The Lord Manifest himself at Gokul
Krishnavatara is a most majestic incarnation. Devotees of Bharat Khanda (greater India) are most fortunate to celebrate the auspicious birthday of God every year on Ramnavami and Krishna Janmashtami.
The readers of katha are rather more fortunate than others, because others celebrate these events once a year whilst the readers of katha are able to celebrate the event every month.
Both these days are revolutionary.
Devki – the daughter of King Devak – was married to Vasudevji. Elder brother Kansa, escorted his sister Devki in her travel to the house of her in-laws. Vasudeva and Devaki sat in a royal chariot and her brother Kansa held the reins as the charioteer. Surrounded by auspicious music and singing, when he rode the chariot, a deep and thundering forecast was announced from the sky warning him, “O foolish Kansa! The one who you carry in your chariot will be the cause of your death. The eighth child from them will kill you!”
Kansa roared in anger when he heard that mysterious warning from the sky. He jumped down from the chariot, rushed towards Devaki, pulled her down by her hair and unsheathed his sword to kill her. Wise Vasudeva came to her help. Vasudeva said to Kansa, “O Kansa! Your sister is not the cause of your death. It is her child that may kill you. But I assure you an oath, that the children to be born to her will be handed over to you on their birth. I will adhere to my promise. Please spare her life. Don’t be a killer of a woman. Don’t kill your own sister.”
As time passed Devaki gave birth to children. Kansa killed them on the spot as and when a child was born to her. Her seventh conception was exchanged mysteriously and child Balram was born to Rohini.
Vasudeva and Devaki were imprisoned under the tight security of Kansa. Devout souls Vasudeva and Devaki spent the time in devotion of God. The Supreme Lord manifested himself in Devaki and divine luminosity emanated from her body. God himself dwelled in her womb. The lokas prospered with wealth, peace and prosperity. The deities and demigods did prayers to welcome God upon the earth. Auspicious physical signs appeared on the personage of Devaki. It was a sign of a suitable time of birth. The Lord of the universe, Almighty God Supreme graced the prison and spread his divine light. It was midnight of the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shravana. God manifested first in his chaturbhuj image in front of them. Vasudeva and Devakiji prayed, “O God! O All-knower! O Infinite and Eternal Lord! We are very happy with your blissful darshan.” The Supreme Lord later incarnated himself as the darling child of Devaki.
Bhagwan desired to them, “Take me to the house of Nandrai at Gokul and bring his daughter here.” God was born in a jail at Mathura, but the birth would be celebrated at Gokul.
Vasudeva thought about the circumstances. It was raining and midnight and high security was posted everywhere in the prison and outside the building. The gates and doors were securely locked. River Yamuna was flowing bank-to-bank across the way to Gokul. How could he reach Gokul and Nandrai? He brushed off those scary thoughts, took a basket, arranged tiny bedding at the bottom of the basket and installed Bal Krishna in it. He placed the basket on his head, ready to leave. Miraculously, the gates opened automatically and the shackles imprisoning him broke free like a raw thread. The ropes and shackles break automatically in the presence of God. The security guards and soldiers slipped into a mysterious sleep.
Divine serpent Sheshnag grabbed the opportunity of service and protected Balkrishna by spreading his majestic hood over Bal Krishna like an umbrella. Yamuna desired to touch the holy feet of Lord Krishna. Shree Krishna favoured her by extending his feet from the basket. Holy touch calmed her impatient water!
Vasudeva came to Gokul with Balkrishna. Nandrani was in deep sleep. Her daughter was sleeping by her side. Nobody knew about Vasudeva. Vasudeva took her with him and placed Balkrishna there at the side of Nandrani. Tears appeared in his eyes whilst leaving his son.
Vasudeva came back to the jail with the girl. The gates and doors locked automatically when he went inside. Maya brings ties and shackles when she comes into our life. Mother Devaki played lovingly with her and said, “Dear daughter! Be wise and cry not. Your maternal uncle will not know about your birth. I will take good care of you within this prison for your good up bringing.” But she cried loudly to alert the jail security.
