SREE KRISNA :: JANMASHTAMI & HIS LEELA

Krishna, or the dark one, is Hinduism’s greatest deity along with Shiva. He is, in fact, Lord Vishnu incarnate. Hindus believe that Krishna was born on the Ashtami tithi, the eighth day of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar hence Janmashtami.

Krishna is variously depicted as Baal Krishna, the naughty prankster; Gopala, the herdsman; Maakhan Chor, buttermilk chief; Govinda, the lover of gopis; Vasudeva, keeper of dharma etc.


Birth
His father Vasudev is said to have carried him to safety immediately after his birth in the jail of his demon uncle Kamsa, as there was a prophesy that the eighth child of Vasudev and Devaki, Kamsa’s sister, would kill the evil king of Mathura.

Krishna’s father is said to have given the new born baby to Nanda and his wife Yashoda of Vrindavan. River Yamuna is said to have parted to make way for Lord’s path even as five-headed Cobra miraculously appeared and gave shelter to the baby from the rains.