The Unforgettable Saga of a Divine Birth: Janmashtami Special

.Approximately 5,252 years ago, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada month, at midnight, Lord Krishna, complete with all sixteen divine attributes, was born to Mother Devaki and Vasudeva in the prison of King Kamsa in Mathura. The Rohini nakshatra (star constellation) on this particular date holds special significance.

As you know, on this day, temples across the world are decorated, tableaux are prepared, and magnificent cradles are made for Lord Krishna. At the stroke of midnight, the joyous news of Krishna’s birth spreads in all directions through the sound of conch shells and bells. Devotees fast, perform aarti (a ritual of worship), and break their fast after partaking in the prasad (holy offering).

Sages and ascetics have mentioned this story in numerous Puranas and scriptures to bring it to the common people. So let us learn about the original story of the night when Lord Krishna descended upon Earth.

The Divine Promise and the Earth’s Plight
In the Dvapara Yuga, when the tyranny of demons became unbearable on Earth, the Earth took the form of a cow and narrated her plight to Lord Brahma. Along with Brahma, all the deities reached Lord Vishnu at the Ksheera Sagara (ocean of milk). At that time, the Lord was in a state of yogic sleep on the Ananta Sheyya (the serpent of eternity). The hymns of the deities broke his slumber, and he assured them that he would soon descend to Earth.

Following this, all the deities began to take birth in the Braj region as Nanda, Yashoda, and the Gopis.

Kansa’s Terror and the Prophetic Voice

Meanwhile, in Mathura, King Ugrasena’s son Kansa forcibly removed him from the throne and took over the kingdom himself. His sister, Devaki, was married to Vasudeva. As Kansa was bidding farewell to Devaki, a divine voice from the sky prophesied:

“O Kamsa! The Devaki whom you are so lovingly seeing off, her eighth son will be your destroyer.”

This prophecy filled Kansa with fear. In a fit of rage, he attempted to kill Devaki, but after Vasudeva’s pleading, he spared her life and imprisoned them instead.

On the advice of the sage Narada, Kansa began to kill every child born to Devaki. One by one, he mercilessly slaughtered seven infants.

The Midnight Miracle and Krishna’s Birth

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for. On the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada month, under the Rohini nakshatra, a divine light filled the darkness of the prison, and Lord Krishna was born. Appearing in his four-armed form, the Lord commanded Vasudeva to take him to Nanda Baba in Gokul and bring back the newborn girl from there.

As Vasudeva decided to obey, miracles began to happen. His shackles fell open, the prison doors unlocked on their own, and the guards fell into a deep sleep. Vasudeva carried the baby Krishna in a basket and set out to cross the Yamuna River. The Yamuna also raised its water level to touch the Lord’s feet, but when he dipped his feet into the water, it calmed down.

Reaching Gokul, Vasudeva placed Krishna beside Mother Yashoda and took her newborn daughter back to Mathura.

When Kansa was informed of the girl’s birth, he rushed to kill her. But the infant girl slipped from his hands and flew into the sky, taking the form of a goddess. She declared,

“What will you gain by killing me, Kansa? Your destroyer has already been born!”

Hearing this, Kansa became frantic and sent many demons to kill Krishna, but Krishna, even in his childhood leelas (divine plays), annihilated all of them. When he grew up, he killed Kamsa and reinstated Ugrasena on the throne.

Even today, we celebrate the festival of Janmashtami every year to commemorate this miraculous birth, which reminds us that whenever unrighteousness prevails on Earth, the Lord himself will take an avatar to protect it.