Latest news with #Kamsa
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Krishna, the charioteer and guide
Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most significant Gods of Hinduism. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan saw Lord Krishna not merely as a historical figure but also as a symbol of love and devotion. Krishna's life and teaching reflect profound philosophical and ethical truths. The wisdom of Srimad Bhagavad Gita teaches us humanism, harmony, equanimity, tolerance, detachment and adherence to dharma, said Prof. Kumool Abbi. Janmashtami falls on the Ashtami tithi of Krishnapaksha in the month of Bhadrapad on the Rohini nakshatra. Krishna is regarded as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. The birth of Balgopal took place with miraculous celestial intervention. Kamsa, the king of Mathura, was the brother of Devaki. It had been prophesied that the eighth child of Devaki would lead to the death of the evil Kamsa. So Devaki and her husband Vasudev were imprisoned with orders to kill all their newborns. When Devaki was about to give birth to Krishna on a stormy night, divine intervention put Mathura to sleep, and Vasudev saved baby Krishna from Kamsa by handing him over to Yashoda and Nanda, thereby paving the way for Kamsa's destruction and of evil. The life of Lord Krishna is characterised by many divine leelas and miracles. This day is marked by fasting and keeping a vigil till midnight. Enchanting tales from Krishna's childhood are narrated to children. His childhood play with cowherd boys is enacted as in the idyllic pastoral land of Braj. This day is spent being absorbed in Lord Krishna, recalling his teachings, thoughtfully reflecting on his wisdom, reciting from the Bhagavad Gita, singing Krishna Bhajans and performing kirtans. Temples and homes are decorated with images of Krishna. Flowers and small idols are placed in cradles. Janmashtami is celebrated across the country and the diaspora. However, the festival has a close association with Mathura, known for its Banke Bihari, Radha Raman and Govind Dev temples. Other popular temples are the Puri Jagannath temple and the Govind Dev temple in Jaipur. The day next to Janmashtami is celebrated as the Dahi Handi festival. Krishna's compassionate counsel to Arjun is crystallised as the Bhagavad Gita, and the wisdom of the divine charioteer (Krishna) is a guide to navigating the complexities of existence in the contemporary world.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Krishna's kindness
Unable to bear the atrocities of Kamsa, everyone, from ordinary people to devas, aligned with the goddess of earth, Bhooma Devi, and decided to petition Maha Vishnu in person. At that moment, Vishnu Himself declared through an oracle that He would manifest on earth as Krishna and end Kamsa's cruelty. Overjoyed by this, the devas wanted to know if they should all turn into monkeys and populate Kishkinta country, as they had been advised by Him, ahead of His Rama avatar. An amused Vishnu responded, saying they could take any form they desired, from animate to inanimate, and await Him in Brindavan. They promptly landed on Nandagopal's property, who was astounded by the sudden spurt in the population of his cattle, said Damal Perundevi. Having already chosen His earth parents Devaki and Vasudeva and the foster parents Nandagopa and Yasoda, Vishnu asked Adisesha to precede Him as Balaram, conceived by Devaki, but delivered by Vasudeva's other wife through fetal transfer, while He Himself would arrive as the younger brother. Kamsa, Devaki's brother, celebrated her marriage to Vasudeva in a grand manner, bursting with brotherly love, when an oracle declared that the newly-wed's eighth child would kill Kamsa. An angry Kamsa was about to kill Devaki at once, when Vasudeva intervened and promised to deliver the new borns to him. Appeased somewhat, Kamsa then lodged the couple in a jail. Vasudeva did as promised. When Krishna's time to emerge came about, at midnight in the Tamil month of Avani, on Ashtami, under the Rohini star, Krishna decided to be born with His full regalia. His trademark weapons took on miniature form, the tiny crown glistened on His forehead, replete with peacock feather, and He sported a piece of yellow silk cloth around His waist, while the ankles jangled to the tinkle of bells from the anklet. Why did Krishna bedeck Himself so? It is because He was aware that Devaki would get but a fleeting glance at Him before He was given up. As a mother, the agony of such a parting is immeasurable and out of kindness, He decided that Devaki should get a good look at him, in full splendour.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Krishna's birth: The night that brought light
Janmashtami is on August 16, so let us recall that night in Mathura when it happened, drawing from the Srimad Bhagavatam: Mahavishnu meditated in heaven before taking his eighth descent to earth. He put himself through these hardships for mortals because he was sworn to protect the good, punish the wicked and set the world right from age to age. As Krishna, he had chosen to be 'born' in jail. His earthly parents, Princess Devaki and Prince Vasudev, had waved happily from their carriage at the cheering people of Mathura on their wedding day. Devaki's brother Kamsa, king of Mathura, drove them himself through the city to greet the people. But a bodiless voice had silenced them all when it rang through the air to say that Devaki's eighth child would kill Kamsa. Kamsa had instantly drawn his sword to kill his sister. But Vasudev had caught his sword arm. 'It is not your sister's fault, king,' he had said steadily. 'Take our eighth child, if you must, but do not kill Devaki.' Kamsa had locked them up in Mathura Jail, and each time a child appeared, he had dashed the baby's head against the stone walls, killing it instantly. How afraid Vasudev and Devaki had been when she began to expect the dreaded eighth child. As her time drew near, they grew calm and resolute. They had clearly been chosen for some task beyond their understanding and would meet it with courage. Devaki sensed that her child would be born on the eighth night of the moon's dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada.
