HARI JANMA

Hari Janma
(Hari’s Birth)
Lord Krishna’s birth as Hari Janma or Janmastami is celebrated,
All over India by the Hindus,it is a day very sacred.
Hindus believe Krishna is the incarnation of supreme God Vishnu,
He was born as a human to eradicate evil forces ,it is their religious view.
It has been told in Geeta, an epic poem, when righteousness takes a beating,
Sin and injustice raise their heads then God descends to earth in a form befitting,
To rescue the saints and destroy the sinners , oppressors and tyrants whatever
And to reestablish the rule of piety in all ages He comes as the redeemer.
So in the era of Dwapara when Kamsa the demon king tormented Gods and humans
Vishnu had to come on to earth in human form to take care of his creations.
Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura was the son of king Ugrasen
To usurp the throne he arrested his father and put him in prison.
He had a cousin sister named Devaki from Devaka his paternal uncle
She married Basudeva a pious prince becoming Kamsa’s brother in law.
While taking them in a procession Kamsa heard the divine words announced from heaven
He will be killed by their eighth son to give relief to gods and innocent men and women
Hearing the divine edict Kamsa was angry and even went berserk
He put the couple behind bars, to kill all their new borns he did embark.
Strict vigil he kept on them deploying as prison guards his most trusted followers
One by one six sons of Devaki were killed by the king of demons, fierce
In the seventh pregnancy shesadeva, a part of Vishnu, took form in the womb of her,
Vishnu ordered Yogamaya , His source of power to stage a womb transfer.
The embryo in Devaki’s womb she should transfer to that of Rohini living in Gokul,
She was another wife of Basudeva, pious and very dutiful.
Rohini became the surrogate mother of the child later named as Balaram,
It seemed to outside would as if Devaki had an abortion so Kamsa remained calm.
Also Yogamaya was advised by Vishnu to be a girl child in Yasoda’s womb ,the wife of the milkman king,
He himself would take human form in the womb of Devaki to fulfill a promise and solace to bring.
Finally Vishnu as Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in lunar Bhadrav month,
It was pouring outside and pitch darkness prevailed, difficult to see the path.
Due to Vishnu’s intrigue the prison doors got unlocked,the guards were in deep slumber,
In his real form he bade Basudeva to carry him to Yasoda’s delivery chamber.
Where a girl child had been born, he had to interchange the two newborns forthwith,
Bring the girl to their cell and give in Devaki’s lap to show as if a baby girl she has been blessed with.
At the dead of night, in darkness and rain, Basudeva carried the child as per his commandment,
Putting in a basket over his head, he crossed the river Yamuna in floods, overflowing the embankment.
By Vishnu’s will the path was lighted by his halo, Yamuna gave way by receding water,
Basudeva reached the milkman king Nanda’s palace to exchange the child as barter.
There at Nanda’s palace everybody was asleep nobody knew the girl’s birth, not even Yasoda his wife,
Basudeva sneaked in, interchanged the two without much hardship or strife.
Same way as before he returned to his prison and put the girl in Devaki’s bed,
The prison doors closed the guards woke up and ran to kamsa to get the message conveyed.
Kamsa came with rage, took hold of the child and threw down on a stone,
The child slipped from his grip, flew to the sky, and said in a loud tone.
“He who will kill you has already taken birth in this land somewhere
Your end is near Oh sinful demon! For death you now prepare.”
Kamsa was aghast, what is to be done he called his ministers and henchmen,
They sat in a conference discussing over the matter, what would be done then.
Unanimously it was decided emissaries will be sent to places in search of babies, newly born,
To kill them at once and show no mercy ,to eliminate the enemy unknown.
At Nanda’s palace when they regained senses were happy to see a male child,
Having been blessed with a son late in life Nanda in glee became wild.
Thus Krishna grew up in foster mother’s care with mother Devaki deprived,
As days passed Kamsa could know his arch enemy in Gopapura had survived.
Krishna had many childhood pranks, playfully he staged many wonders,
Killed Kamsa’s spies one by one, who went on doing blunders.
Finally Krishna, Balaram killed Kamsa in his court room where a fete had been organized,
Mother earth got relieved of Kamsa’s oppressive rule ,people were no more terrorized.
Krishna eliminated other oppressors from earth’s surface fulfilling the main purpose of his incarnation,
He acted as the chief supporter of the Pandavas in the Mohabharat war fought for the dispute of succession.
His advice to Arjuna, the Pandava archer, in the renowned Kurukshetra battlefield,
Is famous in the name of Geeta, the grand Indian epic, its principles being hailed as superb even in today’s management field.
From time immemorial Hindus observe Krishna’s birthday with the deepest devotion and festivity,
Hari janma or Janmastami, the festival is called, the whole of India buzzes with activity.