Why Krishna Called Ranchhod ?

Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism and is known by many names, including "Ranchhod". The name "Ranchhod" comes from two words in the Sanskrit language: "ran" which means "war" and "chhod" which means "forsake". Therefore, "Ranchhod" means "one who has abandoned the battlefield".

According to Hindu mythology, there is a famous incident where Krishna left the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata war, which is considered one of the most significant battles in Hinduism. This happened when his friend and devotee Arjuna became conflicted about fighting his own relatives in the opposing army. Krishna, who was serving as Arjuna's charioteer, gave him the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and inspired him to fight for what is right.

After giving the teachings, Krishna saw that the war would lead to much destruction and devastation, so he decided to leave the battlefield and not participate in the fighting himself. Therefore, he became known as "Ranchhod" or "the one who has forsaken the battlefield".

Overall, the name "Ranchhod" is one of the many names of Krishna that reflects his different qualities and actions in Hindu mythology.

The story of Krishna and Kalyavan is a well-known episode from Hindu mythology. Kalyavan was a powerful king and warrior who was an ally of the evil king Jarasandha. Jarasandha had repeatedly attacked the kingdom of Mathura, where Krishna lived, and Kalyavan was sent to attack Mathura and defeat Krishna.

When Kalyavan arrived in Mathura, Krishna was not present, so his friend and cousin, Lord Balarama, decided to face Kalyavan in battle. However, Kalyavan had a boon that made him invincible in a one-on-one battle, so Balarama decided to lead him to a cave where Krishna was sleeping.

Kalyavan followed Balarama into the cave and saw a man sleeping with his face covered by a piece of cloth. He assumed that this was Krishna and attacked him with his mace. However, the man turned out to be a decoy, and Krishna, who had actually been hiding nearby, emerged and fled from the scene.

Kalyavan pursued Krishna, and the two ran for a long time until they came to a fortified city. Krishna led Kalyavan into a maze of tunnels within the city, and Kalyavan followed him blindly. Finally, Krishna emerged from the maze and revealed his true form, causing Kalyavan to recognize his mistake.

Krishna then used his Sudarshan Chakra to kill Kalyavan and emerged victorious. The incident is seen as an example of Krishna's wit and intelligence, as well as his devotion to his people and his willingness to do whatever it takes to protect them. The name "Ranchhod" or "the one who has forsaken the battlefield" is sometimes associated with this incident, as Krishna chose to run and hide rather than engage in a direct battle with Kalyavan.

Was Lord Krishna the one who actually won the Kurukshetra War?

Lord Krishna played a pivotal role in the Kurukshetra War, but he did not personally fight in the war or physically win the war himself. The Kurukshetra War was fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, two branches of the same family, and lasted for 18 days. Krishna served as a counselor and advisor to the Pandavas, led by his friend and devotee Arjuna.

Krishna's role in the war was to guide and inspire the Pandavas, to help them make the right decisions, and to uphold dharma, or righteousness. Krishna also gave Arjuna the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita before the war, which helped Arjuna overcome his doubts and fears about fighting against his own relatives.

Krishna is also credited with having used his divine powers to support the Pandavas during the war, such as creating an illusionary army to confuse the Kauravas or protecting his devotees from harm. However, the ultimate victory in the war was achieved by the Pandavas through their own courage, skill, and perseverance.

Therefore, while Lord Krishna played a crucial role in the Kurukshetra War, he did not personally fight or win the war himself. He was seen as a guide and mentor to the Pandavas, and his teachings and support helped them to achieve victory in the war.

