Janmastami is coming!
According to a mystical prophecy, the eighth child born to Krishna’s parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, would defeat Kamsa, the cruel king of Mathura. This eighth child was none other than Lord Krishna. When King Kamsa heard the prophecy, he became determined to destroy Krishna. Kamsa locked up Krishna’s parents in a prison, and there Krishna’s mother gave birth to seven children, six of whom died by Kamsa's cruel hand. One elder brother of Krishna's eluded the sinful king. Known as Balarama, He is a plenary expansion of the Godhead. He transferred Himself to another location and waited for Krishna to also go there. Finally the eighth child of Devaki, Krishna, was born in the very dungeon of His family’s persecution.
According to a mystical prophecy, the eighth child born to Krishna’s parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, would defeat Kamsa, the cruel king of Mathura. This eighth child was none other than Lord Krishna. When King Kamsa heard the prophecy, he became determined to destroy Krishna. Kamsa locked up Krishna’s parents in a prison, and there Krishna’s mother gave birth to seven children, six of whom died by Kamsa's cruel hand. One elder brother of Krishna's eluded the sinful king. Known as Balarama, He is a plenary expansion of the Godhead. He transferred Himself to another location and waited for Krishna to also go there. Finally the eighth child of Devaki, Krishna, was born in the very dungeon of His family’s persecution.
Krishna entered this world through the heart of his father, Vasudeva, who had performed strong penances and austerities for thousands of years in his previous lifetimes. Vasudeva did this in order to achieve an intense meditation on the Lord by which He was able to attract Krishna to appear as his own son. Devaki, alongside her husband, had also engaged in long severe penances to attract the Lord. From Vasudeva’s heart Krishna was transferred to the womb of Devaki.When Krishna first appeared to His parents, He showed Himself as the splendorous four-armed Lord Vishnu, upon whom they were accustomed to meditate. Mother Devaki prayed to Him
I understand that this transcendental form is generally perceived in meditation by the great sages, but I am still afraid because as soon as Kamsa understands that You have appeared, he might harm You.… My only cause of fear from my brother Kamsa is due to Your appearance…. Therefore I request You to conceal this four-armed form of Your Lordship, which holds the four symbols of Vishnu—namely the conch shell, the disc, the club and the lotus flower. My dear Lord, at the end of the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation, You put the whole universe within Your abdomen; still by Your unalloyed mercy You have appeared in my womb. I am surprised that You imitate the activities of ordinary human beings just to please Your devotee.
It is interesting to note Devaki’s only cause of fear. It was not for herself, so harassed by her ruthless brother, but for Krishna. After many lifetimes of devoted sacrifice to get Krishna as her son, her pure motivation is to protect and care for Him.
