Krishna’s Birth

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead chooses a mother and father from whom to take birth again and again. The Lord took birth originally from Sutapa and Prisni, then from Kasyapa and Aditi, and again from the same father and mother, Vasudeva and Devaki. “In other appearances also,” the Lord said, “I took the form of an ordinary child just to become your son so that we could reciprocate eternal love.” Jiva Goswami has explained this verse in his Krishna- sandarbha, Ninety-sixth Chapter, where he notes that in text 37 the Lord says, amuna vapusa, meaning “by this same form.” In other words, the Lord told Devaki, “This time I have appeared in My original form as Sri Krishna.”” (SB 10.3.43)

Over a 24-hour period, the sun passes over all the continents of the earth. When it passes over a particular geographical location we perceive the great orb rising and setting - it seems to come and go. In actuality, however, the sun is constantly shining and ever-present. Only from our perspective does it appear to rise and set. Similarly, from the human perspective, Krishna seems to take birth and then die. His pastimes, however, are being eternally enacted (nitya-lila) – in the spiritual world, somewhere in the material world, and ultimately in the hearts of His devotees who constantly remember Him. Over the expanse of universal time, Krishna passes over a multitude of material universes. Though beginningless, causeless and the source of everything, Krishna seemingly takes birth in this world and performs beautiful pastimes.

The details of when Krishna was born, therefore, are not as important as the details of why He appears. He Himself explains the reason for His descent in the Bhagavad-gita: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.” (BG 4.7). Krishna further explains the benefits of hearing about, discussing and deeply understanding His birth in this world: “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” (BG 4.9)

When Lord Sri Krishna desired to appear in this world, He first entered the heart of Vasudeva, and from there He passed to the pure heart of Devaki. Nursed by her intense maternal affection, Sri Krishna purified the womb of Devaki. Then, on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra, on Wednesday, while the moon was in the constellation of Rohini, in the depth of night, the Lord appeared in His four-armed form, holding the conch, disc, club and lotus, adorned with crest, pendant and other ornaments, wearing a great profusion of curls and clad in yellow robes. The Lord’s advent was truly unique.

Although the events surrounding Krishna’s birth seem tragic and unfortunate, such occurrences are not the consequences of material karma. These are the special arrangements of the Lord to add a touch of transcendental drama to the delicious sweetness of His pastimes. Indeed, our teachers explain that just as diamonds are set upon a dark background to enhance their shine, the Lord’s pastimes are often set upon the dark background of the material world to further highlight their beauty and excellence.