Lord Krishna was born in the Dvapara Yuga, around three thousand years ago, at the prison cell of Kamsa. Amidst tight security mother, Devaki’s eighth son was to take birth. According to a prophecy (akashvani), this son would be the cause of cruel Kamsa’s death. Therefore, Kamsa and his guards are anxiously waiting to kill the eighth or the newborn of mother Devaki.
Kamsa had captured the throne of Mathura cruelly by imprisoning his father, Ugrasena. He knew legally he had no right to inherit the throne as because he was not the legal son of the king. In fact, he was the son of demon Drumil who once disguised as king Ugrasena had physical intimacy with the king’s wife, Pawan Rekha.
Even though a demon’s blood was flowing in the veins of Kamsa he had the divine blessing of lord Shiva to live an immortal life. He knew he could be dominated or killed only by the eight born of his sister, Devaki. So, after the marriage of his sister he kept both the sister and her husband, Vasudeva in a prison cell. Vasudeva handed over to Kamsa all the six newborns, one after the other, and he didn’t hesitate even once to kill them all. During the seventh born of Devaki Kamsa was informed that she had a miscarriage. He was in confusion if that was the seventh or eighth born of Devaki. So, he tightened the security of the prison even more than before.
Now, it’s the appropriate time for the readers to learn more about Vasudeva and Devaki … Do you know who Vasudeva and Devaki were? According to the legends, once sage Kashyap along with his two wives, Aditi and Surabhi, stole the cow of Varuna. Out of sheer rage or anger, Varuna cursed them to born as humans on the earth to repent. So sage Kashyap was born as Vasudeva, Aditi as Devaki and Surabhi as Rohini. Later, Devaki gave birth to Sri Krishna and Rohini gave birth to Sri Balarama.
 |
| Little Krishna with Mother Yashoda |
Returning back to the main course of the story … At midnight, in the asthami tithi, the weather so menaced that it seemed that the monsoon shower would wipe away everything with it. What did the natural phenomena signify? Does it mean the birth of a super human on the lap of mother earth? That night a sparkling light flashed and a baby was born in Devaki’s prison. Vasudeva was brainstorming as how to safeguard and protect the godly child who appeared to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu from the evil hands of Kamsa. An announcement (akashvani) took place from the bright sparkling light – “I’ve come, I’m the one who you’re waiting for so long. You’ll are holy souls, therefore, I’m born in your prison-house. Now, take me to Gould where mother Yashoda has given birth to a girl child. Keep me there and bring back the new born girl child here. This will not lead to you any sin because you’re doing this on my instruction.”
With the soft touch of the newborn Vasudeva’s heart was filled with new hope and strength. He moved ahead with the baby Krishna on his lap. The door of the prison opened as all the guards were dozing in deep slumber. To protect Vasudeva and baby Krishna from the turbulent stormy night Nag raj Sheshnaag spread its heads like a huge umbrella under the sky. Soon Vasudeva reached the banks of River Yamuna. However, the waters of the river were so turbulent that it seemed to engulf the entire earth inside it. No sooner Vasudeva stepped into the river water it subsided and made way for him to go ahead. After crossing the river Vasudeva reached the home of Gokulraj Nanda. Nanda was waiting for their arrival along with the purohit brahmin, Gargacharya who named the little baby as Krishna.
Vasudeva left Krishna alongside sleeping mother Yashoda and returned to the prison with the girl child of mother Yashoda. Next day, as Kamsa planned to kill the girl child she disappeared from his hands. Suddenly a heavenly light flashed and prophesized (akashvani) that whosoever will kill Kamsa is growing safely in Gokul. The entire episode surrounding Sri Krishna’s birth became a golden event in Indian History as Janmashtami. Since Mathura is the birth place of Lord Krishna it is a popular pilgrim spot in India.