11 Interesting Things About Krishna That Most People Don’t Know

Krishna was clearly 'the dude' of his time. I mean, one of his many names was 'Mohan', which literally means 'bewitching' and 'a charmer'. We usually remember the 8th avatar of Vishnu as the cute little butter thief, or as the charioteer guide of Arjun in Mahabharat, who helped the warrior find his path in the midst of battle. But Krishna is so much more than that. 

Here are some things about the legendary mythological character that most people probably don't know.

1. Krishna has 108 names.
Lord Krishna is one of the most widely worshiped and most popular of all Hindu deities. Krishna in Hinduism and Indian mythology, the eighth avatar, or incarnation, of the god Vishnu.Krishna is known by many different names, these names are mostly based on his virtues.

ॐ कृष्णाय नमः  Om Krishnaya Namah
ॐ कमलानाथाय नमः  Om Kamalaanathaaya Namah
ॐ वासुदेवाय नमः  Om Vaasudevaaya Namah
ॐ सनातनाय नमः  Om Sanatanaaya Namah
ॐ वसुदेवात्मजाय नमः  Om Vaasudevaatmajaaya Namah

ॐ पुण्याय नमः  Om Punyaaya Namah
ॐ लीलामानुष विग्रहाय नमः  Om Leelaamaanusha Vigrahaaya Namah
ॐ श्रीवत्स कौस्तुभधराय नमः  Om Shriivatsa Kaustubhadharaaya Namah
ॐ यशोदावत्सलाय नमः  Om Yashodaavatsalaaya Namah
ॐ हरये नमः  Om Haraye Namah
ॐ चतुर्भुजात्त चक्रासिगदाशङ्खाद्युदायुधाय नमः  Om Chaturbhujaatta Chakraasigadaashankhaadyudaayudhaaya Namah
ॐ देवकीनंदनाय नमः  Om Devakiinandanaaya Namah
ॐ श्रीशाय नमः  Om Shriishaaya Namah
ॐ नंदगोप प्रियात्मजाय नमः  Om Nandagopa Priyaatmajaaya Namah
ॐ यमुनावेगा संहारिणे नमः  Om Yamunaavegaa Samhaarine Namah
ॐ बलभद्र प्रियानुजाय नमः  Om Balabhadra Priyaanujaaya Namah
ॐ पूतनाजीवित हराय नमः  Om Putanaajiivita Haraaya Namah
ॐ शकटासुर भञ्जनाय नमः  Om Shakataasura Bhanjanaaya Namah
ॐ नंदव्रज जनानन्दिने नमः  Om Nandavraja Janaanandine Namah
ॐ सच्चिदानन्द विग्रहाय नमः  Om Sachchidaananda Vigrahaaya Namah
ॐ नवनीत विलिप्ताङ्गाय नमः  Om Navaniita Viliptaangaaya Namah
ॐ नवनीत नटनाय नमः  Om Navanita Natanaaya Namah
ॐ मुचुकुंद प्रसादकाय नमः  Om Muchukunda Prasaadakaaya Namah
ॐ षोडशस्त्री सहस्रेशाय नमः  Om Shhodashastrii Sahasreshaaya Namah
ॐ त्रिभङ्गिने नमः  Om Tribhangine Namah
ॐ मधुराकृतये नमः  Om Madhuraakrutaye Namah
ॐ शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दवे नमः  Om Shukavaaga Mrutaabdheendave Namah
ॐ गोविंदाय नमः  Om Govindaaya Namah
