what is the difference between Krishna and Vishnu, in Hinduism?

Answer 1

Krishna is a worldly form of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu one of the trinity in Hinduism who incarnated 9 times to do his worldly job and in his every appearance he had a different form which are also worshipped as gods. Among his appearances, he appeared as Rama, Krishna, Narsimha, Parsuram and Buddha.

Krishna also has different names, Gopal; Kishan; Shyam and other names. He also has other titles with meanings like 'Basuri Wala' which means the flute musician and 'Makhan Chor' which means the butter stealer.

Answer 2

Krishna and Vishnu are the same Personality.

Some people think Krishna is worldly form of Vishnu or Avatar of Vishnu. But this is not accepted by Vaisnava Acharyas or in Srimad Bhagavatam.

The Head of the Spiritual World is Krishna. He expands into many forms. None of these Forms are Material. All are Spiritual.
I will try to explain the expansions as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam.

Lord Krishna is the first. He expands into Lord Balarama. Lord Balaram then expands into Chaturvyuha (Vasudeva, Anirudha, Sankarshana, Pradumna). Lord Sankarshana then expands into Narayana. Narayana again expands into another Chaturvuha which has another Sankarshana. This Lord Sankarshana expands into MahaVisnu.
Maha Visnu is the cause of Creation of This universe as well as billions of such other Universes. Into Each such Universe, Mahavishnu again expands as Garbhodakshai Vishnu. Gorbodhakshai Visnu then expands to Ksirodakshai Visnu to take incharge of Maintainence of this Universe.

All Incarnations that come down to this world come from Ksirodakshai Visnu. But it should be understood that these incarnations are eternally there in the Spiritual World and descend to this material world to take us back with them.
Thus Lord Krishna, the original Personality also descended. The form of Krishna is not Material as our Form, but Spiritual.

The difference between expansions is explained by an example. If we light one candle from another, then there is no difference in the Flame of the other candles which are Lit. But still there is an Original Flame.

Similarly though there is no difference between Visnu and Krishna, Still Krishna is the original personality. There is difference in the mellow or mood of worship. But it is like having different Grades in Complete Perfection!!

Answer 3

Krishna is the same avatar of Vishnu, but Krishna is more popular then Vishnu. It is also said that Brahma is the creator,Vishnu (avatar of Krishna) creates life and Shiva is a destroyer.

Lord Krishna took 52 avatars including Vishnu on earth and it is also said that one more avatar is still left and he will come back to earth again after 1 millon yrs later.He will come as a Brahman boy in south of India.

He took first avatar of Lord Ram, then Lord Shrinathji, then Lord Swaminarayan, then Krishna, Vishnu, and it follows like that till 52.

Answer 4

As per Vedas Shiv & Vishnu are different names ( attributes) of That God. Shiva means something like Good & peace ( Shiv sankalpam astu ;Vedas). Vishnu means pervading everywhere ( Vishnu urukrama ;Vedas). Vedic rishis praised God through many visual forms also. So these Three eyed, Four Handed and other etc are all visual names of That God as We have Om Parmatma Shiv VIshnu etc as sound names. one should Feel same one God through all these Forms instead of taking them different personal gods. This is the true essence of Vedas.

Answer 5

Krishna is an "avatar" of Vishnu. An avatar is when God takes that form to descend to the earth, in an earthly form.

So Krishna IS Vishnu, but in his earthly form.

Answer 6

Those are gods created world or rule world.

Answer 7

Heron said it well. She is correct.

;-)