This is in reply to Alban (words in red):
Anon- from the girls' sch wrote:Tom Grubb wrote: I would point out that some of the people the SES promote are long-dead BROWN males! I remember Krishna and Arjuna being quite important to them!
It's a shame how you decribe them in such an awful way. IF i didn't know any better I would probably find it slightly insulting. Krishna and Arjuna largely take part in the 'Gita', a book which I find quite interesting!
I don't suppose they would mind very much being as they are FICTIONAL characters!
Krishna by far is not a 'FICTIONAL' character. Infact the historacy of Krishna is of little spiritual importance, and to me it is not very significant, however I feel it is important for others who put down Krishna as a mere fictional character to know a little more.
There is no doubt that Krishna was not a legend or a poetical invention, but actually existed on this earth and did play a part in the history of India. Although there has been some debate whether it was some 3000 years ago or 5000 years ago. There are two clear facts that have emerged: HE was definately regared as an important spiritual figure, one whose spiritual illumination was recorded in one of the Upanishads; also that he was TRADITIONALY regarded as a divine man, one who was worhshipped after his death as a diety.
Yes, the Mahabharata is a poem and NOT history, however it is clearly a poem founded on a great historical event which has been traditionally preserved in memory. Figures in the poem certainly existed (for instance Dhritarashtra), the part played by Krishna as a leader, warrior, and a statesman can be looked upon as probable in itself, and to all appearance founded on a tradition which can be given an historical value.
This is as far as I can go in the theoretical point of view as to the historic man Krishna, however in my view I feel there is much more to it. Many people have always regared the incarnation as a fact and have accepted the history of Krishna, just like those who accept the history of Christ.