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{{Short description|Uncle of Krishna in Hinduism}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| name = Akrura
| image = Krishna and Balarama Being Driven by Akrura to Mathura, Folio from a Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) LACMA M.71.49.1.jpg
| caption = Akrura (right) drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura. Folio from the Bhagavata Purana.
| parents = Śvaphalka (father), Gandini or Nandinī (mother)
| texts = [[Puranas]], [[Mahabharata]]
| dynasty = [[Yadu dynasty|Yaduvamsha]]
| spouse = Ugraseni
| children = Sudeva and Upadeva (sons)
| siblings = Upasanja, Mangu, Mridura, Arimejaya, Girikshipa, Upiksha, Shatruha, Arimardana, Dharmabhrit, Yatidharma, Gridhra, Bhoja, Andhaka, Suvahu, and Prativahu (brothers), Sundari (sister)<br><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485515.html | title=An Account of Svyamantaka Jewel [Chapter 38] | date=14 November 2020 }}</ref>
}}
'''Akrura''' ({{Langx|sa|अक्रूर|lit=not cruel|translit=Akrūra}}) is a [[Yadu dynasty|Yadava]] prince in [[Hinduism]], best known for being the uncle of the deity [[Krishna]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Akrūra |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241369.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> The son of Śvaphalka and Gandini, a daughter of the king of [[Varanasi|Kashi]],<ref name="Garg1992">Garg, pp. 305-306.</ref> he is instructed by [[Kamsa]] to drive his nephews, Krishna and [[Balarama]], to a Dhanuryāga (festival of arms) at [[Mathura]], where they were to be slain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Iyengar |first=T. R. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MmURAQAAIAAJ&q=dhanuryaga |title=Hindu Mythology |date=2004 |publisher=Intellectual Book Corner |isbn=978-81-7076-104-4 |pages=314 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Benjamin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6zj3DwAAQBAJ&dq=akrura+uncle+krishna&pg=PA562 |title=Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L |date=2019-04-09 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-62465-0 |pages=562 |language=en}}</ref> He bears witness to the [[vishvarupa]] (theophany) of Krishna during this journey. Akrura becomes the owner of the [[Syamantaka]] jewel after the death of its previous owner, [[Satrajit]]. He is slain during the internecine [[Mausala Parva|Yadu massacre]] at Prabhasa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fPdJEAAAQBAJ&dq=dhanuryaga&pg=PT154 |title=Bhagavatha Maha Purana 1st Skanda : English translation only without Slokas |date=2021-07-12 |publisher=Kausiki Books |pages=154 |language=en}}</ref>

==Legend==
{{Hindu mythology}}
According to the [[Harivamsa|Harivamsha]], Akrura marries Ugraseni, the daughter of [[Ugrasena]], who gives birth to two sons, Sudeva and Upadeva. [[F. E. Pargiter|F.E. Pargiter]] states that Akrura weds Sutanu, the daughter of Ahuka, and with her he had two sons, Devaka and Updevaka.<ref name="Garg1992" /> He is said to have reigned at [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]], and Pargiter believes that the family's chiefdom stretched as far back as [[Vrishni]].

=== Charioteer of Krishna and Balarama ===
[[File:AMBASSADOR AKRURA MEETING KRISHNA AT GOKULAM WITH A MESSAGE FROM KAMSA.jpg|thumb|Ambassador Akrura meeting Krishna at Gokulam with a message from Kamsa]]Akrura's cousin, [[Kamsa]], ruled as the king of the [[Yadu dynasty|Yadus]], based in his capital at [[Mathura]]. In the [[Vishnu Purana]], prophesied to be killed by his nephew, Krishna, he ordered Akrura to summon Krishna and Balarama upon his chariot to Mathura. An invitation was to be issued, under the pretext of inviting them to the Dhanuryāga festival, to be held on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, where he schemed to have them murdered. Kamsa informed Akrura that following the death of his nephews, he wished to seize all the possessions of the cowherds, and rule in concert with him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-30 |title=Kansa sent Akrura to invite Krishna [Chapter XV] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc116037.html#note-e-59929 |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> As a devotee of [[Vishnu]], Akrura was excited at the prospect of meeting Krishna. After his arrival to [[Gokul]]am, he saw Krishna and his brother among the cattle, wondering if they would despise him for his association with Kamsa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-30 |title=Journey of Akrura to Gokula [Chapter XVII] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc116039.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> The brothers, however, treated their uncle with hospitality, and he proceeded to tell them about the mistreatment of [[Vasudeva]], [[Devaki]], and Ugrasena under the tyranny of Kamsa, and the reason for which he had been dispatched. The brothers agreed to accompany Akrura to Mathura the following day. The [[Gopi|milkmaids]] lamented the departure of Krishna from [[Braj|Vraja]], calling Akrura cruel for taking him away from them. During their journey, Akrura bathed in the waters of the [[Yamuna]], where he witnessed the celestial forms of Balarama as [[Shesha]] and Krishna as Vishnu, and eulogised them. Reaching Mathura, he informed them that they would have to walk the royal road from that point forward, and he proceeded ahead alone in his chariot.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-30 |title=Krishna depart for Mathura [Chapter XVIII] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc116040.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2014-08-30 |title=Slaughter of a washerman, the servant of Kansa [Chapter XIX] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc116041.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Brooklyn Museum - Akrura Speaks to the Cowherds Page from an Unidentified Hindu Manuscript.jpg|thumb|Akrura speaks to the gopis]]

