Swayam Shri Krishna Is Not an Avatar of Mahavishnu

Question

Since childhood we have heard “God is one” and also that there are several Divine authorities. We also hear that Shri Krishna is the Supreme God. Also, the prevalent view is the Shri Krishna is descension of Mahavishnu.

This is confusing. Can you please resolve who Shri Krishna is?

Answer

Who is the Supreme God?

All the Vedas and scriptures clearly declare that Shri Krishna is the Supreme Lord.

कः परमो दैवः?
कृष्णो ह वै परमं दैवतम्।
“Who is the Supreme God? — Shri Krishna is the Supreme God.”

Are there other Gods too?

Yes, there are many forms of God, but they are all descensions (avatars) of Shri Krishna. He alone is the Avatari (source of all Avatars).

At the beginning of creation, Shri Krishna reveals a form known as

• Karnarnavshayi Mahavishnu. From Him emanates:
  • Garbhodaashayi Mahavishnu From Him emanates
    • Kshirodashayi Mahavishnu (who resides in the hearts of all beings as Paramatma)
    • Brahma
    • Lord Shankar

What is the role of these forms?

• Each Avatar descends with a specific purpose: protecting devotees, killing demons, or restoring dharma.
• Kshirodashayi Mahavishnu descends in every age as Yugavatar (like Lord Ram, Narsingh, Vaman, etc.).

Then when does Shri Krishna Himself descend?

The Supreme Shri Krishna (Swayam Shri Krishna) descends only once in a whole Kalp (4.29 billion years).

• This happens in the 28th Dwapar Yuga of the 7th Manvantar.
• His only purpose: to bestow Divine Love Bliss upon deserving souls.
• 5000 years ago, in the last Dwapar Yuga, Swayam Shri Krishna appeared along with Shri Radha Rani.

But didn’t Shri Krishna kill demons like Kans and Putna?

Yes — but that was done by the Yugavatar Krishna, a descension of Kshirodakshayi Mahavishnu.
When Swayam Krishna appears, the Yugavatar Krishna merges into Him. That is why both acts — demon-slaying and Divine Love bestowal — are attributed to Shri Krishna.

So what is the difference?

• Swayam Shri Krishna (Avatari) → Source of all descensions, comes only once per Kalp, gives Divine Love.
• Yugavatar Krishna (Avatar of Mahavishnu) → Appears every Dwapar Yuga, performs pastimes like killing demons, giving Gita, etc.

Final Understanding

• Shri Krishna is Avatari — the Supreme God.
• All other forms (Rama, Vishnu, Shiva, etc.) are His Avatars or empowered expansions.
• Shri Maharaj Ji emphasizes devotion (bhakti) to the Avatari Shri Krishna, the ultimate source of all descensions.