THE MIRACLE OF OUR LORD’S BIRTH

ॐ कृष्णाय नमः

OM Krishnaya Namah

I bow before you, O Krishna

Once upon a time there lived a wicked, tyrant king named Kamsa. He was the ruler of the kingdom of Virshni. Everyone, even his own family, was afraid of Kamsa. Among them was his young cousin sister Devki. She was very frightened of him. However, for some unknown reason, gentle Devki sparked a feeling of affection in Kamsa. Though Kamsa was cruel to most people he felt, surprisingly, protective of Devki.

When it was time for Devki to get married, Kamsa took it upon himself to find a good match for her. Vasudev, the son of the Yadava king Shurasena was found to be a fitting match. The wedding was held with much pomp and splendour. As the time approached for the bride to leave for her husband’s home Kamsa insisted that the young couple travel in his chariot and that he drive the chariot himself.

All of a sudden, while enroute, there was an echoing voice that emanated from the skies, an Akashvani. It prophesised, “Kamsa, be forewarned. The woman you are driving in your chariot will one day bear a child, a boy, who will kill you. The eighth child from her womb will bring about your death.”

Hearing these words Kamsa became terrified. All the love and affection he had had for Devki completely disappeared. He instantly hated her for being a threat to his life. He pulled the reins of his chariot and brought it to a sudden halt. The hard-hearted Kamsa yanked Devki viciously by her hair. He dragged her mercilessly out of the chariot. He lifted his sharp sword up into the air and was about to bring it down swiftly on Devki’s delicate neck when Vasudev leapt out of the chariot and stood in front of his new bride. His arms outstretched he shielded Devki from Kamsa’s wrath. Then folding his hands he pleaded, “I beg of you, oh mighty king, please spare her. What purpose would it serve to kill her? She is of no danger to you. According to the Akashvani, it is her child who is to kill you. I promise that on the birth of her eighth child I will bring him to you and you may kill that child. Surely then you will be safe?”

Kamsa held back his sword. He seemed to be thinking about what Vasudev had just said. Vasudev watched Kamsa’s face carefully and observed that Kamsa was not completely convinced that he would be safe. Continuing to shield Devki with his body, Vasudev then added, “Oh King, why just the eighth child? I will give you all our children and you may decide their fate.”

Kamsa knew that Vasudev was a man of his word. Once he had made a promise, he would undoubtedly uphold his promise. Hence Kamsa was convinced. Vasudev and Devki stepped back into the chariot and Kamsa drove them to their destination.

Kamsa returned to his capital Mathura. There he continued terrorizing and tormenting his subjects. He instructed his men to destroy everything that was of any religious significance. He forbade all prayers and yajna’s (fire sacrifices) to Lord Vishnu. Instead, he commanded that all prayers and sacrifices be made only to him. The Brahman priests were tortured. All Vedic rituals were banned. The Devis and Devatas in heaven began to worry that Kamsa’s reign of terror would be unstoppable. They began praying to God to restore justice, virtue and morality to the world.

Once more the heavens resounded with a voice that said. “Fear not. I know of your predicament and will come to your aid. Be patient and rest assured that I will reinstate dharma (righteousness) to the world.”

When Vasudev and Devki had their first child, true to his promise, Vasudev brought the child to Kamsa at his palace. Seeing the helpless baby, Kamsa felt a surge of pity. He decided to spare the life of the child. However, just as a relived Vasudev was about to leave the palace gates Kamsa. once again gripped, with fear had a change of heart. He ordered his guards to bring Vasudev back to his court. Snatching the tiny infant from Vasudev’s arms Kamsa ruthlessly slashed the baby to death.

As a devastated Vasudev returned to inform Devki of the tragic death of their first child, the evil, scheming Kamsa was making plans to ensure his own safety. He decided that as he did not wish to take the chance of a child being born to Devki without his knowledge it would be best to keep them under constant surveillance. He had his soldiers bring Devki and Vasudev bound in chains to him and had them imprisoned. Guards were positioned outside the prison cell to watch the couple throughout the day and night. Kamsa ordered the guards, “Stay alert at all times and inform me the moment a child is born,”

As soon as he was informed of a birth, Kamsa would rush to the prison and remorselessly cut off the baby’s head. He paid no heed to Devki’s lament nor to her piteous entreaties to spare the life of her child.

In this manner the cruel king killed six babies. The time had arrived for the Lord to take birth. Lord Vishnu began the preparations for his birth. Devki was expecting her seventh child. The child in her womb was a manifestation of Ananta Shesha (the serpent God on whom Lord Vishnu rests). Lord Vishnu summoned Yoga Maya - Yoga Maya being the Lord’s divine power of creation. He directed Yoga Maya to take the infant boy from Devki’s womb and place him in the womb of Rohini. This was to ensure that he would not be killed by Kamsa. Rohini was Vasudev’s second wife. The child born to them was Balaram, Lord Krishna’s elder brother. Kamsa who had been awaiting news of the birth of the seventh child was informed that the baby had disappeared from Devki’s womb. This left Kamsa completely bewildered. He could not figure out what had happened. He decided to further tightened security at the prison.

