There is more to Lord Krishna than what is known to people. He was not just a charioteer of Arjun. His entire life from his birth to death is no less than an enigma.
1. Had 16,108 wives
Lord Krishna had 16,108 wives. Principally, there were eight wives known as ‘Ashtabharya’ namely Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Nagnajiti, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Bhadra, Lakshmana who bore him 10 sons each. He rescued 16,100 women, which he married after they were rejected by their families, from the clutches of a demon Narakasura who had captivated them.
2. Death by curse
Queen Gandhari, mother of Duryodhan cursed Krishna saying that Yadu dynasty would perish in 36 years. Gandhri’s 100 sons were dead in Kurukshetra war. All Krishna said was “Tathastu.”
3. Complexion was dark, not blue
No doubt, Krishna was known for his good looks. Krishna is depicted in paintings and idols as blue but his skin colour was actually dark. Spiritualists believe that he had a magnetic aura around him which was all blue.
4. Brought his guru’s son back to life
Krishna and his brother Balram helped their guru Sandipani Muni’s son restore to life. Muni’s son had vanished in an ocean. Krishna and Balram took the conch in which the son lived to the God of Death Yama and asked him to bring his life back. This was their gurudakshna to their guru Muni.
5. No love between Krishna and Radha
Krishna is said to have loved his consort, Radha, however, many spiritualists say that there is no trace of her in any of the ancient scriptures. They argue that her name first cropped up in works of Acharya Nimbark and poet Jayadeva. While others say that her name has been hidden in scriptures like the Rigveda.
6. Death by curses and his act of adharma
It was not only Gandhari who cursed Krishna and his entire clan. He was also cursed by the sage Durvasa, when he was asked by him to apply kheer all over his body. Krishna obeyed but did not apply kheer on Durvasa’s feet as they were resting on the ground. Durvasa cursed Krishna saying that his death would be by his foot.
7. Eklavya was Krishna’s cousin
Eklavya was a cousin of Krishna. Guru Dronacharya made Eklavya cut off his right thumb and Lord Krishna granted him a boon to be reincarnated so as to seek revenge on him. Eklavya is reincarnated as Dhrishtadyumna who stepped out of the yajna fire, created for the sole purpose of killing Dronacharya.
There is one more interpretation. After Eklavya sacrificed his right thumb, his thirst to prove himself as the greatest archer grew and he taught himself to be ambidexterous. He waved from the path of righteousness and turned against Krishna and challenged him. It is said that Krishna killed him by pelting a rock at him.
8. Had many names
Lord Krishna is known as Gopal, Govind, Devakinandan, Mohan, Shyam, Ghanshyam, Hari, Girdhari, Baanke Bihari to name a few. He had 108 names.
9. Related to Pandavas
Pandavas were the cousins of Lord Krishna as the mother of Pandavas was sisiter of Vasudev (Krishna’s father.)
10. His conch Panchjanya
Krishna’s conch was called Panchjanya. It had powerful echoes all over the world when blown. Krishna blew his conchfor the indication of the beginning of the battle of Kurukshetra and to symbolise the victory of dharma at the end.
