Krishna Janmashtami

In the Dvapara age, King Ugrasena ruled Mathura. His son Kansa imprisoned him and seized the throne. Kansa’s cousin Devaki was married to Vasudeva of the Yadu clan. Kansa loved his sister and drove her chariot himself to see her off.

On the way a voice spoke from the sky: “Kansa, the eighth child of the sister you are escorting so lovingly will kill you.” Kansa drew his sword to kill Devaki. Vasudeva pleaded, “Do not kill her; I will hand over every child to you as soon as it is born.” Kansa threw Devaki and Vasudeva into prison.

One by one six children were born to Devaki, and Kansa killed them all. The seventh time, the Lord’s Yogamaya carried the unborn child from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohini, Vasudeva’s other wife in Gokul — he was Balarama. Kansa was told the child was lost.

Then came the midnight of Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami. The Rohini star was rising, thick clouds covered the sky and lightning flashed. A divine light filled the prison, and Lord Vishnu appeared in his four-armed form. He told Vasudeva and Devaki, “I have come as your son. Take me to Nanda’s house in Gokul, and bring back the daughter just born to Yashoda.” Then he became a newborn baby.

At that moment Vasudeva’s chains fell away, the prison doors opened by themselves, and all the guards fell into a deep sleep. Vasudeva laid the baby in a basket, lifted it on his head and walked out into the stormy night. The Yamuna was in flood. As he stepped in, the water rose higher and higher, and when it touched the baby’s feet, the river grew calm and made way. The great serpent Shesha spread his hoods over the baby to shield him from the rain.

In Gokul everyone in Nanda’s house was asleep. Vasudeva laid the baby Krishna beside Yashoda, lifted her newborn daughter and returned the same way. The doors closed again, the chains locked once more.

The baby girl’s cry woke the guards, who told Kansa. He rushed in and lifted her to dash her against a stone. But she slipped from his hands, rose into the sky as the Goddess, and said, “Foolish Kansa, the one who will kill you has already reached Gokul.”

In the morning Gokul rejoiced at the birth of Nanda’s son — “Nand ke anand bhayo, jai Kanhaiya Lal ki!” That child Krishna grew up protecting Braj from Putana, Bakasura, the serpent Kaliya and many other dangers, and finally went to Mathura, ended Kansa’s rule and made Ugrasena king again.

The devotee who fasts on Janmashtami, celebrates the Lord’s birth at midnight and hears this story is blessed with happiness, love and joy at home. Jai Shri Krishna!