Keshava

thumb|Keshava (Krishna) slays Keshi

Keshava (, ) is an epithet of Vishnu in Hindu tradition. The name appears as the 23rd and 648th names in the Vishnu Sahasranama of the Mahabharata. Keshava is also venerated by those persons wanting to avert bad luck or ill-omens. His consort is Kirti (Lakshmi).

Keshava is an iconographical form of Vishnu.

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

thumb|Representation of Vishnu as Keshava. His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are on either side. Above him are representations of Vishnu's ten avatars.

A verse from the Vishnu Sahasranama mentions Keshava:

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).

Etymology

Literature

References

Sources

External links