

These sub-traditions arose in the context of the medieval era Bhakti movement. In some sub-traditions, Krishna is worshipped as Svayam Bhagavan, and this is sometimes referred to as Krishnaism. The synonyms of Krishna have been traced to 1st millennium BCE literature.

His iconography reflects these legends, and shows him in different stages of his life, such as an infant eating butter, a young boy playing a flute, a young boy with his lover Radha or surrounded by women devotees, or a friendly charioteer giving counsel to Arjuna. They portray him in various perspectives: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, and as the universal supreme being. He is a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita, and is mentioned in many Hindu philosophical, theological, and mythological texts. The anecdotes and narratives of Krishna’s life are generally titled as Krishna Leela. Krishna is usually depicted with a flute in his hand. Krishna’s birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar. He is the god of compassion, tenderness, love and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu and also as the supreme God in his own right.

Krishna ( कृष्ण, Kṛṣṇa) is a major deity in Hinduism.
