. This lover who inspired passion in the hearts of women was also a friend willing to perform any service to help those he loved.Krishna is a multifaceted personality a child who though divine dares to behave as a human child full of mischief and boundless energy. The playful child the enchanting lover the protector of his friends the counsellor the guide the envoy and the warrior these are the many roles that he donned in addition Krishna also gave the country a philosophical treatise in the form of the Bhagavad Gita.The author explores Krishna as a man who was given divine attributes through various periods in history. He also examines Krishna as the divine and a manifestation of God on Earth. The ancient epics and Puranas including the works of devotees and poets across India like Mirabai Surdas and the others are all referred to.All these help create a full picture of Krishna who is revered as God and loved as a child friend brother and warrior. His playfulness and his simplicity made him that aspect of the divine which was the most approachable without evoking fear or demanding a distance. This made him the deity that sways the masses like he has done so through millennia.Krishna A Playful Divine was published by Penguin India in 2000 as a paperback. Pavan K Varma is the author of this book.Key FeaturesThe author writes in a lyrical style that complements the content and the subject of the book.From ancient Sanskrit texts to regional literature he has used a wide variety of sources to present his perception of Krishna.