Sri Rama & Sri Krishna Avatara Comparison
The avataras of Sriman Narayana are countless. Of these, in the Rama and Krishna avataras, the Lord has incorporated all the profound aspects of the Sastras. Reproduced below is a detailed comparative analysis based on the article 'Sri Rama Krishna Avaratharangal' by Sri Narasimhachar from the magazine Tattvavada.
Comparative Analysis
| # | Attribute | Sri Rama | Sri Krishna |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugam | Tretha Yugam | Dwapara Yugam |
| 2 | Vamsam | Surya Vamsam | Chandra Vamsam |
| 3 | Birth Ayanam | Utharayanam | Dhakshinayanam |
| 4 | Birth Month | Chaitra Masam (Hot Season) | Shravana Masam (Rainy Season) |
| 5 | Birth Thithi | Sukla Paksham - Navami | Krushna Paksham - Astami |
| 6 | Period of Pregnancy | Born during 12th month | Ninth Month |
| 7 | Birth Time | Midday | Midnight |
| 8 | Birth Place | Palace | Prison |
| 9 | First Darshan | His Mother - Kousalya | His Father - Vasudeva |
| 10 | Birth Celebration | People celebrated with Feast | Upavasam (Fasting) |
| 11 | Ruling Nature | Boopalan | Gopalan |
| 12 | Varnam | Kshatrian | Yadhavan |
| 13 | Status of Godliness | Declared that He was always a Man | Through Bhagavad Gita, declared Himself as Paramatma |
| 14 | Punishing Mistakes | Forgave any number of mistakes | Punished Shishupala when he crossed 100 insults |
| 15 | Marriage | Won Sita's hand by Swayamvara | Married Rukmini directly upon her request |
| 16 | Valour | Gurukula under Sage Vashishta; showed strength after age 15 | Killed demons starting from Poothana up to Kamsa before age 15; then Gurukula under Sandipani |
| 17 | No. of Wives | One (Sita Devi) | 16,108 wives |
| 18 | Leelas Done as a Boy | No | Yes |
| 19 | Searching for Partner | Rama (Man) searched for Seetha (Woman) | Gopikas (Women) searched for Krishna (Man) |
| 20 | Surya's Son | Sugriva - His friend | Karna - His enemy |
| 21 | Indra's Son | Vaali - His enemy | Arjuna - His friend |
| 22 | Adhi Shesha | Lakshmana - His younger brother | Bala Rama - His elder brother |
| 23 | Moksha | Went to Vaikunta along with His relatives | Sent His relatives first, then went to Vaikunta |
| 24 | Vayu's Son | Hanuman worshipped Him | Bhima worshipped Him |
| 25 | First Killing | Thataki - a woman demon | Poothana - a woman demon |