Maple Press - Krishna Tales (Illustrated)

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Edition: 2015
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Printed by Artxel, Noida

Content

Kansa - Devaki

L ong time ago, Mathura a city in india was ruled by king Ugrasen. He had a son named Kansa who was a great warrior but was too ambitious. He did not wait till his father retired to become the king. With the help of some demonic associates he dethroned his father, put him in prison and became the king. He had a cousin sister named Devaki of whom he was extremely fond. She was getting married to Prince Vasudev and on the last day of the marriage ceremony Kansa was taking them to their palace in a chariot driven by him.

On the way ,a heavenly voice said to Kansa, Oh fool! The eighth child of Devaki, whom you are taking with you, will kill you. On hearing these words Kansa caught his sister by her hair and drew out his sword to kill her. Seeing this Vasudeva tried to calm Kansa and spoke to him in sweet words, O Kansa! You are a great hero praised by the warriors. How can you kill a woman and that too your newly married sister? This act will bring great disgrace and sin on you and your family. Please do not kill her. I promise to give all our newborn children to you as soon as they are born.

Vasudeva was known for keeping his words and so Kansa left the thought of killing Devaki . Vasudeva was very happy and praising him reached the palace. When the first child was born Vasudev took him to Kansa. Seeing the noble nature of Vasudeva, Kansa thought Why should I kill this child. The voice had said that only the eighth child of Devaki would kill me.

Suddenly Narad a holy person appeared before Kansa and said Kansa all the gods want to kill you. Please don't leave this child as it may harm you. Hearing these words Kansa got scared and snatched the baby from Vasudev and flung it on a stone.

He then put Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison and killed all their six newborn children one by one. When Devaki conceived her seventh child she was hoping that this child would be saved from the cruel hands of Kansa. Devaki felt immensely blessed as god Shesh also called Anant had appeared in her womb. She was very scared as she knew Kansa would kill him too.

In the heavens The Lord ordered Yoga Maya, his own shakti, O blessed Devi! There lives Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva. She lives in Gokul where Nanda is the prince and Yasodha is his wife. This place is not far from Mathura. Take the baby from Devaki womb and place him in Rohini's womb. He will be born as the son of Devaki and called by name Balram You must be born in the womb of Yashoda, the wife of Nanda. He also told Yoga Maya that she would be worshipped as goddess Durga and in her other divine forms. Yoga Maya went to the earth and acted accordingly. Every one thought that Devaki had a miscarriage and felt bad and consoled her.

Kansa was more watchful at the eighth time as he knew that next would be his killer. Kansa saw divine splendour on Devakis face, He thought to himself: The destroyer of my life has already entered her. What should I do now? I cannot kill my sister. He felt intense hatred for God and remembered him all the time. He kept Devaki and Vasudeva under close watch. He gave strict instructions to guards to inform him as the child is born.

Krishna is Born

V asudeva was the first to see this divine child and on seeing this divine form Vasudeva and Devaki said We are very scared that Kansa and all others will know you if they see you in this divine form. Please hide this form.

The Lord then assumed the form of a small handsome baby through the power of his own Maya.

He said to Vasudeva, If you are afraid of Kansa, immediately take me to Gokul and put me beside the sleeping Yasodha and bring here the baby girl Yoga Maya who is born to Yashoda. When Vasudeva took the baby, all the chains tying his body broke. All the locked doors of the prison opened and the sentries slept under the influence of Lord's maya. The dark passages of the prison were lit by the light. There was gentle rain that night. Vasudeva carried the baby in a basket on his head and Shesh Naag spread forth his hoods like an umbrella to ward off rain. The deep Yamuna, which was in floods, made way for Vasudeva.

Vasudeva crossed Yamuna and reached Gokul. He was surprised to see everyone sleeping.

Vasudeva placed the child near Yasodha and took away the female baby sleeping beside her. He returned to his prison and placed the child near Devaki and put chains as before on his legs. The prison doors closed on their own and the sentries woke up hearing the baby crying. Thesentries ran and told Kansa of the birth of the child. Kansa jumped from his bed, and ran to the prison where Devaki was confined. The helpless Devaki told Kansa, O Kansa! Please do not kill this baby girl. You have already killed all my sons. Now only this girl is remaining. Please havePity.

Kansa did not listen to her crying and seized the baby girl and dashed it on a stone. The baby girl was no ordinary baby. She was a goddess. She slipped from his hands and appeared in the sky in her divine form with eight hands. She had a bow, arrow, sheild, sword, conch, disc and a mace in her hands.

She said, O fool! What will you get out of killing me? Your enemy who will kill you has taken birth elsewhere. You are killing innocent children for no reason. saying this she disappeared in the sky.

Kansa was struck with wonder when he heard these words. He released Devaki and Vasudeva and with great humility he said, Dear sister and brother-in-law I am a great sinner. I have killed all your children. I am a wicked person and all my well wishers have left me. I do not know what fate awaits me after death. He was filled with remorse as he started crying.

Putana the Demoness

I n Gokul, Yashoda believed that she had given birth to a boy and not a girl as she was unconsious at the time of the birth . As an heir was born to the chief Nanda there was a month long rejoicing . There was endless stream of gopies coming to pay respect as they found the baby so beautiful with lotus eyes and ruby lips that they could not take their eyes off him. Nanda gave presents to Brahmins. People of Braj decorated their house and their cattles.

In the meantime Kasnsa called his counsellors and told them all that Goddess Maya had spoken. The ministers said, Dont worry O king, we will kill all children whether ten days old or not, whether found in towns or villages. Kansa ordered the demons to create havoc in all places and returned to his palace.