Keshava

Etymology

Keshava means "the one with beautiful long (unshorn) hair" or "killer of the Keshi demon". According to the Padma Purana, the name refers to Krishna's long, beautiful, looking unshorn hair. Referring to Sangraha Ramayana of Narayana Panditacharya, Authors Meenakshi Bharat and Madhu Grover says that "The name Keshava refers to Vishnu. The letter 'Ka' refers to Brahma and 'Isha' refers to Shiva. The word Keshava refers to one who animates both Brahma and Shiva".

Literature

A verse from the Vishnu Sahasranama mentions Keshava:

आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथागच्छति सागरम् ।

'सर्वदव नमस्कारः केशवं प्रतिगच्छति ॥'

ākāśāt patitaṃ toyaṃ yathāgacchati sāgaram sarvadeva namaskāraḥ keśavaṃ pratigacchati}}

In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna uses the name Keshava for Krishna a number of times, referring to him as the 'killer of the Keshi demon':

The demon Keshi, in the form of a horse, was sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna, but was overpowered and slain (Vishnu Purana 5.15-16).

References

Sources

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend () by Anna Dhallapiccola

References

1. wisdomlib.org. (2009-04-12). "Kesava, Keshava, Keśava, Keśavā: 30 definitions".
2. ''The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography'', Margaret Stutley, pp. 71, 73
3. Alain Daniélou. (1991). "The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series". Inner Traditions / Bear & Co.
4. "Standing Vishnu as Keshava".
5. Balasubramanian Narayan Aiyer. (1999). "Principles and Practice of Hindu Religion". Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
6. R. K. Madhukar. (1 January 2014). "Gayatri: The Profound Prayer". Motilal Banarsidass.
7. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita, a New Translation and Commentary, Chapter 1-6. Penguin Books, 1969, pp. 148–149 (v 54)