Krishna is a Hindu god of love and compassion. He is one of the most widely revered and popular of all Hindu deities. He is the eighth avatar of Vishnu, the Supreme Being in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. Krishna is known for his playful and mischievous nature, as well as for his heroic deeds. He is often depicted as a young cowherd playing a flute. He is also associated with the stories of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.