ॐ योगिनां पतये नमः  Om Yoginaam Pataye Namah
ॐ वत्सवाटीचराय नमः  Om Vatsavaatee Charaaya Namah
ॐ अनंताय नमः  Om Anantaaya Namah
ॐ धेनुकासुरभञ्जनाय नमः  Om Dhenukaasurabhanjanaaya Namah
ॐ तृणीकृत तृणावर्ताय नमः  Om TruniKruta Trunaavartaaya Namah
ॐ यमळार्जुन भञ्जनाय नमः  Om Yamalaarjuna Bhanjanaaya Namah
ॐ उत्तालत्ताल भेत्रे नमः  Om Uttaala taala Bhetre Namah
ॐ तमाल श्यामलाकृतये नमः  Om Tamaala Shyaamalaakrutaye Namah
ॐ गोपगोपीश्वराय नमः  Om Gopagopishvaraaya Namah
ॐ योगिने नमः  Om Yoginee Namah
ॐ कोटिसूर्य समप्रभाय नमः  Om Kotisurya Samaprabhaaya Namah
ॐ इलापतये नमः  Om ilaapataye Namah
ॐ परञ्ज्योतिषे नमः  Om Paranjyotishhe Namah
ॐ यादवेंद्राय नमः  Om Yaadavendraaya Namah
ॐ यदूद्वहाय नमः  Om Yaduudvahaaya Namah
ॐ वनमालिने नमः  Om Vanamaaline Namah
ॐ पीतवाससे नमः  Om Pitavaasase Namah
ॐ पारिजातापहारकाय नमः  Om Paarijaataapahaarakaaya Namah
ॐ गोवर्धनाचलोद्धर्त्रे नमः  Om GovardhanaachaloddhartreNamah
ॐ गोपालाय नमः  Om Gopalaaya Namah
ॐ सर्वपालकाय नमः  Om Sarvapaalakaaya Namah
ॐ अजाय नमः  Om Ajaaya Namah
ॐ निरञ्जनाय नमः  Om Niranjanaaya Namah
ॐ कामजनकाय नमः  Om Kaamjanakaaya Namah
ॐ कञ्जलोचनाय नमः  Om Kanjalochanaaya Namah
ॐ मधुघ्ने नमः  Om Madhughne Namah
ॐ मथुरानाथाय नमः  Om Mathuraanaathaaya Namah
ॐ द्वारकानायकाय नमः  Om Dvaarakaanaayakaaya Namaha
ॐ बलिने नमः  Om Baline Namah
ॐ बृंदावनांत सञ्चारिणे नमः  Om Brundaavanaanta Sanchaarinee Namah
ॐ तुलसीदाम भूषणाय नमः  Om Tulasiidaama Bhushhanaaya Namah
ॐ स्यमंतक मणेर्हर्त्रे नमः  Om Syamantaka Manerhartre Namah
ॐ नरनारयणात्मकाय नमः  Om Naranaarayanaatmakaaya Namah
ॐ कुब्जा कृष्णांबरधराय नमः  Om Kubjaa Krushhnaambaradharaaya Namah
ॐ मायिने नमः  Om Maayine Namah
ॐ परमपुरुषाय नमः  Om Paramapurushhaaya Namah
ॐ मुष्टिकासुर चाणूर मल्लयुद्ध विशारदाय नमः  Om Mushhtikaasura Chaanuura Mallayuddha Vishaaradaaya Namah
ॐ संसारवैरिणे नमः  Om Samsaaravairine Namah
ॐ कंसारये नमः  Om Kamsaaraye Namah
ॐ मुरारये नमः  Om Muraaraye Namah
ॐ नाराकांतकाय नमः  Om Naaraakaantakaaya Namah
ॐ अनादि ब्रह्मचारिणे नमः  Om Anaadi Brahmachaarine Namah
ॐ कृष्णाव्यसन कर्षकाय नमः  Om Krishnaavyasana Karshakaaya Namah
ॐ शिशुपालशिरश्छेत्रे नमः  Om Shishupaalashirachchetre Namah
ॐ दुर्योधनकुलांतकाय नमः  Om Duryoodhanakulaantakaaya Namah
ॐ विदुराक्रूर वरदाय नमः  Om Viduraakruura Varadaaya Namah
ॐ विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकाय नमः  Om Vishvarupapradarshakaaya Namah
