“Krishna” is a Sanskrit word that means “the most attractive person.” It is one of the names that Vaishnava Hindus use to refer to God. Krishna is considered to be the supreme personality, the pinnacle of all truths.

Krishna is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes. – Brahma-samhita 5.1

Krishna’s Qualities

Understanding that God is spiritual, people sometimes conceive of Him as having no qualities. But although Krishna has no material qualities, He is full of unlimited transcendental qualities, and those qualities attract us to Him.

One of the names to describe Krishna is “Bhagavan,” which means “one who is full in the six opulences.” Only when someone possess these 6 opulences in full can He be accepted as God. These opulences are: 1) Strength, 2) Fame, 3) Wealth, 4) Knowledge, 5) Beauty, and 6) Renunciation.

What is God Like

Everything about God is fully transcendental, or spiritual. Unlike ordinary souls, who possess a temporary material body, Krishna’s body never changes – He is an eternal youth.

Because God is absolute, there is no difference between Him and His name, form, activities, qualities, and so on. Contact with any of these gives the same spiritual benefit, namely the purification of consciousness.

Krishna appeared in India 5,000 years ago, staying here for 125 years. Although His activities were human-like they were also unparalleled in opulence and power.

A Complete Conception of God

Many people have a hard time conceiving that God can be a person. But the Vedas describe God’s unique personal identity as His highest aspect. The following analogy describes how God has three main features – impersonal, localized, and personal:

When we look at a mountain from a distance, we can only make out its size and shape. (This is compared to comprehending God as Brahman, His impersonal energy, which emanates from Him just as light shines out from its source.)

If we move closer, we will start to make out more of the mountain’s characteristics – for example, the color of the foliage of the trees on its slopes. (This is compared to understanding that God is within our hearts as Paramatma, or Supersoul.)

Then, if we travel to the mountain itself we can see its vegetation, rivers, and other features in great detail. (This is compared to understanding God the person, or Bhagavan.)

Therefore, Bhagavan is the source of Brahman and Paramatma and is one with them, although He always maintains His personal identity.

Krishna’s Energies

Although Krishna is invisible to us in our present state, we can perceive His presence through His energies, which are everywhere. Although innumerable, His energies fall into the three main categories: 1) Internal (eternal spiritual), 2) External (temporary material), and 3) Marginal (souls that interact either with His spiritual or material energies).

Sources

In contemplating the above, the reader may ask, “Where are you getting this information from?” Apart from Sri Krishna’s own words in Bhagavad-gita, the ancient Vedas (scriptures) of India extensively describe God in detail, His expansions, incarnations and pastimes.