- By Kashish Rai
- Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Krishna Effect Novel Review: The life of Lord Krishna is more than mythology. It is a timeless guide intertwined with courage, love, wisdom and philosophy. Even though his Leelas are enchanting, they contain profound lessons that are relevant in the contemporary world. In his book The Krishna Effect, philosopher-composer Devrishi combines psychology, spirituality, and history to retell the divine pastimes of Lord Krishna as living truths. The book demonstrates how Lord Krishna's path continues to inspire self-discovery, harmony and balance in modern life through journeys, friendships and teachings.
Let us further explore how The Krishna Effect proficiently combines lessons from modern times with the Leelas or divine pastimes of Lord Krishna, leading us through philosophy, history, and timeless principles that still influence our lives today.
The Journey Of Lord Krishna’s Gurukul
Krishna went to Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain with his elder brother Balaram to study after killing his maternal uncle Kansa when he was eleven years old, and in sixty-four days, he learnt fourteen subjects. The four Vedas are the Atharva, Sama, Yajur, and Rig Vedas. The six Vedangas are Chhand (Vedic verses), Jyotish (astronomy), Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar), Nirukta (word meanings), Shiksha (pronunciation and proper vowels), and Kalpa (rituals and rules). There are 64 arts and four Upvedas: Ayurveda (medicine), Dhanurveda (archery), Gandharva Veda (music), and Sthapatya Veda (architecture). He became "Shri Krishna" after attending Krishna Gurukul. Despite being the complete incarnation of Lord Vishnu, he carried out a number of divine pastimes while in human form, one of which is connected to the sage Sandipani.
Sandipani Rishi’s Son And The Ocean Test
A demon named Shankhasur kidnapped Sandipani Rishi's son, Pournamasi, and carried him to the ocean's depths. To save his son as Gurudakshina, Krishna set out for the coast close to modern-day Gujarat. On his way, Lord Krishna met Parshuram.
The Gift Of Sudarshan Chakra By Lord Parshuram To Krishna
Parasuram gave Krishna the Sudarshan Chakra, and finally, the divine Lord freed the Guru's son by killing the demon and wearing Shankhasur in the form of a conch. Krishna had already seen Dwarka in this way. A detailed account of this tale is mentioned in the novel The Krishna Effect by philosopher-composer Devrishi and foreword by Dr Mohan Yadav MP CM.
Shri Krishna Pathey: Mapping Krishna’s Route From Mathura To Dwarka
The novel also takes us on a geographical tour of the Shri Krishna Pathey project by the Madhya Pradesh government. Shri Krishna Pathey is working on turning the routes Shri Krishna took from Mathura to Dwarka into pilgrimage spots. The idea is to link places like Vrindavan, Mathura, Ujjain, Janapav, Amjhera, and Dwarka, showing off Krishna's culture and impact in these areas. Also, film producer Sadhana Pandey is creating a documentary series about it.
Depiction Of Lord Krishna’s Butter Leela As A Silent Protest
The Novel shows how Lord Krishna's tales teach us lessons that still fit today. For instance, Kansa's misconduct in Mathura had gotten so bad that no kingdom cattle breeder was allowed to eat cow products like milk, butter, ghee, etc. They were all under the empire's authority. In this case, Krishna's stealing of butter was a protest against the empire, allowing other village children to have access to dairy products. Many such Leelas have been described here.
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Lord Krishna's life offers timeless wisdom, courage and love, inspiring self-discovery and balance in modern life through profound lessons. (Image Source: Freepik)
Parallel Stories Of Devotion
The novel tells two stories at the same time. One story follows three friends in the present day. They meet in Mathura after not seeing each other for years, and then travel from Vrindavan to Dwarka, tracing Lord Krishna's path.
Lord Krishna’s Journey From Mathura To Dwarka
After completing his studies at Gurukul, Shri Krishna returns to Mathura. However, despite the numerous Jarasangha wars, the group continues to return for more battles, so Krishna decides to withdraw from the conflict and establish the kingdom in Dwarka.
Rukmini’s Love For Lord Krishna
Since Rukmani had only heard about Krishna, she fell in love with him, setting an example of love in the modern world. Today love is done only by looking at the outer appearance, which later creates problems in relationships. According to the author, "love is freedom and respect for one another, but people today want to keep love tied, which is wrong."
The Emphasis Of Sonic Philosophy: Healing Through Sound
In the novel, the author introduces the philosophical idea of Sonic Philosophy, which combines science and Vedic knowledge to treat mental health by using the sound and frequency of mantras. This novel is also a synthesis of psychology and philosophy, offering answers to contemporary issues via Lord Krishna's teachings.
A Journey Of Three Friends
While battling their individual problems, three friends named Vyomkesh, Ayan, and Svaryam cross paths with a figure named Rishikesh, who encourages them to follow Krishna's trail. This journey leads them to the path of Krishna.
From Filmmaker to Philosopher: Devrishi’s Transformation
The story of the novel is written like a film which keeps the readers engaged. Rishikesh Pandey was working as a musician and filmmaker but in January 2025 he distanced himself from the entertainment world and adopted the spiritual name Devrishi. He, along with Sadhana Pandey founded an organisation named Sanatan Wisdom which propagates his sonic philosophy and Sanatan knowledge globally. Devrishi is also known as a musician of civic awareness.
Presenting The Bhagavad Gita As A Guide For Mental Peace
The Bhagavad Gita is portrayed in the book as the Devrishi's sonic philosophy, where the shlokas serve as the foundation for mental peace in addition to being a source of teaching. According to Devrishi, "people keep the Gita in the temple of their house and start worshipping it, but they should read the Gita and the Gita should be taught in schools so that the students' mental development can increase."
The Krishna Effect serves as a reminder that Shri Krishna's Leelas are timeless teachings for the present as well as historical tales. The book encourages readers to pursue wisdom, balance, and love in contemporary life by fusing philosophy, psychology, and devotion, rendering Krishna's timeless path eternally relevant.