The Night Krishna Was Born

Long, long ago, a king named Kansa ruled the city of Mathura. His sister was called Devaki, and she married Vasudev ji. After the wedding, Kansa himself was driving their chariot to see his sister off. Suddenly a voice came from the sky: "Kansa, Devaki's eighth child will bring your end." Kansa was terrified. He locked Devaki and Vasudev ji in a prison and put strong guards outside.

Many years passed. Even in prison, Devaki and Vasudev ji kept remembering God. Then came the night of Ashtami in the month of Bhadon. It was midnight, and everything was dark. All at once a divine light filled the prison. Bhagwan Vishnu stood before them, holding a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus in his four hands. Devaki and Vasudev ji bowed with folded hands. Then, as they watched, Bhagwan became a tiny, lovely baby. This was our Kanha, Shri Krishna.

At the very same time, in the village of Gokul, a baby girl was born to Nand Baba and Yashoda Maiya. She was Bhagwan's Yogmaya. Because of her, all the guards of the prison fell into a deep sleep, and the heavy iron doors opened by themselves.

Vasudev ji laid the baby in a basket, lifted it onto his head and set out. Outside, clouds were thundering and rain was falling. Then Sheshnag ji came gliding behind them and spread his hoods over the baby like an umbrella.

Ahead lay the river Yamuna. Because of the rain, its water was rushing fast. But as soon as Vasudev ji stepped in, Yamuna ji made way for him. People say Yamuna ji only wanted to touch little Kanha's feet, and once she did, she became calm.

In Gokul, everyone was asleep. Vasudev ji gently laid Kanha next to Yashoda Maiya, picked up her baby girl and returned to the prison. The doors closed again, as if nothing had happened.

The baby girl's cry woke the guards, and they told Kansa. He came to take the baby girl, but she slipped out of his hands and rose into the sky. There she shone as a Devi with eight arms and said, "Kansa, the one you are afraid of has already been born somewhere else."

Meanwhile in Gokul, Nand Baba's home was full of joy. Everyone played drums, shared sweets and sang and danced. That is why, even today, on Janmashtami we stay awake until midnight and celebrate the birth of Kanha.