Shri Krishna is one of the most popular and revered gods in Hinduism. He is known by many names such as Govinda, Mukunda, Madhusudana and Vasudeva. Krishna is recognized as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu and plays a pivotal role in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Krishna’s life story and profound teachings have inspired devotees for millennia. But who were Krishna’s parents? Specifically, who gave birth to this beloved deity? Let’s explore the fascinating story of Krishna’s birth and divine origins.
Krishna’s Birth Story in Brief
According to Hindu scriptures, Krishna was born in Mathura, northern India, at midnight on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shravana. His parents were Devaki and her husband Vasudeva, who was a chief of the Vrishni clan. However, they were imprisoned by Devaki’s cousin, the evil King Kamsa. Kamsa was told in a prophecy that Devaki’s eighth son would kill him, so he imprisoned the couple and murdered their first six children as soon as they were born. When Krishna, their eighth child, was born, Vasudeva managed to smuggle him out of the prison and switch him with a baby girl born to Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul. Krishna then grew up as a cowherd in Gokul under the care of his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda, while the baby girl tragically met her fate at the hands of Kamsa. Eventually, Krishna returned to Mathura as a young man and killed Kamsa, fulfilling the prophecy.
Devaki Gave Birth to Krishna
As the direct biological mother of Krishna, Devaki gave birth to him while imprisoned in Mathura. Devaki was the daughter of King Devaka of Mathura and sister of Kamsa. When she married Vasudeva of the Vrishni clan, a celestial voice proclaimed that her eighth son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. Out of fear, Kamsa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva and killed their first six sons as soon as they were born. However, the seventh child was mysteriously transferred from Devaki’s womb to the womb of Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva, saving the child’s life. This child was Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother. Finally, Krishna was born as the eighth child to Devaki and Vasudeva.
Despite the torment she endured at the hands of Kamsa, Devaki demonstrated pure love and devotion as Krishna’s mother. She recognized Krishna’s divinity and prayed that he would save the people from Kamsa’s tyranny. Her role as Krishna’s direct biological mother is considered sacred within Hindu tradition.
Key Points
- Devaki gave direct birth to Krishna as his biological mother while imprisoned in Mathura.
- She endured great suffering at the hands of her cousin Kamsa who killed her first six sons.
- Despite her torment, Devaki maintained pure love and devotion to Krishna as his mother.
- She is revered for her maternal role in bringing Lord Krishna into the world.
Yashoda Was Krishna’s Foster Mother in Gokul
Though Devaki gave direct birth to Krishna, his foster mother Yashoda in Gokul played an equally important motherly role during his childhood. As Devaki’s eighth son, the newborn Krishna was smuggled out of Mathura by his father Vasudeva and exchanged with Yashoda’s baby girl in Gokul. Yashoda was the wife of Nanda, the leader of the cowherds. When Vasudeva brought baby Krishna to them, she raised Krishna with all the love and care of a biological mother.
Krishna performed many sweet childhood mischiefs in Gokul under Yashoda’s caring watch. The maternal bond between Krishna and Yashoda is beautifully expressed in stories and artworks depicting her affectionately feeding him butter or tying him to a mortar as punishment for his pranks. Though not Krishna’s birth mother, Yashoda is regarded as an ideal mother figure who showered Krishna with unconditional love in his early years.
Key Points
- Yashoda became Krishna’s devoted foster mother, raising him in Gokul after he was smuggled away from Kamsa as a newborn.
- She and her husband Nanda cared for Krishna with true parental love.
- Yashoda’s deep motherly bond with the young Krishna is beautifully depicted in Hindu stories and art.
- She is revered for the maternal affection she provided during Krishna’s childhood.
Rohini Was Mother of Krishna’s Elder Brother Balarama
Rohini is celebrated within Krishna’s birth story as well, though she did not directly give birth to him. She was another wife of Vasudeva who was living in Gokul under Nanda’s protection during Kamsa’s reign of terror in Mathura. By divine intervention, Rohini became the mother of Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother. Originally, Balarama was conceived in Devaki’s womb as her seventh child. But he was mystically transported to Rohini’s womb to save him from being killed by Kamsa. Thus, Rohini gave birth to Balarama in Gokul and helped raise both him and Krishna alongside Yashoda.
As mother of Balarama and aunt of Krishna, Rohini played an important supporting role in Krishna’s birth story. She protected Balarama from Kamsa’s wrath and was part of the loving family that sheltered Krishna during his childhood. Her care and devotion contributed to raising the young Krishna into the mighty deity he became.
Key Points
- Rohini was the mother of Balarama and aunt of Krishna who protected them in Gokul.
- Balarama was transported from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s by divine intervention.
- She helped care for Krishna along with Yashoda in Gokul during his childhood.
- Her role nurturing both Balarama and Krishna was significant in Krishna’s birth story.
Putana Was a Demon Who Tried to Kill Baby Krishna
In contrast to his loving biological and foster mothers, the demoness Putana played the role of a would-be killer in Krishna’s infancy. As the story goes, right after baby Krishna’s arrival in Gokul, Putana assumed the disguise of a beautiful maiden and sneaked into Yashoda’s house when she was not present. Putana then took baby Krishna in her lap and offered him her poison-smeared breast to nurse from with the intention of killing him. However, Krishna miraculously sucked away both the poison and Putana’s life force, killing her.
Putana represents the triumph of good over evil, with baby Krishna slaying the demoness who tried to harm him despite his innocent, childlike state. Her role highlights Krishna’s divine nature and power to overcome sinister forces even as an infant.
Key Points
- Putana was a demoness who disguised herself to try to poison baby Krishna.
- However, Krishna miraculously killed her by sucking away her life force.
- Putana represents the sinister force that unsuccessfully attempted to thwart the divine plan.
- Krishna’s defeat of her as a baby exemplifies his divine power triumphing over evil.
Conclusion
While Devaki was Krishna’s direct biological mother who endured great trials to bring him into this world, Yashoda and Rohini also played crucial maternal roles caring for Krishna in his infancy alongside Devaki’s husband Vasudeva. Even the demoness Putana contributed an important adversarial role that amplified the divine nature of baby Krishna. Together, all these female figures shaped the circumstances of Krishna’s birth and early life that led him to fulfill his destiny as one of Hinduism’s most beloved deities. Their relationships with Krishna reveal Hindu perspectives on the power of maternal love, family bonds, good vs evil, and the mysteries of the divine incarnating in human form.