The Birth of Shri Krishna

In Mathura, King Kansa had imprisoned his own father Ugrasen and taken the throne. His cousin Devaki was married to Vasudev. As Kansa himself drove the couple's chariot, a voice from the sky said: fool, the eighth child of the one you carry so lovingly will kill you. At once Kansa drew his sword to kill Devaki.

Vasudev promised to hand over every child to Kansa. Kansa threw them both into prison and killed six children one after another. The Lord's Yogamaya carried the seventh to the womb of Rohini, Vasudev's other wife, in Gokul; he became Balram.

On the eighth day of Bhadrapad, under the Rohini star, at midnight, divine light filled the prison. The Lord appeared in His four-armed form with conch, discus, mace and lotus. Devaki and Vasudev prayed to Him. Then, at His mother's request, the Lord became an ordinary newborn baby.

At the Lord's word, Vasudev placed the baby in a basket and set out. The chains fell open, the guards slept and the doors opened by themselves. It was raining; Sheshnag spread his hoods as an umbrella. The flooded Yamuna made way. That same night in Gokul, in Nand Baba's house, Yashoda had given birth to a girl. Vasudev laid Krishna there and returned with the girl.

In the morning Kansa came to kill the girl and tried to dash her on a stone. But she slipped from his hands, rose into the sky, appeared as the Goddess and said: the one who will kill you has already been born elsewhere. Meanwhile in Gokul, Nand Baba's house celebrated a son's birth with great joy. This day is still celebrated as Janmashtami.