Krishna took birth at midnight on the ashtamior the 8th day of the Krishnapaksha or dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September) eight days after Raksha Bandhan. This auspicious day is calledJanmashtami. It was the rainy season in India and Krishna was born at midnight, in the prison of Kansa, during the middle of a perilous rain and storm. Thus goes the story of Krishna's birth.
Kansa, a despot, was then the king of Mathura. He had imprisoned his father in order to become the king. Devaki was Kansa's sister and was married to a noble man Vasudeva. Kansa one day heard a heavenly voice, saying, " Kansa, your days of tyranny will soon be over, you will be killed by the eighth child of Devaki." Kansa got frightened. He immediately imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva. He did not want to take any chance and killed at birth each and every child of Devaki, until the time came for the delivery of the eighth child. To feel more secured, Kansa increased the number of prison guards, kept strict vigilance and put Vasudeva in chains. But God planned otherwise.
At midnight when the eighth child was born, the guards fell fast asleep and Vasudeva's chain fell off his hands and feet. Wasting no time, Vasudeva picked up the newborn baby, and carrying it in a basket, he started towards Gokul. Gokul was a village of cowherds, located across the Yamuna river, where his friend Nanda lived. It was a dark stormy night with blinding rain continuously pouring from the sky. When Vasudeva reached the bank of river Yamuna, the river was in spate. The wind and storm were blowing wild, and Vasudeva was in a fix.
" Lord, what should I do," said Vasudeva in a hopeless voice. Suddenly a miracle happened, the river parted and Vasudeva walked over the river bed. Throughout the way Vasudeva and the baby were protected from rain by the hood of the great eternal snake, Vasuki. Finally, Vasudeva reached Nanda's house.
Upon reaching Nanda's house Vasudeva found the mother, Yashoda, and her newborn baby girl in deep sleep. He had no time to think. He quickly exchanged the babies and returned to the prison with the infant girl, while the guards were still asleep.
As soon as Vasudeva entered the prison cell, the door got locked behind him and he was chained again as if nothing happened in between. The guards woke up and heard the cry of the baby. Kansa was immediately informed and he came running to kill the child. But to his utter surprise he found it to be a girl and not a boy, as he expected. Devaki begged for the newborn baby's life from her brother.
" What can a girl do to you Kansa ? Spare her life, please ! " appealed Devaki, lying at the feet of her brother. The inhuman Kansa did not pay attention to the appeal. As he was ready to kill the baby by smashing its head on a big boulder, the child slipped out of his hand and flew towards the sky.
At that moment, a heavenly voice was heard, " Kansa, the one who shall destroy you still lives. He is growing in Gokul. " Next morning, Nanda and his wife Yashoda discovered the boy, left by Vasudeva, lying in the crib. They were a little puzzled but did not want to fuss about it because they might loose the baby. The baby was of dark complexion, so he was named Krishna.
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
Arjun