ॐ सत्यवाचे नमः  Om Satyavaache Namah
ॐ सत्य सङ्कल्पाय नमः  Om Satya Samkalpaaya Namah
ॐ सत्यभामारताय नमः  Om Satyabhaamaarataaya Namah
ॐ जयिने नमः  Om Jayine Namah
ॐ सुभद्रा पूर्वजाय नमः  Om Subhadraa Purvajaaya Namah
ॐ विष्णवे नमः  Om Vishhnave Namah
ॐ भीष्ममुक्ति प्रदायकाय नमः  Om Bhiishmamukti Pradaayakaaya Namah
ॐ जगद्गुरवे नमः  Om Jagadgurave Namah
ॐ जगन्नाथाय नमः  Om jagannaathaaya Namah
ॐ वेणुनाद विशारदाय नमः  Om Venunaada Vishaaradaaya Namah
ॐ वृषभासुर विद्ध्वंसिने नमः  Om Vrushhabhaasura Viddhvamsine Namah
ॐ बाणासुर करांतकृते नमः  Om Baanasura karaantakrute Namah
ॐ युधिष्ठिर प्रतिष्ठात्रे नमः  Om Yudhishthira Pratishthaatre Namah
ॐ बर्हिबर्हावतंसकाय नमः  Om Barhibarhaavatamsakaaya Namah
ॐ पार्थसारथये नमः  Om Paarthasaarathaye Namah
ॐ अव्यक्ताय नमः  Om Avyaktaaya Namah
ॐ गीतामृत महोदधये नमः  Om Giitaamruta Mahoodadhaiye Namah
ॐ काळीय फणिमाणिक्य रञ्जितश्री पदांबुजाय नमः  Om Kaaliiya Phanimaanikya Ranjita shree padaambujaaya namah
ॐ दामोदराय नमः  Om Daamodaraaya Namah
ॐ य़ज्ञभोक्त्रे नमः  Om Yajnabhoktre Namah
ॐ दानवेंद्र विनाशकाय नमः  Om Daanavemdra Vinaashakaaya Namah
ॐ नारायणाय नमः  Om Naaraayanaaya Namah
ॐ परब्रह्मणे नमः  Om Parabrahmane Namah
ॐ पन्नगाशन वाहनाय नमः  Om Pannagaashana Vaahanaaya Namah
ॐ जलक्रीडा समासक्त गोपीवस्त्रापहारकाय नमः  Om Jalakriidaa Samaasakta Gopiivastraapahaarakaaya Namah
ॐ पुण्यश्लोकाय नमः  Om Punyashlokaaya Namah
ॐ तीर्थपादाय नमः  Om Tiirthapaadaaya Namah
ॐ वेदवेद्याय नमः  Om Vedavedyaaya Namah
ॐ दयानिधये नमः  Om Dayanidhaye Namah
ॐ सर्वदेवात्मकाय नमः  Om Sarvadevaatmakaaya Namah
ॐ सर्वग्रहरुपिणे नमः  Om Sarvagraharupine Namah
ॐ परात्पराय नमः  Om Paraatparaaya Namah
2. Krishna had 16,108 wives.
Lord Krishna had 16,108 wives in total, out of which eight were his principal wives known as 'Ashtabharya' namely Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Nagnajiti, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Bhadra, Lakshmana who bore him 10 sons each. He rescued 16,100 women from the clutches of a demon Narakasura who had forcibly kept them in captivity in his palace and freed them. However, they all returned to Lord Krishna as none of their families were ready to accept them back and so he married them all to protect their honour. However, it is said that he never had any relations with them. 

