Crishʹna

An incarnate deity of perfect beauty. King Canza, being informed that a child of the family of Devaci would overturn his throne, gave orders to destroy all the male infants that were born. When Crishna was born, his brother conveyed him secretly to the house of a shepherd king; but Canza discovered his retreat, and sent the monster Kâkshas to poison him. The tale says the infant child sucked the monster to death, and so escaped. As he grew up, his beauty was so divine that all the princesses of Hindustan fell in love with him, and even to the present hour he is the Apollo of India and the “idol of women.” His images are always painted a deep azure colour. (Sir W. Jones.) (See Rama.)