What was Lord Krishna's first name?
But recently, a simple yet deeply emotional question has stirred hearts and headlines.
What was the first name
Yashoda Maiyya
gave her
Krishna
?
During a casual yet viral exchange between politician Akhilesh Yadav and popular spiritual speaker Aniruddh Acharya ji, the former asked the latter what name Yashoda gave to her
Nanda
laal the very first time she held him in her arms.
The name that sparked curiosity
According to many popular beliefs and traditions, the first-ever name given to Krishna was Kanhaiya. This name reflects the moment Yashoda maiyya saw him for the first time, wrapped in a cloth, glowing like a sapphire in the moonlight.
Kanhaiya, she whispered, a name kept after love and wonder.
Other names associated with lord Krishna
In Hinduism, Krishna is addressed by more than 108 names, each one detailing some aspect of his nature—mischievous, wise, loving, divine. From Hari to Govinda, from Murlidhar to Gopal, these names are whispered by millions around the globe. Yet the very first name, whispered gently by a mother, retains a certain kind of innocence, before the miracles, before the leelas, prior to the world knowing who he was
.1. Achala – The firm one
2. Achyuta – The infallible one
3. Adbhutah – The wonderful one
4. Adideva – The Lord of lords
5. Aditya – Son of Aditi
6. Ajanma – The unborn one
7. Ajaya – One who cannot be defeated
8. Akshara – The indestructible one
9. Amrit – Heavenly nectar that provides immortality
10. Anand-sagar – Sea of joy
11. Ananta – One who is endless
12. Anantajeet – The ever-victorious one
13. Ananya – One who has no superior
14. Aniruddha – One who cannot be obstructed
15. Aparajit – One who cannot be defeated
16. Avyukta – One who is very clearly visible
17. Balagopala – The child form of Krishna
18. Balkrishna – The child form of Krishna
19. Chaturbhuja – One with four arms
20. Danavendra – Giver of boons
21. Dayalu – Repository of compassion
22. Dayanidhi – The compassionate Lord
23. Devadidev – The God of gods
24. Devakinandana – Son of Devaki
25. Devesha – The Lord of lords
26. Dharmadhyaksha – Lord of Dharma
27. Dravin – The one without enemies
28. Dwarkapati – Lord of Dwarka
29. Gopal – Maintainer of cows
30. Gopalpriya – Lover of the cowherds
31. Govinda – One who gives pleasure to the cows; Knower of the activities of the senses
32. Gyaneshwar – Lord of knowledge
33. Hari – Absorber of all sorrows and pains; Lord of nature
34. Hiranyagarbha – The all-powerful creator
35. Hrishikesha – Lord of the senses
36. Jagadguru – Preceptor of the entire universe
37. Jagadisha – Protector of the universe
38. Jagannath – Lord of the universe
39. Janardana – One who afflicts felons; One who grants the prayers of devotees
40. Jayantah – Ever-victorious one
41. Jyotiraditya – Brightness of the sun
42. Kamalnath – Lord of Goddess Lakshmi
43. Kamalnayan – One with lotus-shaped eyes
44. Kamsantak – Slayer of Kamsa
45. Kanjalochana – Lotus-eyed one
46. Keshava – Slayer of demon Keshi; One with long, beautiful hair
47. Krishna – All-attractive one; Dark complexioned one
48. Lakshikantam – Lord of Goddess Lakshmi
49. Lokadhyaksha – Lord of all worlds
50. Madan – Lord of love
51. Madhava – Husband of Laxmi
52. Madhusudana – Slayer of demon Madhu
53. Mahendra – Lord of Indra
54. Manmohan – The mind-pleasing one
55. Manohar – One who pleases the mind
56. Mayur – Lord with a peacock-feathered crest
57. Mohan – All-attractive one
58. Murali – Flute-playing Lord
59. Murlidhar – Holder of flute
60. Murlimanohar – The one who pleases the mind with flute-playing
61. Nandagopala – Son of Nanda
62. Nandakumara – Son of Nanda
63. Narayana – The refuge of all
64. Navaneetha-chor – Thief of butter
65. Niranjana – Unblemished one
66. Nirguna – One without attributes
67. Padmahasta – One whose hands are like lotus
68. Padmanabha – One who has a lotus-shaped navel
69. Parabrahmana – The supreme absolute truth
70. Paramatma – The Supreme Soul
71. Param-purush – The Highest Person
72. Parthasarathi – Charioteer of Partha (Arjuna)
73. Prajapati – Lord of all beings
74. Punyah – The pure one
75. Purushuttama – The best of all men; The supreme person
76. Ravilochana – One who has the sun as His eyes
77. Sahasraakash – The thousand-eyed one
78. Sahasrajit – One who vanquishes thousands
79. Sakshi – One who witnesses everything
80. Sanatana – The eternal one
81. Sarvajana – The omniscient one
82. Sarvapalaka – Maintainer of all
83. Sarveshwar – The Lord of all
84. Satyavachana – Speaker of truth
85. Satyavrata – One who is dedicated to truth
86. Shantah – The peaceful one
87. Shrestha – The highest one
88. Shrikanta – The beautiful one
89. Shyam – Dark-complexioned one
90. Shyamsundar – Dark and Beautiful
91. Sumedha – Intelligent one
92. Suresham – Lord of the demigods
93. Swargapati – The Lord of heavenly planets
94. Trivikrama – Conqueror of the three worlds
95. Upendra – Brother of Indra
96. Vaikunthanath – The Lord of Vaikuntha
97. Varshneya – Descendant of Vrishni
98. Vasudeva – Son of Vasudeva
99. Vishnu – The all-pervading Lord
100. Vishwadakshinah – The most skillful one
101. Vishwakarma – Creator of the universe
102. Vishwamurte – The form of the entire universe
103. Vishwarupa – One who is the same as the universe
104. Vishwatma – Soul of the universe
105. Vrishaparva – Lord of Dharma
106. Yadava – Descendant of Yadu
107. Yadavendra – King of the Yadav clan
108. Yoginampati – Lord of the Yogis
What began as a casual question became a national conversation. It brought us back to our roots, our Hindu culture and our shared memory of the Natkhat Makhanchor, Krishna. And maybe this is his power, he not just resides in temples but also in our hearts, in the love that we feel and in the moments that make us pause, smile and remember.
The information provided here is based on general beliefs and available knowledge. Times of India does not confirm its accuracy.
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