3. Krishna was cursed by Queen Gandhari, which led to his death and the destruction of his dynasty.

The Kurukshetra war left all 100 of Gandhari's sons dead. When Krishna approached her to pay his condolences, the grieving mother spitefully cursed him that he along with the Yadu dynasty would perish in 36 years. Krishna already felt that the Yadavas were already transforming into a morally decadent race and should perish and so he calmly said "Tathastu" (So be it) at the end of her declaration.

4. Krishna's skin colour was dark, not blue.

Krishna's good looks are the matter of folklore, but though commonly depicted in paintings and idols as blue, his skin colour was actually dark. Spiritualists believe that his all-inclusive, magnetic aura had blue hues and so he is generally depicted as being blue in colour. 

5. Krishna brought his Guru Sandipani Muni's dead son back to life.

After completing their education under Guru Sandipani Muni, Krishna and Balarama asked their Guru what he wanted as Guru Dakshina ( fee for imparting knowledge). Guru Sandipani Muni asked them to restore his dead son who had disappeared in an ocean near Prabhasa. Balaram and Krishna travelled to the spot where they learnt that their Guru's son had been trapped by a demon who lived inside a conch named Panchajanya which they subsequently took to Yama (God of Death) and asked him to restore the boy. Thus, Krishna and Balarama succeeded in restoring their Guru's son. 

6. Krishna blowing on his conch, Panchjanya, was the war cry for the Pandavas in Kurukshetra.

Krishna's conch named Panchjanya had powerful reverberations all over the world when blown. Krishna blew his conch to signal the start of the battle of Kurukshetra and at the end to symbolise the victory of dharma (righteousness).

7. Krishna was related to the Pandavas.

Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas was actually Vasudev's sister. Vasudev was Krishna's father.

8. Eklavya was Krishna's cousin, but was slain by him. 

Eklavya, the skilled archer was the son of Devsharavu who was Vasudev's brother (Vasudev was Krishna's father). After Dronacharya makes Eklavya cut off his right thumb, Lord Krishna grants him a boon to be reincarnated so as to seek revenge on him. Eklavya is reincarnated as Dhrishtadyumna who stepped out of the yajna fire, created for the sole purpose of killing Dronacharya.

It is also said that Lord Krishna killed Eklavya. His father, Devsharavu was the adopted son of the king of hunters, Nishada Vyatraja Hiranyadhanus. After Eklavya sacrificed his right thumb, his thirst to prove himself as the greatest archer grew and he taught himself to be ambidexterous. He started straying from the path of righteousness. Nishada Vyatraja Hiranyadhanus were long standing allies of Jarasandha, who was Krishna's enemy and when Krishna was carrying away Rukmini, Eklavya joined forces with Shishupala and Jarasandha to stop him. When Eklavya challenged him, Krishna hurled a rock at Eklavya killing him. According to legend, Eklavya's death was imminent as he would later have been a force to reckon with and would have wreaked havoc in Hastinapur.

9. There are conflicting reports about whether Radha, Krishna's consort, was mentioned at all in ancient scriptures.

Krishna is said to have loved his consort, Radha to the point of devotion and many images show him worshipping her. But interestingly, many spiritualists have mentioned that there is no trace of her in any of the ancient scriptures; be it the Shrimad Bhagvatam or the Mahabharata or the Harivansham which is about Krishna's life. They argue that her name first cropped up in works of Acharya Nimbark and poet Jayadeva. Others argue that her name has been carefully concealed in scriptures like the Rigveda and some of the Puranas. 

10. The Radha-Krishna relationship was used to legitimize premarital sex in modern India

In March 2010, the Supreme Court declared that premarital sex was not an offence. The court argued that since Radha-Krishna lived together according to mythology, premarital sex cannot be construed as an offence.

11. Krishna's death was the result of a number of curses and his own act of adharma against Vali.

Krishna died due to the culmination of many curses. As legend goes, Gandhari's curse on Krishna was that he would die with the entirety of his clan in 36 years. Krishna was cursed a second time by the sage Durvasa, when he was asked by him to apply kheer all over his body. Krishna obeyed but did not apply kheer on Durvasa's feet as they were resting on the ground. Enraged, Durvasa cursed Krishna saying that his death would be by his foot.