The 108 Names of Lord Krishna
The 108 names of Lord Krishna form a beloved namavali celebrating the eighth avatar of Vishnu, the cowherd of Vrindavan and the divine teacher of the Bhagavad Gita. Each name is chanted as Om ... Namah, for example Om Krishnaya Namah.
No deity has more affectionate names than Krishna. He is the mischievous Makhan Chor, the flute-playing Murali Manohar, the beloved of Radha, the protector Govinda and the supreme Parabrahman of the Gita. His 108 names hold his whole story - childhood lilas, the love of Vrindavan, and the wisdom of Kurukshetra. Reciting them, especially on Janmashtami, fills the heart with his sweetness.
A Selection of Key Names with Meaning
Below is a representative selection from the full 108; each is chanted as Om ... Namah.
- कृष्ण (Krishna) - the dark-hued, all-attractive one
- गोविन्द (Govinda) - protector of cows and the earth
- गोपाल (Gopala) - the loving cowherd
- माधव (Madhava) - lord of Lakshmi; of the Madhu dynasty
- केशव (Keshava) - of beautiful hair; slayer of Keshi
- मुरलीधर (Muralidhara) - bearer of the flute (murali)
- मुरलीमनोहर (Murali Manohar) - the heart-stealer with his flute
- बंके बिहारी (Banke Bihari) - the one bent in three places, who delights
- देवकीनन्दन (Devakinandan) - the joy and son of Devaki
- यशोदानन्दन (Yashodanandan) - the darling son of Yashoda
- नन्दलाल (Nandlal) - the beloved boy of Nanda
- वासुदेव (Vasudeva) - son of Vasudeva; the indweller of all
- दामोदर (Damodara) - bound at the waist by Yashoda
- माखन चोर (Makhan Chor) - the butter-thief of Gokul
- राधारमण (Radha Raman) - the beloved of Radha
- द्वारकाधीश (Dwarkadhish) - lord of Dwarka
- गिरिधर (Giridhar) - lifter of Govardhan hill
- मधुसूदन (Madhusudana) - slayer of the demon Madhu
- हृषीकेश (Hrishikesha) - lord of the senses
- पार्थसारथी (Parthasarathi) - the charioteer of Arjuna
- जगन्नाथ (Jagannatha) - lord of the universe
- पीताम्बर (Pitambara) - clad in yellow garments
This is a selection from the traditional 108; reciting the complete namavali covers all the names.
Significance of the 108 Names
Krishna's 108 names are a journey through his entire life of lila (divine play). The childhood names - Makhan Chor, Yashodanandan, Nandlal - hold the sweetness of Gokul. The Vrindavan names - Murali Manohar, Radha Raman, Giridhar - hold the love that lifts the heart. The Gita names - Parthasarathi, Hrishikesha, Vasudeva - hold the supreme teacher who guides the soul.
To chant these names is to remember that the same God who steals butter also lifts mountains and reveals the deepest truth of the Gita. Each name is a doorway into bhakti - some bring joy, some bring awe, all bring nearness to Kanha. The sacred count of 108 makes the litany a complete remembrance of the all-attractive Lord.
Benefits & How to Chant
Benefits:
- Deepening love and devotion (bhakti) for the Lord
- Joy, peace and a lightness of heart
- Removal of fear, sorrow and negativity
- Protection and the grace of Govinda in daily life
- Spiritual progress and nearness to the divine
How to chant: 1. Best days: Wednesday, Ekadashi, and above all Janmashtami (Krishna's birthday) and the festive month of Bhadrapada. The Jhulan and Hindola season is also beautiful for Krishna bhajan. 2. Setup: Sit before a Krishna or Bal Gopal image, light a ghee lamp and offer tulsi, makhan-mishri or butter, peda and yellow flowers. 3. Recite the full namavali, each name as Om ... Namah, ideally with a tulsi mala. 4. If short of time, chant 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare' or 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' and reflect on a few names. 5. Close with Krishna aarti and offer makhan-mishri or panchamrit (with tulsi) as prasad.
Reciting with love, perhaps while singing his name, pleases Krishna more than any formal count.
Common Questions From Devotees
How many names of Lord Krishna are there in the namavali?+
The popular namavali lists 108 names of Krishna, each chanted as 'Om ... Namah' such as Om Krishnaya Namah or Om Govindaya Namah. The number 108 is sacred and matches the beads of a mala for a complete round of remembrance.
What do names like Govinda and Giridhar mean?+
Govinda means the protector of cows and the earth, the loving cowherd of Vrindavan. Giridhar means 'the lifter of the hill', recalling how Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger to shelter the people from Indra's storm.
When is the best day to chant Krishna's 108 names?+
Janmashtami (Krishna's birthday) is the most auspicious, along with Wednesday, Ekadashi and the festive month of Bhadrapada. Reciting before a Bal Gopal image with tulsi and makhan-mishri offerings, ideally with a tulsi mala, is the traditional way.
Why does Krishna have so many names?+
Krishna's names come from his many lilas and relationships - childhood (Makhan Chor, Nandlal), Vrindavan love (Murali Manohar, Radha Raman) and the Gita (Parthasarathi, Hrishikesha). Each name holds a part of his story and a doorway into devotion.
About the author
Acharya Vinaya Kapoor · M.A. Sanskrit, Mantra & Stotra Studies
Acharya Vinaya holds an M.A. in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University and writes the mantra and stotra commentary on Vandnaa. Her focus is on accurate pronunciation, traditional context, and helping modern readers connect with classical texts.
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