Keshava

 ( Titles And Names Of Krishna ) 

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). The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography, Margaret Stutley, pp. 71, 73

Keshava is an iconographical form of Vishnu.

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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.

Alain Daniélou (1991). 9780892813544, Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. . ISBN 9780892813544

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".

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Literature A verse from the Vishnu Sahasranama mentions Keshava:

In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna uses the name KeshavaMaharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita, a New Translation and Commentary, Chapter 1-6. Penguin Books, 1969, pp. 148–149 (v 54) 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).

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Sources

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend () by Anna Dhallapiccola
• (2026). 9789027261908, John Benjamins Publishing Company. . ISBN 9789027261908

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External links

• Krishna.com | All About Krishna
• The Killing of the Kesi Demon

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