Sri Krishna

[Guest guest]

===Sri Krishna Janmashtami (Birthday celebration) is on 12th August

this year.===

 

The quota of sin of Kamsa was now full, and the Lord incarnated as Sri

Krishna as the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva. It was rainy night

of eighth day of the month of Shravana (Hindu Calendar); the sky was

filled with dark heavy clouds and rains poured incessantly. Lightning

struck terror all around. The nearby river Jamuna swelled in full flood,

water rising sky high; her currents roared noisily causing fear in every

heart.

 

But inside the prison cell there appeared the Divine Form of Sri Vishnu,

with radiant aura and halo around His Face; the celestial beauty

unsurpassed by any form and countenance. His four hands granted boons,

showered Grace, and offered protection to all. Thus, presenting Himself

before the couple, the Lord said: " O Devaki, as per your wish of yester

births, I now take the form of Sri Krishna as your son. Do not worry;

everything will come to most benevolent end. Thus speaking in sweetest

reassuring voice, the Lord took the form of an ordinary human baby and

started crying in the lap of Mother Devaki.

 

Soon the play, 'Lila' of the God Almighty was enacted. All the soldiers

guarding the prison were put to deep sleep; there was quiet peace all

around. The prison gates opened automatically, and a voice was heard:

" O Vasudeva, put me in that basket and take me to the house of Nandalal

across the river Jamuna to the village of Gokul. There exchange me with

the newly born daughter Maya of Yashoda and come back. "

 

Bewildered, Vasudeva, as if hypnotized, got up, his shackles/fetters

dropping off their own. A basket with soft cushions lay in the corner

and Vasudeva keeping the baby Krishna in it started for Gokul. Nandalal,

the chieftain of Gokul, was a friend of Vasudeva where baby Krishna

would be safe from the evil designs of Kamsa. Nandalal's wife Yashoda

had also given birth to a baby girl on the same night. But both Nandalal

and Yashoda were in a state of mystic sleep, oblivious to all the

happenings around. Play of the Lord is always inscrutable! Vasudeva was

to exchange Sri Krishna with that girl, Maya.

 

As already told, the river Jamuna was in full spate, but Vasudeva was in

no hurry or worry. With constant gratefulness in the heart for the

merciful Lord (for having given darshana to him), Vasudeva proceeded

ahead in a manner of least botheration. The rains, lightning, darkness

of night, nothing perturbed him any more. And soon he reached the

flooded river Jamuna. What would one do to cross such a mighty river?

Nothing, as far as Vasudeva was concerned! He continued to march ahead

and as soon as he touched the waters of Jamuna, the river parted in two,

leaving a dry path in between. On both the sides the waters of Jamuna

rose head high, but for Vasudeva they posed no difficulty. And the

Gracious Krishna, as an act of love and blessings, outstretched his feet

so as to allow Jamuna to touch and wash them.

 

It was the late hours of night when Vasudeva reached the house of

Nandalal in Gokul. The gates opened and allowed Vasudeva to enter

without hurdle. He exchanged the baby boy Sri Krishna, with the baby

girl of Yashoda and returned to the prison cell before dawn.

*

 

c s shah

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For full story pl. visit:

http://www.neovedanta.org/sk1.html

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