Krishnadas

(early 16th c.) One of the ashtachap, a
group of eight northern Indian bhakti
(devotional) poets. The compositions
of these eight poets were used for
liturgical purposes by the Pushti
Marg, a religious community of devotees (bhakta) of Krishna. In the
Pushti Marg’s sectarian literature, all
eight are also named as members of
the community and as associates of
either the community’s founder,
Vallabhacharya, or his successor
Vitthalnath. Traditionally, Krishnadas
is associated with Vallabhacharya. Little
is known about Krishnadas, although
traditional accounts hold that he was
born in 1497. His poetry describes the
physical beauty of Krishna as an object
of aesthetic enjoyment. Within the
Pushti Marg, he is remembered as a
capable administrator and a defender of
the sect’s interests in Brindavan,
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Krishnadas
Krishna’s childhood home, against the
followers of Chaitanya.