Keshava


Keshava is a name of Vishnu from the Hindu tradition. The name appears as the 23rd and 648th names in the Vishnu sahasranama of the Mahabharata. Keshava is venerated by those persons wanting to avert bad luck, or ill omens. His consort is Keerti.

In Sanskrit literature

According to the Padma Purana the name refers to Krishna's long, beautiful looking unshorn hair.
In the Bhagavad Gita Arjuna uses the name Keshava for Krishna a number of times, referring to him as the 'Killer of the Keshi demon': "I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Kesava, killer of the
Keśī demon.". The demon Keshi, in the form of a horse, was sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna but was overpowered and slain.