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The Complete Life of Krishna

Based on the Earliest Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures
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( 294 ratings, 40 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Complete Life of Krishna by Vanamali presents the full biography of Krishna, a central character in the Hindu pantheon. Drawing from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and sacred oral traditions, it recounts Krishna's life from his birth in captivity, childhood antics in Vrindavana, divine rulership at Dwaraka, to his role as charioteer and guru to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war. The book integrates Krishna's multifaceted natureโ€”as a playful child, lover, heroic ruler, and mahayogi, illustrating his mastery over self and nature.

The stories are told with simplicity and humour, making the wisdom of Krishnaโ€™s teachings accessible to all. This complete English biography serves as a meditative tool enabling readers to internalise the spiritual lessons of Krishnaโ€™s life.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in Hinduism, Indian spirituality, religious history, and those seeking meditative insight through mythological narratives. Its accessible style suits a wide audience including scholars, spiritual seekers, and beginners wanting a comprehensive and engaging account of Krishnaโ€™s life.

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In The Complete Life of Krishna, Vanamali, a leading Krishna expert from a long line of prominent Krishna devotees, provides the first book in English or Sanskrit to cover the complete range of the avatar's life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Draws from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India's sacred oral tradition.

Shows how the stories of Krishna's life are expressed with such simplicity and humour that they enable anyone - man, woman, or child - to see the wisdom of his teachings.

Provides a valuable meditative tool that allows the lessons of these stories to illuminate from within.

Krishna, one of the most beloved characters of the Hindu pantheon, has been portrayed in many lights: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero, an exemplary ruler, and the Supreme Being. In The Complete Life of Krishna, Vanamali provides the first book in English to cover the complete range of the avatar's life.

Drawing from the Bhagavad Purana, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and India's sacred oral tradition, Vanamali shares stories from Krishna's birth in a dungeon and early days as a merry trickster in Vrindavana, through his time as divine ruler at Dwaraka, to his final powerful acts as the hero Arjuna's charioteer and guru in the Kurukshetra war. She explains how Krishna became a mahayogi, the greatest of all yogis, and attained complete mastery over himself and nature.

By integrating the hero-child with the mahayogi, the playful lover with the divine ruler, Vanamali shows how the stories of Krishna's life are expressed with such simplicity and humour that they enable anyone - man, woman, or child - to see the wisdom of his teachings.

This complete biography of the man who was, also, a god provides a valuable meditative tool allowing Krishna's lessons to illuminate from within.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise the book for its scholarly depth and insightful treatment of Krishna's legends. The Midwest Book Review recommends it for religious history collections focused on Hinduism and eastern religions. Whole Life Times highlights its value as a meditative resource full of delight and wisdom. Light of Consciousness notes it is an enchanting introduction to Krishna's divine play, or lila. It is recommended for new age and spirituality readers, and essential for collections strong in Indian spirituality.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781594774751

Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 May 2012

Country: United States

Imprint: Inner Traditions Bear and Company

Illustration: Includes 8-page color insert

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 519g

Pages: 488

About the Author

Mataji Devi Vanamali has written 7 books on the gods of the Hindu pantheon, including Shakti, Hanuman and The Song of Rama, as well as translating the Bhagavad Gita. She is the founder and president of Vanamali Gita Yoga Ashram Trust, dedicated to sharing the wisdom of Sanatana Dharma and charitable service to children. She lives at the Vanamali ashram in Rishikesh, in northern India.

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