Lord Krishna Names with meaning

Krishna: The name "Krishna" means "dark" or "black", and refers to the color of Lord Krishna's skin.
Govinda: The name "Govinda" means "one who gives pleasure to the cows" or "protector of the cows". It reflects Lord Krishna's love for and protection of cows, which are considered sacred in Hinduism.
Gopala: The name "Gopala" means "protector of the cowherds" or "cowherd". It reflects Lord Krishna's role as a herdsman during his childhood in Vrindavan.
Madhusudana: The name "Madhusudana" means "slayer of the demon Madhu". It reflects Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Madhu, as described in Hindu mythology.
Mohan: The name "Mohan" means "charming" or "enchanting", and reflects Lord Krishna's irresistible beauty and charisma.
Murari: The name "Murari" means "slayer of the demon Mura". It reflects Lord Krishna's victory over the demon Mura, as described in Hindu mythology.
Nandalal: The name "Nandalal" means "beloved son of Nanda". It reflects Lord Krishna's childhood as the son of the cowherd Nanda in Vrindavan.
Vasudev: The name "Vasudev" means "son of Vasudeva". It reflects Lord Krishna's biological father's name, Vasudeva.
Shyam: The name "Shyam" means "dark" or "black", and is another name that refers to the color of Lord Krishna's skin.
Yogeshwar: The name "Yogeshwar" means "master of yoga". It reflects Lord Krishna's role as a teacher of yoga and spiritual wisdom in the Bhagavad Gita.
Janardana: The name "Janardana" means "one who bestows boons on people" or "protector of people". It reflects Lord Krishna's role as a protector of dharma and his devotees.
Keshava: The name "Keshava" means "one with beautiful hair" or "lord of wealth". It reflects Lord Krishna's beauty and his divine status as the Lord of wealth and prosperity.
Muralidhar: The name "Muralidhar" means "one who holds the flute" or "flute player". It reflects Lord Krishna's love for music and his association with the divine flute.
Parthasarathy: The name "Parthasarathy" means "charioteer of Arjuna". It reflects Lord Krishna's role as a charioteer and counselor of Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War.
Radhakrishna: The name "Radhakrishna" refers to the divine couple of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. It reflects the profound love and devotion shared by the two.
Damodara: The name "Damodara" means "one who is bound by a rope around his waist". It reflects a childhood incident in which Lord Krishna was tied up by his mother Yashoda for stealing butter.
Giridhari: The name "Giridhari" means "one who lifted the Govardhan hill". It reflects Lord Krishna's victory over Indra and his ability to lift the massive Govardhan hill to protect his devotees.
Hari: The name "Hari" means "one who removes suffering" or "lord of all". It reflects Lord Krishna's role as a savior and protector of his devotees.
Jagannath: The name "Jagannath" means "lord of the universe" or "master of the world". It reflects Lord Krishna's cosmic and universal nature.
Kripalu: The name "Kripalu" means "merciful" or "compassionate". It reflects Lord Krishna's infinite compassion and love for his devotees.
Radha-Vallabh: The name "Radha-Vallabh" means "beloved of Radha". It reflects the deep love and devotion between Lord Krishna and his divine consort Radha.
Sanatan: The name "Sanatan" means "eternal" or "everlasting". It reflects Lord Krishna's divine and timeless nature.
Shyamsundar: The name "Shyamsundar" means "beautiful dark one" or "handsome black one". It reflects Lord Krishna's striking beauty and charm.
Vanamali: The name "Vanamali" means "one who wears a garland of forest flowers". It reflects Lord Krishna's association with the natural world and his love for the forests of Vrindavan.
Vishnu: The name "Vishnu" means "all-pervading" or "omnipresent". It reflects Lord Krishna's divine nature as a form of the god Vishnu, who is considered to be the preserver of the universe.

"You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction." - Bhagavad Gita 2.47

"The self-controlled soul, who moves amongst sense objects, free from either attachment or repulsion, he wins eternal Peace." - Bhagavad Gita 2.64

"Perform your obligatory duty, because action is indeed better than inaction." - Bhagavad Gita 3.8
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." - Bhagavad Gita 6.5

"I am the Atma abiding in the heart of all beings. I am also the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings." - Bhagavad Gita 10.20

Bhagwat Gita Teachings:-

Karma Yoga: Focus on your actions and do them without attachment to the outcome.
Bhakti Yoga: Devotion to God through love and surrender.
Jnana Yoga: The path of knowledge and self-realization.
Dharma: Follow your duty in life with integrity and righteousness.
Ahimsa: Non-violence towards all living beings.
Detachment: Do not get attached to material possessions or people.
Self-Control: Control your mind and senses to stay focused and disciplined.
Surrender to God: Have faith in God and surrender to His will.
Renunciation: Let go of desires and attachments to reach a state of peace and enlightenment.
Bhagwan is the Ultimate Reality: Bhagwan is the supreme power that pervades everything in the universe.