Lord Krishna is the Hindu god of love, compassion, and protection. Known as the Dark One, he is often depicted with dark blue skin. Krishna is an avatar of the god Vishnu, but he is also worshiped as a god in his own right. Hindu mythology is filled with tales about Krishna's life. He was born in the idyllic rural landscape of Braj. Krishna spent his youth in Vrindavan, an area populated with Gopis, or milkmaids. As a youth, Krishna was depicted as a cowherd and young lover. In mythology, Krishna plays music, and the Gopis surround him with singing and dancing. Krishna becomes the lover of one of these Gopis, called Radha.
As an adult, Krishna disguises himself as a charioteer to rise with prince Arjuna into battle. Arjuna and Krishna have a long discussion about the nature of dharma, or the duty appropriate to an individual. Their dialogue is recorded in the Bhagavad Gita.