page_title: Svayam Bhagavan
section_title: Krishnaism
hierarchical_section_title: Svayam Bhagavan / Krishnaism
caption_attribution_description: Krishna as en:Svayam Bhagavan in relation en:Vishnu
context_page_description: Svayam Bhagavān is a Sanskrit theological term for the concept of absolute representation of God as Bhagavan - The Supreme Personality who possesses all riches, all strength, all fame, all beauty, all knowledge and all renunciation.
  According to the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna is termed Svayam Bhagavan. As stated in the Bhagavata MahaPurana, the Supreme God Parabrahman Adi Narayana appeared before Vasudeva and Devaki in his divine original four armed form before taking birth as Krishna. Vasudeva and Devaki, after praising Vishnu, requested him to hide his divine form which Vishnu agreed to do, transforming himself into a baby, Krishna. According to this account, Krishna never took birth from the womb of his mother like a common baby.
  Svayam Bhagavan is a term most often used in Gaudiya Vaishnava and other Krishna-centered theologies, and that title is used there exclusively to designate Krishna, there being conflicting semantics or other usages in the Bhagavata Purana. Traditions of Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the Nimbarka Sampradaya and followers of Vallabha consider Him to be the source of all avatars, and the source of Vishnu and Narayana.
context_section_description: The term Krishnaism has been used to describe the cults of Krishna, reserving the term "Vaishnavism" for cults focusing on Vishnu in which Krishna is an Avatar, rather than a transcended being.
  "Greater Krishnaism" corresponds to the second and dominant phase of Vaishnavism, revolving around the cults of Vasudeva, Krishna, and Gopala. Today the faith has a significant following outside of India as well. Supremacy of Krishna is the key concept of Krishnaism. Gaudiya is one of the main traditions worshiping Radha Krishna that developed this concept.
caption: Relationship between different forms of Krishna as paripurna avatara of Vishnu and as svayam bhagavan being direct representation of svayam rupa.
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