Soon after this, Lord Vishnu had Yoga Maya manifest as a baby girl in the womb of Yashoda. Yashoda was the wife of Nand, the Chief of Gokul village. This occurred at the same time that Devki was bearing her eighth child. Yashoda and Nand were a middle-aged couple who tended their crops and raised cattle. They were a good, kind and generous couple who were respected and loved by their whole community. Childless till then, Yashoda was overjoyed when she unexpectedly discovered that she was pregnant. The people of Gokul were simple farm folk who found joy in each other’s happiness. Naturally then the whole village celebrated the exciting news that their leader was about to have a progeny.

Kamsa was by this time informed that Devki was expecting her eighth child. Immediately he designated several more guards at the jail. This was the child that the Akashvani had predicted would be his nemesis. Kamsa ordered his guards to keep a twenty-four hour vigil. He certainly did not want the eighth child to disappear as the seventh had done.

In Braj the months dragged slowly for Yashoda, Nand and all the villagers who were awaiting the birth of the baby.

It was on the eight day (Ashtami) of the month of Bhadrapada that at the stroke of midnight Devki’s womb suddenly emptied and there standing before her was the Lord resplendent in his four-armed form. Seeing this remarkable vision Devki immediately knew that it was not her child that was to be born.

Head bowed and hands folded she spoke with deep reverence, “I know that you are not my child. You are the supreme Lord - Lord Vishnu who resides in everyone’s heart. I also know that you have blessed me in this manner because in my last birth I had prayed fervently that you come to me as my child. However, in your four-armed form, I will not enjoy the bliss of thinking of you as my child. Please hide this form and begin your Leela (divine play).”

The Lord smiled beatifically. Turning to Vasudev he said, “Kamsa is going to try and kill me. To safe guard against this you must take me and leave me in Braj at the house of Nand and Yashoda. There you will find a baby sleeping next to Yashoda. You must leave me beside Yashoda and bring back the little baby girl lying beside her.”

All of a sudden there was bright glow of blinding light that filled the prison cell. As it faded Devki and Vasudev discovered that the four-armed Lord had disappeared. Instead lying beside Devki was the most cherubic child. His skin had a bluish glow, his eyes sparkled, his tiny lips were upturned in the most radiant smile and every feature and limb of the baby was pure perfection. Lord Krishna, the supreme Lord, the master of the Universe had chosen to be born in a tiny, dusty, dingy old prison cell with no one besides two of his devotees Devki and Vasudev to witness the divine spectacle.

Devki and Vasudev looked at the child and their hearts almost burst with love. Yet without any hesitation Devki who had been cradling the infant in her arms extended her arms to Vasudev and gave the child to him – her only thought being to obey the command of the Lord.

An empty basket lay in the corner of the prison cell. Vasudev picked it up and wiped it clean. He lined it with some soft cloth, swaddled the infant in another piece of clean cloth and gently placed baby Krishna in the basket.

On the very same day in Braj there was great excitement as news spread that Yashoda was about to deliver her child. The villagers could barely contain their delight. They waited at Nand’s house for the whole day but the baby showed no signs of arriving. The sun set and night approached. The villagers were tired and they said to Nand, “We have waited all day and still your child hasn’t yet arrived. We will go home for our night meal and some rest and return in the morning.”

The villagers left.

After a while Nand began to tire. Try as he did, he could not keep his eyes open. He said to his two sisters Nanda and Sunanda, “I am retiring to my room. Please keep an eye on Yashoda and wake me up the minute the baby arrives.”

Nanda and Sunanda sat by Yashoda and they chatted for a while. A couple of hours later Nanda was nodding off to sleep. She said to Sunanda, “I too am so tired. May I rest for a short while in the next room? Call out to me when the baby is due to deliver and I will rush back.” Sunanda agreed and Nanda left to get some rest.

It was now past 11 p.m. and Sunanda too found it difficult to stay awake. Turning to Yashoda she said, “Yashoda, it is nearing midnight and still there is no sign of your baby. I am so sleepy and tired. If I don’t get some rest I will be of no help to you. But don’t worry. I will lie right outside your door. Call me and I will be beside you immediately.

Yashoda was now all alone, weary and very drowsy.

According to the Bhagavatam, it was at the exact moment that Vasudev, carrying baby Krishna, reached the jail doors that Yashoda gave birth to a baby girl. Yashoda was so fatigued by then that she lost consciousness.

Vasudev reached the jail doors and they magically opened. Stepping out he looked cautiously around and to his surprise and relief he discovered that all the prison guards were fast sleep. He tip-toed out quietly and no one stirred. Vasudev stepped out beyod the prison walls and began walking to Braj. When he reached the river Yamuna there was a cloud burst and it began to rain. Undeterred Vasudev continued walking. He covered baby Krishna to shield him from the rain and began crossing the Yamuna. The waters of the river began to slowly rise. But Vasudev kept on walking. He waded deeper and deeper into the river. The water rose beyond his ankles, above his knees and reached his waist. Ananta Shesha, being an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, decided to help Vasudev. He manifested below the river bed and lifted it so that Vasudev could make the crossing. Vasudev unmindful of the rising waters and determined to do as the Lord had ordered kept moving fearlessly forward.

