Why Is Krishna the Sweetest Form of God?

A Question Answered by Yugal Sharanji

Question: Swami Ji, God has appeared in many forms and incarnations. Why is Shri Krishna considered the sweetest and fullest form of God?

Swami Yugal Sharan Ji: God has innumerable energies, and His incarnations can be understood according to the degree to which these energies are manifested.

There are four categories of divine manifestation.

The Four Categories of Divine Manifestation

1. Aveshāvatāra

Here, only a very small portion of God's energy is manifested.

Mohini Avatar is an example. She appeared for a very brief period, and very little of God's energy was manifested.

2. Prabhavāvatāra

Here, more of God's energy is manifested.

Vedavyasa and Narad Ji are given as examples. Greater energy is required to write scriptures and render service over a longer period.

3. Vaibhavāvatāra

Here, a greater portion, or most, of God's energies are manifested.

Examples include Matsya Avatar, Varaha Avatar, Kurma Avatar, and Parashuram.

When God appeared as a fish, a wild boar, and a tortoise, or as Parashuram to vanquish the pride of the Kshatriyas, lift the world from Rasatala, and carry the great Mandara Mountain on His back, immense divine energy had to be manifested.

4. Parāvasthāvatāra, or Pūrṇāvatāra

Here, all of God's energies are manifested.

And what are these divine attributes?

The Six Divine Attributes

The scriptures describe six attributes of divine glory:

Aiśvarya – grandeur and opulence

Vīrya – strength

Yaśas – name and fame

Śrī – beauty and prosperity

Jñāna – knowledge

Vairāgya – renunciation

“Aiśvaryasya Samagrasya, Vīryasya Yaśasaḥ Śriyaḥ, Jñāna-Vairāgyayoś Caiva Ṣaṇṇāṁ Bhaga Itiṅganā.”

When all six of these attributes are manifested in their fullest and infinite magnitude, that is called Parāvasthāvatāra, or Pūrṇāvatāra.

And this is where Krishna becomes especially significant.

Narasimha, Rama and Krishna

Question: But what makes Krishna different even among these divine manifestations?

Swami Yugal Sharan Ji: Let us look at the sweetness of the different manifestations.

In Narasimha Avatar, the opulences of God are manifested in infinite magnitude. But when opulence is manifested to such an immense degree, love becomes constrained.

In Rama Avatar, we experience a sweeter form of God. But there is a limitation: Maryada, the limitation of etiquette and divine propriety.

But in Krishna Avatar, there is no restriction of opulence and no bondage of etiquette.

Therefore, love is revealed and manifested to its fullest magnitude.

This is why Krishna Avatar is held on the highest platform as the sweetest form of incarnation.

Why Is This Important on Janmashtami?

Question: So what does all of this mean for us when we celebrate Janmashtami?

Swami Yugal Sharan Ji: It means that Janmashtami is much more than the remembrance of an event in history.

On this day, Shri Krishna, the sweetest incarnation, appeared.

He is described as the Pūrṇāvatāra, in whom the divine energies are manifested in their fullest magnitude.

And remember the question we asked earlier: What is it that every human being is ultimately seeking?

Happiness.

Bliss.

Pleasure.

We search for it through wealth, knowledge, recognition, achievement, and countless worldly pursuits.

But if God is bliss, then the ultimate source of that happiness is God Himself.

And therefore:

“The happiness, bliss, and pleasure that you are seeking will be attained by attaining Shri Krishna.”

That is why Janmashtami is so important.

It is the day on which the Personality of Godhead appeared, the One who showers happiness, bliss, and pleasure of the highest magnitude upon humanity.

Janmashtami is the celebration of the appearance of Shri Krishna, the sweetest form of the Divine.

Radhe Radhe