Janmashtami Fast Story

During the Dwapar Yuga, King Kansa of Mathura organized a grand celebration for his sister Devaki’s marriage to Vasudev. The palace was beautifully decorated, and the town was filled with happiness. Though Kansa was a cruel and tyrannical king, he loved his sister deeply. However, the joyful occasion soon turned tragic. After the wedding, a divine prophecy announced that Devaki’s eighth child would be the cause of Kansa’s death. Furious and terrified, Kansa planned to kill Vasudev, but Devaki pleaded for her husband’s life. Kansa spared Vasudev but decided to imprison the couple and kill each of Devaki’s children one by one. In the prison, Devaki gave birth to her first child, but Kansa cruelly killed the newborn. This continued for seven of Devaki's children. Both Devaki and Vasudev were forced to watch helplessly as their children were murdered. As the time for the birth of Devaki’s eighth child approached, Kansa increased security in the prison. One night, Lord Vishnu appeared in a dream to Devaki and Vasudev. He revealed that he would take birth as their child and instructed them to take him to their friend Nanda’s house in Gokul after his birth. At midnight, Devaki gave birth to Krishna. Miraculously, the guards fell asleep, and the prison doors opened on their own. Vasudev placed baby Krishna in a basket and set out for Gokul. Despite heavy rain and the flooding Yamuna River, the river parted to make way for Vasudev, and Sheshnag protected them from the downpour with his hood. In Gokul, Vasudev exchanged baby Krishna with Yashoda and Nanda’s newborn daughter Maya. He returned to Mathura with Maya. When Kansa attempted to kill the baby, Maya transformed into a divine light and escaped into the sky. A celestial voice warned Kansa that his destroyer was safely in Gokul and would end his tyranny. Krishna grew up in Gokul, performed many divine miracles, and eventually killed Kansa, bringing an end to his reign of terror. Krishna’s birth is celebrated every year as Krishna Janmashtami.