At the same time Devi Yamuna thought to herself, “My Lord who I have the privilege of serving is crossing me. I am blessed with his darshan. I yearn to touch his holy feet.”

In order to achieve her desire she continued to make the waters rise. Vasudev seeing the Yamuna rise lifted the basket higher and higher. Yet as he lifted it higher the waters of the Yamuna seemed to rise even higher. He now had the baby in the basket placed on his head. Baby Krishna seemed to be fast asleep. But being the all-knowing Lord, he knew that Devi Yamuna desired his darshan. He simply wriggled one little foot out of the swaddle and to the edge of the basket. His tiny toes pointed right out of the basket. Yamuna rose and her waters touched Lord Krishna’s feet. Yamuna Devi was ecstatic. Immediately thereafter the turbulent waters ebbed and Vasudev made the rest of the crossing with ease.

On reaching Braj he headed directly for Nand’s house. There exactly as the Lord had said lay a little baby girl beside Yashoda. Yashoda was in deep slumber. Vasudev gently laid Krishna beside Yashoda and picked up the baby girl. He then headed back to the prison. No one stirred in Nand’s house. Once he was back in the prison with Devki, the prison doors slammed shut behind him. The guards awoke with a start. They rushed into the cell and discovered that Yashoda had just delivered a baby. They dashed off to inform their king Kamsa.

Wasting no time at all Kamsa hurried to the prison. There to his astonishment he learnt that Devki’s eighth child was a girl. Kamsa was perplexed. The voice from heaven had said Devki’s eighth child, a boy would be the one to kill him. Though baffled, the evil Kamsa who had killed so many babies, was not about to let this one live. More so because this was the eighth child. With no hesitation he bent forward to pick the baby up by her leg. He intended to lift her high into the air and smash her down hard on to the ground. However, barely had his fingers touched her tiny foot than that the baby slipped out of his grasp. Then right before his eyes the infant girl transformed into the ten-armed Durga Devi. The goddess rose high above Kamsa. Goddess Durga looked resplendent. Her luxurious, long hair was decorated with scented flowers. Her smooth forehead was smeared with sandalwood paste. She wore a beautiful, rich silk, red and gold sari. Around her neck and on her arms and feet glistened gold ornaments embedded with sparkling gems. In her hands she held a bow and arrow, a trident, a sword, a conch shell, a discus, a mace, a lotus, thunderbolt, axe and snake. Kamsa began to tremble with fear at the sight of the powerful Goddess. Goddess Durga said, “Kamsa what a fool you are, trying to kill me. It is not I but you who will be killed. The supreme Lord has already taken birth as the child who will kill you. Now at least stop this bloodshed. Do not murder any more innocent children.”

Kamsa was awestruck. Seeing Goddess Durga and hearing her speak her words of warning, Kamsa momentarily regretted killing so many new born infants. Turning to Devki and Vasudev he said, “Please forgive me for my cruelty. I have behaved worse than a blood thirsty rakshasa. I will not imprison you anymore.” He opened the gates of the prison and set Vasudev and Devki free.

Kamsa returned to his palace. Unfortunately, at his court, his demonic courtiers expressed their horror at his sudden change of heart. They instigated him to continue his quest to find and kill the child that would be the cause of his death. Influenced by these evil-minded advisors Kamsa revived his search for the baby boy. He had Devki and Vasudev once again locked up in prison. He was even more determined than ever before to kill the child who had taken birth to kill him.

Meanwhile in Braj, lying beside Ma Yashoda, baby Krishna’s bright eyes twinkled mischievously. He thought to himself “Its high time this sleepy lot of Brajvasis give me a proper welcome.”

He let out a loud wail of protest. Instantly Yashoda regained consciousness. Seeing the beautiful infant beside her she called out excitedly to Nanda and Sunanda. Her sisters-in-law rushed to her side. Their joy knew no bounds at seeing the gorgeous, happy baby boy lying contentedly in his mother’s arms.

Nand hearing the news of the birth of his child came running into the room. His eagerness to see the baby prompted Yashoda to playfully cover the baby completely. Nand enquired, “Yashoda will you not let me see the face of your child?”

With a joyful smile Yashoda replied, “What will you offer in return for seeing the face of my child.”

Nand enjoying the moment, humorously responded, “What I give will depend on the beauty of your baby.”

Yashoda uncovered baby Krishna. Nand was spellbound at seeing this exquisitely beautiful child. Unable to take his eyes off the child he said to Yashoda, “For this child I will give up my body, all my desires and my life too.”

LIFE LESSONS

1. Evil will receive its just punishment.

2. With faith in God, we can achieve the seemingly impossible.

3. The Lord hears all our prayers and will come to our aid at exactly the right time. Always have faith. He will never fail you.

4. Be careful of the company you keep. Just as Kamsa was influenced by his evil courtiers, we too can be influenced by those we associate with frequently.

5. Like Devki and Vasudev act unselfishly. Do what is right even though it may not be what you want to do.

6. Like the Brajvasi’s be joyous in the joy of others.