Madhava (Sanskrit: माधव) is another name for Vishnu or Krishna and appears as the 72nd, 167th and 735th names in the Vishnu sahasranama. From the Bhagavad Gita it is understood to refer to Vishnu being the husband of the goddess of fortune (Lakshmi). Arjuna addresses Krishna in the first chapter as follows: "What should we gain, O Krishna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?" (Bhagavad-Gita 1.36) According to Adi Sankara' s commentary on the Vishnu sahasranama, Madhava means the consort of Ma, or Mahalaksmi, the Mother of the universe. Alternatively, it means on who is fit to be known through Madhu-vidya or can mean One who is the Lord of "Ma" or knowledge. Additionally, it can also mean 'one who was born in the clan of Madhu'.