The prison head and his assistant woke up and ran to the cell of Vasudeva Devaki. They knew that a child was born. They informed Kansa about the birth of the child. Kansa came to the prison and demanded, “Devaki! Give me your child.”
Devki said with tears in her eyes, “Brother! This is my daughter.” Kansa was initially a bit confused in regard to a female child.
He thought, “My killer should be a man, then why this girl?” Regardless, he thought it fit to still kill her. That was the safest approach. With such resolute he grabbed the child from Devakiji, held her up with his hand and threw her on a slab to kill her. But Maya disappeared in the space and said in a thundering voice, “O Fool! O Sinner! Who are you to kill me? Your killer is already safe in Gokul.”
Meanwhile back in Gokul, mother Yashoda did darshan of Balkrishna when she woke up in morning. Sunandji came to the help of Yashodaji and broke the auspicious news, “Brother! A male child has been born to your wife. You have got a son! Brother Nandrai honoured her by gifting a diamond necklace. There was no limit to his joy. He donated cash gifts to Brahmins and the Gods from the heavens welcomed Shree Krishna with celestial music by heavenly musicians, singers and dancers. They showered flowers from the sky. .
(There was pleasure and happiness in the house of Nandrai. Horse, chariots, elephants and palanquin riders, guests and visitors came to the house of Nandrai to cheer the birth of Kanaiyalal (Lord Balkrishna).
Naradji played the tunes of devotional pleasure on his veena and Lord Shiva played his damaru to welcome the incarnation of Lord Balkrishna. The lofty mace of Lord Hanuman and the Manjiras (a musical instrument) of Meeraji played sweet tunes of devotion to welcome the manifestation of Shree Krishna.) The Gopas and Gopis flocked to the house of Nandrai to welcome Balkrishna. The saints, celibates, hermits and Rishis gathered at the palatial house of Nandrai to do darshan of Balkrishna. The cows stood there raising their head and their tails to express love and affection. There was no limit to the pleasure and happiness of mankind, the gods and the deities. Celestial singers played heavenly tunes from the sky. Sadguru Brahmanand Swami sings:
(All were in high spirits of celebration at the house of Nandrai. The Almighty himself has manifested on the earth to liberate his devotees. God himself was born and the Lokas were very happy with the incarnation of the supreme God. Demonic souls like Kansa, were sad.Thirty-three crore wives of the deities and Gods graced the house of Nandrai to facilitate Shree Krishna and mother Jashoda. Munis and saints did jaijaikar of Shree Balkrishna. The house was decorated with auspicious sandalpaste, torana (door frame decorations and wall hangings of various kinds). Lord Balkrishna of Brahmanand Swami was loved by every one.)
Nand Baba donated cows and clothes to celebrate the birth of his son. Lord Balkrishna stole the hearts and minds of the Gopis. They concluded hurriedly their household chores and ran to the house of Nandrai. They offered gifts to Yashodaji and Balkrishna. Yashodaji honoured their feelings with costlier return gifts of jewellery and ornaments, but the Gopis refused it politely and desired only to play with Balkrishna.
Mother Yashodaji placed Balkrishna in the lap of the Gopis. The Gopis kissed him on his forehead and embraced him with their heart. They found themselves most fortunate. They had waited for this moment for thousands of past births. Their unfulfilled wishes were granted today.
(Shree Hari is an ocean of sublime pleasure. Hearts and souls were at tranquil bliss through darshan of Lord Shree Hari. Shree Hari stole the minds of his devout Munis.)
Nand Baba donated two lakh cows each bedecked with gold and silver ornaments and silken clothes. The Brahmins received the donations happily with hearty blessings to Balkrishna.
The Gopas were in a mood of celebration. They decorated their cows and bullocks by bedecking them with turmeric paste. Golden covers were placed on the tips of the horns, golden bells and golden chains around the neck and colourful silken clothes on their backs. The calves were dancing to the jingling tunes of the bells. The minds of the yogis, who were in deep meditational concentration, were attracted to the divine image of Lord Shree Krishna.