=== Possession of the Syamantaka ===
The [[Harivamsa|Harivamsha]] states that Akrura obtained the legendary jewel called the [[Syamantaka]] after it was given to him for safekeeping by Shatadhanva. Shatadhanva had slain Satrajit, the previous owner of the jewel, and had given it to Akrura, as he had expressed a desire to obtain it in the past. Akrura promised Shatadhanva that he would not part with the jewel. Shatadhanva assured Akrura of his protection if Krishna attacked him. Even as Shatadhanva was slain by Krishna, Akrura commenced a great sacrifice called the Akrura [[Yajna]], where he offered enough jewellery and articles of wealth generated from the jewel to last sixty-thousand years. Krishna caught wind of these events, and wished Akrura to return the Syamantaka to him at [[Dvārakā|Dvaraka]]. Akrura offered the Syamantaka, as well as the hand in marriage of his sister, Sushila, to Krishna. Pleased, Krishna allowed Akrura to keep the jewel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-11-14 |title=An Account of Akrura [Chapter 39] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485516.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coulter |first1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=62hnEAAAQBAJ&dq=akrura+uncle+krishna&pg=PA447 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2020-11-12 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-8556-4 |pages=447 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Meeting Dhritarashtra ===
In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], Krishna sent Akrura to [[Hastinapur]]a to meet [[Dhritarashtra]], the king of the [[Kaurava|Kurus]], to determine if the monarch was being influenced by his son, [[Duryodhana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2022-09-02 |title=Visit to the Houses of Trivakrā and Akrūra [Chapter 48] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana/d/doc1128916.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Having arrived at Hastinapura, Akrura met [[Kunti]], his cousin, who tearfully enquired if Krishna still remembered her, and told him that she had sought salvation in the deity. Akrura met the Kuru king, and spoke to him regarding his partiality towards the [[Kaurava]]s, as well as his conduct in occupying the throne rather than install [[Yudhishthira|Yudhisthira]] as the rightful king. Dhritarashtra admitted that he was being partial towards his sons, though he still regarded Krishna to be [[God]]. Having gathered the king's thoughts, Akrura departed Hastinapura to inform Krishna of his visit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2022-09-02 |title=Akrūra's Mission to Hastinapura [Chapter 49] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana/d/doc1128917.html |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Veneration ==
[[File:ShriAkrurte.PNG|right|thumb|220x220px|Akrura with Krishna and Balarama, Gopi Nath Temple]]

=== Akrura Ghat ===
Akrura Ghat is one of the bathing [[ghats]] at [[Vrindavan]], in the [[Mathura district]]. This is the place where Krishna and Balarama are believed to have revealed their forms of [[Lord Vishnu|Vishnu]] and [[Sesha Naga|Shesha]] to Akrura.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Knapp |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1JJCgAAQBAJ&dq=akrura+ghat+vrindavan&pg=PT73 |title=Seeing Spiritual India: A Guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions |date=2008-05-29 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-0-595-61452-3 |pages=73 |language=en}}</ref> The text Adi [[Varaha Purana]] illustrates Akrura Ghat as the king of all holy places.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

One of the major attractions is an ancient Gopi Nath temple dedicated to Krishna and Balarama. Akrura is depicted standing in between the two. It is believed that one can eradicate all his sins by bathing here during a full moon.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==References==
{{Commons category}}
<references />

== External links ==
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&dq=akrura+encyclopedia&pg=PA22 Vettam Mani's Puranic Encyclopedia - Akrura]
*{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world, Volume 2 |first=Gaṅgā Rām |last=Garg |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7022-375-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WjDcd0cTFxQC}}
*{{cite book |last=Pargiter |first=F. E. |year=1922 |title=Ancient Indian Historical Tradition |url=https://archive.org/details/ancientindianhis00parguoft |publisher=Oxford University Press}}
*{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas, Volume 3 |first=Swami |last=Parmeshwaranand |publisher=Sarup & Sons |year=2001 |isbn=978-81-7625-226-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLcv-Ow6Ux4C}}

[[Category:Characters in the Bhagavata Purana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:People related to Krishna]]

Akrura - Revision history

Evajzp at 20:57, 21 May 2025