The story behind the birth of Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna was born under mysterious circumstances to triumph over evil. He was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Our ancient epics have us believe that every time evil forces supersede everything else in the world, the Gods descend to restore order to the chaos. It was at a crucial point in the world’s history when Lord Brahma appealed to Lord Vishnu to do something about the ever-increasing reach of evil across the Earth. Lord Vishnu then replied that he would soon be born on Earth as Krishna, who would vanquish the dark powers and restore goodness.

Meanwhile, the evil King Kamsa, ruler of Mathura, was making things difficult for his people. Oblivious to the growing discontent around him, he had organised a lavish wedding for his younger sister, princess Devaki, to the venerated Vasudev. However, a voice from the heavens proclaimed during the wedding ceremony that Devaki’s eighth child would kill Kamsa. Enraged and frightened, Kamsa tried to kill Devaki, but Vasudev promised him that he would hand over all his children to Kamsa if he spared Devaki’s life.

The evil king then imprisoned the couple. In due course of time, they had seven children while in prison – and Kamsa killed all the new-born infants. However, when the time for Devaki’s eighth delivery was near, Vasudev dreamed that Lord Vishnu told him to sneak the child out of the prison and head to Gokul, where the village’s chief Nanda would take the child in exchange for his own baby girl. Accordingly, the night Devaki had her eighth child – a boy, Lord Krishna – Vasudev started out of the prison. The guards had all fallen asleep, and Vasudev’s shackles opened on their own as he hurried out. Braving heavy rainfall and crossing a deep river, he made it to Gokul, where Nanda was waiting for him with his own baby daughter in his arms.

Vasudev brought the baby girl back to the prison just as Kamsa arrived. When he picked up the baby to kill it, the child darted out of his hands heavenwards. The child assumed the form of Goddess Yogmaya, who taunted the king and informed him that his vanquisher was already born and he would return in a few years to fulfil his destiny.

Thus, Lord Krishna was born on a dark and stormy night and sent to his foster mother Yashoda. He was raised with infinite love and care, and he destroyed each of the assasins Lord Kamsa sent his way. In his teens, he finally encountered King Kamsa and killed him, thus finishing the job he was born for.

Later, Krishna was instrumental in helping the Pandavas win the great Mahabharata war.