(The vision of Lord Shree Krishna’s image drew the minds of the Munis.)
Lord Shiva broke his Samadhi and came to Gokul to do darshan of God. Lord Shiva appeared in front of them in the guise of a hermit holding a begging bowl and said “Jai Sachidanand!” Mother Yashoda rushed with a plate of jewels, pearls and diamonds to gift it to the ascetic. Lord Shiva refused it with due decorum and prayed, “Mother! I don’t want such bhiksha. I have not come here with such desire, but have come her at the will of God. Please, let me have a darshan of your darling son.”
Mother Yashoda said, “You may wish for anything else, but not my son. I will not bring him out to you. My child will be scared of your fearful appearance.”
Lord Shiva said, “Your son is not scared of anything. Nothing instils fear in him. He is supreme controller of Kala. He is Kala of all Kalas. He instils fear in others. You may be scared of me, but your son will not be. Therefore, let me have a darshan of him.”
Mother Yashoda disapproved the request and refused it out rightly. Disheartened Shiva sat steadfast in the courtyard in front of the house. He submitted politely, “Mother! I will not leave this place without darshan of Balkrishna.”
Balkrishna thought about his devotee who had come down from his residence of Mt. Kailash and thought a while about his mother not allowing him darshan. Balkrishna applied his baal leela and cried loudly to draw the attention of his mother. Worried mother Yashoda ran to the child, hugged him lovingly and her best to pacify him. But the child was not ready to stop crying. All were upset and worried. The Gopis among them prayed to Yashodaji, “Mother Yashoda! The Yogi in the courtyard holds divine powers and celestial luminosity. It is better if we take him to the yogi. He will be able to pacify him.”
Mother Yashoda stepped out from the room with his crying son Balkrishna and walked across the corridor to approach the ascetic. Child Balkrishna stopped crying as soon he saw Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva arose happily and walked forward to facilitate Lord Balkrishna.
The thrill of ultimate bliss and divine happiness brought tears in his eyes. He found himself fully satiated with blissful darshan of Lord Balkrishna. Lord Shiva said. “Maa! Yogis have been left unattended 14 without darshan of Lord shree Hari in the seclusion of the forests. They envy your devotional power as the Supreme Lord Purushottam Narayan has manifested himself in your house.” Lord Shiva enjoyed blissful darshan of the Lord of Lord Shiva and he returned to Kailash. Lord Shreeji Maharaj says: “
Jeenabhai, Devram and Prabhashankar possess that intense knowledge which has helped them to realise God. Those, who like the Gopis of Vraj, enjoy the pangs of love, are said to be attached to God with intense love and devotion.” (Gadhada Vachanamrit Last-1.)
(For the Gopas, Gopis and cows, God is dearer to them than even their own souls. They are attached eternally to God with a strong tie of devotional love.)
God is very dear to the Gopas, Gopis and cows of Gokul. Gopis are considered to be the Acharyas of the doctrine of affection - doctrine of devotional love. If you desire to love intensely your God, then concentrate intensely and meditate upon the image of God.
The Gopis were not happy without darshan of Lord Shree Krishna. They used to early in the morning to the house of Yashodaji. Yashodaji would scold them with love, “You mad girls! Why have you come so early? My darling son is sleeping. You should not come so early.”
The Gopis would say, “Mother! We cannot be at peace without darshan of Shree Krishna. He is our heart, soul and life. We have come here to begin our day with darshan of his baal-leelas. We will do all your domestic chores to assist you in your work, but allow us to rock the cradle and permit us to sing cradle-songs to please him.” Sadguru Brahmanand Swami sings:
(The Gopies are singing the cradle song. Lord Shree Hari loves cradle songs. Lord Purushottam is sleeping in the cradle. His forehead emits divine luminosity. With his child-like innocent smile, he brings pleasure to the women of Vraj. He opens his mouth wide to have sweets, butter and treacle. At times, he cries obstinately to get the moon from the sky.)