Brewer's: Krishna

(the black one). The eighth avâtara or incarnation of Vishnu. Kansa, demon-king of Mathura', having committed great ravages, Brahman complained to Vishnu, and prayed him to relieve the world of its distress; whereupon Vishnu plucked off two hairs, one white and the other black, and promised they should revenge the wrongs of the demon-king. The black hair became Krishna. (Hindu mythology.)

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