The Divine Birth of Krishna: An Avatar of Vishnu

“यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ।।
परित्राणाय साधूनाम् विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् । धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ।।”

Ugrasena, the king of Mathura, had a son named Kansa and a daughter named Devki. In a bid to ally with the powerful Sursena kingdom, he arranged the marriage of Devki to Vasudeva, the son of King Sursena, a descendant of Lord Rama’s brother, Shatrughna. However, Kansa, known for his cruelty, increased the earth's burden through his evil deeds. Witnessing the turmoil, Brahma sought Vishnu's intervention to liberate the world from Kansa's tyranny. On the day of Devki and Vasudeva's joyous marriage, Kansa, filled with brotherly emotion, seized the chariot they were on. Suddenly, a thunderous voice erupted from the sky, proclaiming, “Kansa, you are evil, and the earth is weary of your tyranny. Lord Vishnu himself will be born as the eighth son of Devki and will bring about your end.” Kansa, shocked & furious at the situation, began to pull Devki by her hair to kill in a fit of rage. However, Vasudev bravely approached him, pleading for Kansa to release her. In a desperate bid to appease the tyrant, Vasudev promised that Devki's eighth son would be offered to Kansa upon their birth, assuring him that there would be no betrayal. Ugrasena, Kansa's father, also intervened, urging his son to reconsider his actions. Eventually, Kansa relented and let Devki go.

In the following months, Devki gave birth to her first child, and Vasudev, determined to keep his word, took the newborn to Kansa. The sight of Vasudev's unwavering commitment left Kansa speechless, filling him with an unexpected joy at the unfolding promise of future sons. Kansa, consumed by fear after hearing a prophecy that the eighth son of Devaki would kill him, ordered Vasudeva to leave with his wife and return only when their eighth child was born. Unbeknownst to Kansa, the sage Narada visited him shortly thereafter, planting seeds of doubt in his mind about the possibility of Lord Vishnu being reborn earlier to fulfil the prophecy. This fear drove Kansa to capture both Devaki and Vasudeva, imprisoning them and mercilessly murdering their firstborn. He then imprisoned Ugrasena, his own father, asserting his tyrannical rule over Mathura. Despite Devaki giving birth to six sons, Kansa had them all killed, demonstrating his desperation and cruelty.

In every avatar, Sheshnag, on which Vishnu lies, also takes an incarnation alongside Him. During Tretayuga, Sheshnag manifested as Lakshman, being born alongside Lord Ram. Now, in Dwaparyuga, Sheshnag devised another plan for his avatar, this time aiming to be born as Vishnu's elder brother, Balram. True to his plan, Sheshnag entered the womb of Devki. However, before his birth, Vishnu's Mahamaya, who was meant to be born as Subhadra, intervened and transferred Devki's unborn child to the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva's wife. Consequently, in Mathura, everyone believed that Devki's seventh child had perished in the womb, unaware of the divine twist that had taken place.

After an extended period of anticipation, the moment arrived when Vishnu himself descended into Devki's womb. A radiant glow illuminated Devki’s face, signifying the divine presence within her. The news of this miraculous event spread throughout Mathura, and soon everyone, including Kansa, began to eagerly await the birth of this extraordinary child. In a turbulent month of Ashadh, marked by roaring thunder and torrential rain, a momentous event unfolded in the lives of Vasudev and Devki. As the clock struck midnight, their joy knew no bounds with the birth of a divine child, Lord Vishnu, who emerged with four hands, symbolising his eternal power and grace. This occasion was not just a blessing for the couple, but a significant turning point in the cosmic battle against evil, as it heralded the beginning of a new era. Meanwhile, in the nearby village of Gokul, the divine feminine, Mahamaya, was born to Yashoda, wife of Nand, Vasudev's friend. With her enchanting powers, she cast a deep slumber over all in Gokul and Mathura, ensuring the safety of her divine brother. In the dim confines of the jail, Vasudeva clasped his hands in prayer, beseeching the divine to take the form of a newborn with two hands. Miraculously, God agreed, appearing as a fragile infant nestled in Vasudeva's lap. Anxiety washed over Vasudeva as he thought of Kansa and his soldiers guarding the prison, but faith guided his actions. As he placed the baby in a basket and stood up, the chains binding him fell away, and doors swung open effortlessly. Stepping into the night, he found the guards in slumber, oblivious to his escape. With determination, Vasudeva made his way toward the Yamuna River, the heavy rain drenching him as wild tides surged around him. The journey to Gokul lay ahead, where he would fulfil his mission, driven by love and divine destiny. As Vasudeva entered the river, the mighty Seshnag appeared, shielding the child from the rain. He followed Vasudeva closely, while the waters of the Yamuna rose perilously high. In a miraculous moment, Vishnu, in the form of the newborn Krishna, stretched out his leg from the basket and touched the river, causing it to part and create a safe passage for Vasudeva. With ease, Vasudeva crossed the river and made his way to Gokul. There, he entered Nand’s house and skilfully replaced Krishna with the baby girl born to Yashoda, who remained blissfully unaware of the exchange as everyone slept.

After successfully completing his mission, Vasudeva returned to the jail with Yogmaya. Upon his reentry, all the gates and shackles locked tightly, and the guards awakened, completely unaware of the divine events that had just transpired. In a moment of dread, Yogmaya's cries reached Kansa, who rushed to the jail upon hearing of Devki's eighth child’s birth. Consumed by fear of a prophecy, Kansa stumbled but was driven by the relentless terror of divine retribution. Upon entering the jail, Devki pleaded for mercy, insisting the newborn was a daughter and should be spared. However, Kansa, blind to his mother's anguish, snatched the infant and hurled her against a rock. To his astonishment, rather than falling lifeless, the child began to float gracefully in the air, transforming into a magnificent Devi with eight arms, each wielding a weapon. In a moment of defiance, Devi laughed at Kansa, declaring, “O evil Kansa, you cannot kill me. I am not an ordinary child; I am the Yogmaya power of Vishnu. The child destined to defeat you has already been born elsewhere, and your time is running out.” With these words, she vanished, leaving Kansa in despair as the weight of his fate sank in.

The sequence of events surrounding Vishnu's birth raises profound questions about divine intent and the nature of existence. Despite being the creator of the universe, Vishnu chose to be born from Devaki’s womb rather than directly manifesting through Yashoda. This decision led to his abandonment in prison, where his biological parents suffered, while he eventually found refuge with Nanda and Yashoda, who were not his true parents. This seemingly complicated arrangement serves a deeper purpose, illustrating that even a god must adhere to the greater cosmic plan. It emphasizes humility and the idea that life unfolds in ways beyond our understanding, suggesting that simplicity is not always aligned with divine wisdom. In this way, Vishnu's actions remind us of the profound mysteries inherent in our existence, urging us to accept and trust the unfolding of the universe's intricate design.

ॐ कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय हरये परमात्मने। प्रणत क्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