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God is also in many moods. In each mood, He has a different personality and name. Bhagavan is not identical to Krishna is not identical to Vasudeva. Each name is the result of exhibiting different properties, in relation to different people.
Bhagavan means six kinds of opulence, namely, knowledge, beauty, renunciation, wealth, power, and fame. When all these properties are exhibited simultaneously, then the persona is called Bhagavan. It means when God appears in a sober form to give all kinds of benedictions, displays many kinds of powers, and is fully knowledgeable, then He is called Bhagavan. Prabhupada always translates Bhagavan as “Supreme Personality of Godhead”. It means that supremacy is being displayed in that situation.
But Krishna doesn’t always exhibit supremacy. He becomes a jilted lover, a controlled child, a defeated friend, and a subordinate student. In these situations, His wealth, power, renunciation, fame, and knowledge are not seen. But in all these situations, He remains very attractive. Even as He is not showing His supremacy, He remains the center of desire because He is the purpose in all that exists. When that purpose is manifest, then even God covered in mud remains the center of attraction. Even if He presents Himself as just a child stealing butter, He remains the most attractive.
When this attractiveness becomes romantic, then the name is Shyamasundar. But Shyamasundar is only seen as a 16-year-old boy. When Shyamasundar is not just seen but also touched, heard, smelt, and tasted, then the name becomes Govinda.
Vasudeva means the Lord of morality, duty, and responsibility. But He is the teacher of morality, duty, and responsibility. He is not the punisher of those who violate morality, justice, and responsibility. Therefore, He always looks calm and pleasant, although as an authoritative figure. He doesn’t display His childish, romantic, playful nature. He does not crack jokes. He is serious, but He is not commanding. He is just a pleasant teacher. When God becomes a teacher and a guide, then He is called Vasudeva.
Each name has a meaning, and each meaning is a different kind of personality and emotion. Just as we can call the same thing a pen, a toy, or a paperweight, but in each case, we will see a different aspect of the same thing, similarly, God has many faces. These faces are displayed to different people at different places, times, and situations. Those people at that time, place, and situation call Him by a different name.
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