The holy purana Srimad-Bhagavatam tells the story of Krishna's appearanceand activities in this world. Hindus all over the world celebrate the birth of Krishna, asit is described in these ancient scriptures.
Krishna was born in India five thousand years ago, in the middle of a tense historical period similar to the Cold War. When there were so many weapons that the burden on the earth became unbearable, the goddess of Earth took the formof a cow and prayed for relief. Lord Brahma called all the demigodsto the shore of the Milk Ocean to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead,Lord Vishnu, by reciting the Vedic hymns known as the Purusa-sukta. During theritual Lord Brahma fell into samadhi(meditational trance) and heard the voice of Lord Vishnu. Then he announced, "O demigods, hear from me the wordsof God. He is already aware of the distress on Earth. He wants you demigods toincarnate as sons and daughters in the Yadu dynasty. The Supreme Personalityof Godhead, Lord Krishna, will personally appear as the son of Vasudeva.Therefore you will all have the benediction of joining the eternal pastimes ofLord Krishna."
Lord Brahma consoled the cow and sent her home, then returned to his planet,Brahmaloka. The demigods then began to take birth in the Yadu dynasty,awaiting the appearance of Lord Krishna. The descendants of the Yadu dynasty,headed by Vasudeva and Devaki, along with their friends, relatives and well-wishers were all demigods. The residents of Vrindavana, headed by King Nanda,Queen Yasoda and Queen Rohini, were also demigods.
King Kamsa was another relative in the family, however he was not a demigod.He had usurped the throne of his father, Ugrasena, and had locked his fatherup. When Devaki, a member of Ugrasena's family, married Vasudeva, she receiveda large dowry of elephants, horses, chariots and servants. After the weddingwhen the bride and groom were ready to leave, Kamsa took charge of the reinsof the horses and became their chariot driver. Along the way, an unembodiedvoice addressed him: "You foolish king, the eighth son of your sister willkill you!"
Kamsa pulled Devaki down by her hair, drew his sword and prepared to killher, but Vausdeva begged for his bride's life and promised that they wouldturn over the eighth child to Kamsa, so the oracle could not be fulfilled.Kamsa agreed to spare her life, but kept Vasudeva and Devaki in a stoneprison. Thereafter, he mercilessly killed the first six sons of Devaki.Devaki's seventh son miscarried but mystically transferred to the womb ofQueen Rohini in Vrindavana. This was Krishna's older brother, Balarama.
In the Hare Krishna's history in the U.S., within the temples and ruralcommunities of their worldwide society, children were seen as a burden. Theseattitudes contributed to the abuse. It is a coincidence that child-slaughterwas going on in Krishna's era, but mistreatment of children has a longhistory.
Krishna appeared at the stroke of midnight in His four-armed Vishnu form,dressed in silk and jewels, carrying the four weapons: the conch, disc, cluband lotus. His parents prayed for Him to turn Himself into an ordinary baby sothey could hide Him from Kamsa. The Lord advised Vasudeva to take him toVrindavana and exchange him with a girl that had just been born there. Then Heturned Himself into a baby.
| Magically, the guards in Kamsa's prison fell asleep, and all the ironshackles, chains and locks automatically opened. Without questioning this,Vasudeva took the child and departed for Vrindavana. Like the story of Moses,the story of Krishna also includes a parting of the waters, when Vasudevacarried Krishna across the Jamuna River to Vrindavana. Krishna, Jesus andMoses were prophets and saviors of their people, so these miracles are commonto the two faiths. When Vasudeva reached the house of Nanda, all the cowherdswere asleep. Thus he placed his own son on the bed of Yasoda, picked up hernewborn girl and returned to the prison of Kamsa.
There was a chance Kamsa would spare the child because the omen said it wouldbe a son that would kill him. Devaki pleaded with him, but Kamsa pulled thebaby girl from her arms and tried to dash her against a stone. The girlslipped from his hands and rose above his head as the eight-armed form ofGoddess Durga, dressed in fine garments and jewels. She said, "The enemy youcontemplate is living somewhere else. You are a fool to hurt innocentchildren. Krishna will kill you."
Kamsa became remorseful and begged Devaki and Vasudeva to forgive him for hissins. He released them from their shackles and fell down on their feet, cryingtears of regret. The next day, however, Kamsa's ministers advised him toretaliate by killing all newborn children in the region and by disrupting thelives of the demigods and saintly people. There is a parallel to this story inthe New Testament. When Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Herod the Great waslooking for him and killed all newborn children in the area. This was known asthe Massacre of the Innocents. Based on a dream, Joseph took the baby Jesus toEgypt, and returned only after Herod was dead.
Lord Krishna's Life in Vrindavana
When Yasoda and Nanda found Krishna as their son, they performed all thereligious ceremonies in secret, to avoid Kamsa's wrath. The family astrologer,Gargamuni, told the family, "Your son Krishna is the Supreme Personality ofGodhead. He will protect you from Kamsa's persecutions, and by His grace only,you will surpass all difficulties. Therefore raise Him carefully, because manydemons will try to attack him."
This warning proved true because throughout His childhood, Krishna foughtKamsa's demons, along with all the other demons and jealous and misguideddemigods who approached Him.
Pray For Peace:
End the War on Drugs
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