Janmashtami 2016: Stories around Lord Krishna's birth

Janmashtami, the day that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna has several stories and folklores related to how Lord Krishna was born. 

These folklores talk about how Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu but as the story was passed on from generation to generation, there are different versions to how the Lord was born.

Here are the various stories of Lord Krishna's birth:

1. It is believed that when Mother Earth saw all the sins that were being committed by violent kings on Earth, she was upset and poured her woes to Lord Brahma who feeling sorry for her said that the only one who could help her would be Narayana, Lord Vishnu. On seeking his help, he told them that he was already aware of the crimes that were taking place and had decided to take birth on Earth as the son of Devaki and Vasudeva. He also said that they would be born on earth too as His helpers.

2. Talking about the evil kings on earth, the worst of them all was King Kansa who was feared by all. So, on the day of his sister's wedding, Devaki, Akash Vani told him that he would be killed by his sister's eigth son bringing all sins on Earth to an end. As he couldn't kill his own sister, he imprisoned her and her husband Vasudeva making sure to kill each one of their child that was born. Until the night Lord Krishna, the eighth child was born. Lord Vishnu appeared in front of the couple that night asking Vasudeva to take away the child to Gokul and replace him with another child that was born the same night. That night as Kansa was going to kill the eighth child, who had been replaced by a girl child, she flew to the sky transforming into goddess Yoshada and said that the divine child had already been born and that his end was near. 

3. But Kansa would not stop in his attempt to kill the divine baby that was to take his life. The story of Krishna's birth is taken further by Kansa coming to know that the child had been taken to Gokul. As an attempt to kill the divine baby he specially employed a she-devil Putana. She disguised herself as a nymph and applying poison all over her breasts went on to feed the baby. But the Lord realised Kansa's foul game and the baby is said to have kept sucking the milk, finally even sucking the life out of the demoness.

As you try to wrap your heads around which story stands true, don't forget to gorge on yummy sweets!