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Krishna or Vishnu – Who Is the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Many people often wonder — who is really supreme: Krishna or Vishnu? Some say Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu, while others believe Vishnu comes from Krishna. This question has confused many devotees for years. But the truth is beautifully explained in our scriptures. Both Krishna and Vishnu are forms of the same Supreme Lord, appearing at different times for different divine purposes. To understand their relationship clearly, we need to look deeper into what the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures describe.
The Yugas and Krishna’s Appearance
There are four Yugas: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. Each Yuga has a specific duration measured in years, with Kali Yuga lasting 432,000 years, Dvapara Yuga twice that duration (864,000 years), Treta Yuga thrice Kali Yuga (960,000 years), and Satya Yuga four times Kali Yuga (1,728,000 years). Together, these four Yugas form one Maha Yuga, which lasts 4,320,000 years.
You might be surprised to know that the current age we are living in (Kali Yuga) belongs to a very special Maha Yuga. Because around 5,000 years ago Lord Krishna appeared on earth not as an avatar of Vishnu, but as the Param Purushottam (Supreme Lord Himself). Later, in this same Maha Yuga, He appeared again as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to spread the chanting of the Holy Name. This makes our current Maha Yuga spiritually unique among thousands of cycles.
Scriptures That Highlight Krishna’s Supremacy
Various scriptures like the Brahma Samhita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Bhagavad Gita are cited to prove Krishna’s supremacy.
In the Brahma Samhita (5.39), Krishna is described as the original divine lamp, and all other divine forms, like Vishnu, shine with his light.
Let’s understand this: Imagine you light one candle. From that candle, you use the flame to light 10 more candles. All candles look similar and give the same bright light, and equally powerful in spreading light. It will be difficult to identify the original light from which other candles has been lit, But the very first candle always will be the main source that started everything.
Similarly, Krishna is like the first candle — the original source, Vishnu and other divine forms are like the candles lit from Him. They all have the same divine power, but the source is Krishna.
Srimad Bhagavatam (1.3.28) explains that all avatars are either Krishna himself or his various expansions, making him the source of all incarnations. It means one person appears in different roles depending on the situation.
Let’s understand by exmples:
Think of yourself: At home you are a daughter/son, At work you may be a manager, With your child you are a parent. A same person appearing in different roles according to your relations. Similarly, Krishna is the one Supreme Lord, he appears in different roles (avatars) to protect, guide, and uplift depending on the needs of the world at that time.
For example, When the demon Hiranyakashipu tortured people and tried to kill his own son, he appeared in Narasimha avatar to protect Prahlad. Here he played the role of an aggressive protector.
When a massive flood was about to destroy humanity, he appeared in Matsya avatar to saves life from being destroyed. Here he played the role of Savior (Save the world).
Arjuna was confused and emotionally broken at the battle of Kurukshetra. For Arjuna, Krishna appeared as a mentor and guide and spread the divine wisdom of Bhagavad Gita.
In the age when Ravana’s brutality and moral corruption, Krishna appeared as Lord Rama to restore Dharma. He established an example of an ideal son, an ideal husband and a great King. Rama didn’t just teach dharma — He lived it. That’s why he is called Maryada Purushottam (the ideal man).
Narayana Upanishad identifies Krishna as the Son of Vasudeva and Devaki, showing that the Krishna who appeared in Mathura is not just an avatar but the Supreme Himself. It states that all gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, come after him and are under his control.
“Narayana” is the formal, majestic name of God while “Krishna” is the loving, personal name of the same God. The Upanishad says: The Narayana people worship is actually Krishna — the son of Devaki.
Just like in a company CEO manages daily operations and make sure everything runs smoothly, while The Founder is the original person who started the company. But sometimes, the same person manages the both designations.
Similarly, Krishna is the Founder, the original source of universe. Vishnu (Narayana) is the CEO, who manages the universe, he maintains creation and keeps everything functioning. But they are not two different Gods, they are the same Supreme Lord appearing in two different roles.
Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita (written by Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami) strongly establishes Krishna as the original form of God and says, Vishnu is not separate from Krishna, But Krishna is the source form and Vishnu comes from him for managing the universe.
CC Adi-Lila 2.106
śrī-kṛṣṇaḥ svayaṁ bhagavān
sarva-avatāri
āra saba guṇa-pūrṇa tāṅra avatāri
Meaning: “Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead and the source of all incarnations. All other avatars are fully endowed expansions of Him.”
What Bhagavad Gita Says
In Bhagavad Gita also, Krishna himself declares to Arjuna that he is the source of everything in the universe.
Bhagavad Gita (10.8)
अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सर्वं प्रवर्तते |
Meaning: I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything originates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in my devotional service and worship me with all their hearts.
"मैं ही समस्त सृष्टि का स्रोत हूँ, और मुझसे ही सब कुछ उत्पन्न होता है। इस प्रकार मुझे जान कर, बुद्धिमान और श्रद्धा-भक्ति से युक्त लोग मेरा भजन करते हैं।"
Bhagavad Gita (10.2)
न मे विदु: सुरगणा: प्रभवं न महर्षय: ।
अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वश: ॥
Meaning: Neither the hosts of gods nor the great sages know my origin; for in every way, I am the source of all the gods and the great sages.
"मेरी उत्पत्ति को न तो देवता जानते हैं और न ही महर्षि। क्योंकि मैं ही सब प्रकार से देवताओं और महर्षियों का आदि कारण हूँ"।
Who is first, Krishna or Vishnu?
India has many traditions, and each highlights different forms of the same Lord. Some Puranas list Krishna as Vishnu’s avatar, while Shrimad Bhagavatam presents Krishna as the original source. This is why people get confused.
The scriptures clearly describe Krishna as the original source of all forms of God, including Vishnu. From Krishna comes Balarama, from Balarama come the Chatur-vyuha (Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha), and from them come the three main Vishnu forms: Karanodakshayi Vishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu, and Kshirodakshayi Vishnu — who each have different roles in creating and maintaining the universe.
So, the entire creation begins from Krishna → Balarama → Chatur-vyuha → Vishnu → avatars
While Vishnu performs the role of the creator and protector, Krishna is the original Supreme Person from whom Vishnu and all other incarnations expand.
Interestingly, scriptures sometimes describe Krishna as Vishnu’s avatar and sometimes Vishnu as Krishna’s expansion. Both statements are true because:
- When Krishna appears in the world as an avatara, he is the incarnation of Vishnu.
- But in his eternal identity, Krishna is the source from whom Vishnu expands.
As per Bhagavad Gita (10.21)
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् |
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ||
Meaning: “Of the Adityas I am Visnu, of lighs I am the radiant Sun, of the Maruts I am Marichi and among the stars I am the Moon.
"मैं अदितिके पुत्रोंमें विष्णु (वामन) और प्रकाशमान वस्तुओंमें किरणोंवाला सूर्य हूँ। मैं मरुतोंका तेज और नक्षत्रोंका अधिपति चन्द्रमा हूँ।"
Is Krishna and Vishnu same?
According to Vedas, Krishna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead (Svayam Bhagavan). Vishnu is his expansion, not the other way around. These expansions are not different gods — they are the same Supreme Lord appearing in different roles.
In the universal creation structure, Vishnu is the one who maintains the world. So naturally, people think he must be the highest and all other forms, including Krishna, come from him.
Krishna shows a side of God that is filled with love, friendship, innocence, and joy. Krishna’s pastimes look more human-like and sweet, while Vishnu appears more majestic and powerful. They are all divine, but the original source of all expansions is Krishna.
According to scriptures, Lord Krishna incarnates in every Dvapara Yuga to reestablish Dharma. However, there is one special Maha Yuga, where Krishna doesn’t come as an avatar of Vishnu, he comes directly from Goloka Dham, as the Supreme Lord himself.
In the end, Krishna and Vishnu are not two different gods. They are two beautiful expressions of the same Supreme Lord. What truly matters is devotion, remembrance, and living a life on the principles of devotional service — whichever form of the Lord we feel closest to.
