All Blogs · Theology Thursday ·Sep 02, 2021

The Story of Janmashtami

This is the story of Krishna's birth.

Call me Krishna, Gopal. Kahniya or Govinda. My life is an open book but I'm an enigma. You may know me for a number of things. Like the beautiful color of my dark skin... or the famous war I helped my cousins win.

Trouble always seemed to follow me wherever I go, because my uncle Kamsa was not a friend, but a foe. Someone once told him that his eighth niece or nephew -- that's me -- will grow up one day to end him, so getting rid of me was key.

My father hid me in a basket to take me far away. It was raining hard but we still left on the night of my birthday. We began walking towards a small town named Gokul, where his friend Nanda lived, a man whose heart I would soon rule.

To reach there safely, we didn't need any trick or potion, but the river we were crossing had turned into an ocean. As we feared the worst, there magically appeared a nice fella named Vasuki, the ten-headed snake, who covered us like an umbrella.

When we reached Uncle Nanda's house, my father heaved a sigh of relief. His plan was working -- he would leave me there, while everyone lay asleep... Except for the newborn girl named Durga, who was waiting wide awake. He laid me down as he picked her up, and walked away with a heartbreak.

As my father brought Durga home, he knew this isn't where she belonged. 'Twas the moment my evil Uncle Kamsa had been waiting for all along. He was expecting a boy, but saw a girl. To him, it was all the same. Fear had stolen Uncle Kamsa's peace of mind and I was to blame.

He picked up her basket, and tried to throw it against the wall. But Durga didn't fall to the ground. Instead, she rose nice and tall.Uncle Kamsa realized his work wasn't done. I had escaped, so his imagination too, began to run. This was not the end. That's right. My adventures had just begun.

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Modi Toys is a children's brand of toys and books inspired by ancient Hindu culture. We exist to spread joy and to spark curiosity in the next generation through our innovative soft plush toys, illustrated children's books and free learning resources. Our weekly Theology Thursday series covers a wide range of topics rooted in Hinduism to help us better understand the origins of traditions, the symbolic meaning of rituals, and the stories behind Hindu holidays and festivals. The more we can understand "the why" behind this 4,000 year ancient religion, and make sense of it in this modern age, the greater we can appreciate and preserve our rich Hindu culture. While we take great care in thoroughly researching the information presented, we may occasionally get some things wrong. We encourage a healthy and open dialogue so we can learn together. Please leave a comment below or email us directly at support@moditoys.com to address any concerns.