Mahabharat - 3

Mathura's King Ugrasen's son, Kansa, was a wicked and destructive dictator. He rejoiced in torturing and killing. Basically he's been portrayed as villain who needs to be eliminated. He staged a coup and usurped the throne and had Ugrasen imprisoned in the dungeons. He offered, rather ordered, Vasudev, a good friend and courtier in Ugrasen's court to marry his sister Devaki. Vasudev, inspite of his marriage with Rukmini could not veer away from this order. As soon as they were married, there was an aakashwani warning Kansa that his end was near and that Devaki-Vasudev's eight child would bring about his death. He threatens to kill the newlyweds. The couple beg for their lives and in exchange for the lives of their eight kids. Kansa throws them in the dungeons too. One by one the first six children are killed in cold blood by Kansa. The seventh child is 'transferred' to Rukmini, Vasudev's first wife, and he is to be born as Balram.
I guess surrogate motherhood by invitro-fertilization was an established process then. How this could have been feasible in a prison cell is what stumps me. I pity Vasudev, who at one point in time was happily married to Rukmini and found all of a sudden found himself with this inconsolable woman in a prison cell destined to deliver a bunch of babies who were to be murdered.
Another well-known phrase at this juncture worth mentioning is "Chup ho ja bete, nahi to tera mama Kansa aajayega."
Sri Krishna is born at the stroke of midnight on a Wednesday. This day is celebrated as Janmashtami. A series of miracles occur when the eight child is born.The doors to the prison cells open up, the guards are knocked out and Vasudev finds a way to escape with the child across the river Yamuna to the neighboring town of Gokul. The river calms amidst torrential rains as the baby's feet touch the waters and the serpent king Sheshnaag forms and umbrella with his hood. He hands over the newborn to Nand, an old friend and the chieftain of the cowheards, who exchanges Vasudev's child with his baby girl, Nandini. Unfazed, Kansa still goes to kill the girl. Just as he is about to smash the baby against the wall, the baby slips away and the akaashwani startles him again stating that his destroyer is safe and sound.
Meanwhile, there is rejoicing in Gokul celebrating Yashoda's new born.




Very few Hindus need to be reminded of the festivities surrounding Janmashtami. Ras Lila, a famous Manipuri dance form, and Dahi Handi, more prevelant in the state of Maharashtra, are common events marking the rejoicing of Janmashtami.







Kansa is still worried that Devaki's eight child is alive. A spy mentions that lots of revelries are in progress in Gokul. Kansa suspects that the child is in Gokul and summons Putana, a witch, and asks her to kill this child. She decides to smear poison on her nipples and feed it to all the babies born the previous night. She goes about killing all the babies born in Gokul. Finding Nanda's baby alone, she kidnaps it and takes off into the jungle to nurse it. The baby Krishna slays Putana.






Yashoda is a very loving and pampering mother. Krishna is mischievous yet universally adored. All through his childhood, Krishna always showed different miraculous deeds. I would rather concentrate on the Mahabharat part. A few pictures I was able to collect from the web would serve to refresh some memories:





























Kansa sends Akrur to summon Krishna. Krishna accepts to come over with Balram and slays Kansa in a gladiator kind wrestling bout. King Ugrasen is released and reinstated on the throne. Krishna takes off to the Sandeepani Gurukul (University) for his education.