Week 7 Reading Diary: Cradle Tales of Hinduism

Cradle Tales of Hinduism: Krishna

For the past two weeks, I read the online public domain edition of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. This epic story was filled with many characters and a great deal of drama and action. I really enjoyed reading it. This week, I chose to read parts of the book, Cradle Tales of Hinduism, by Sister Nivedita. The sections I read were focused on Lord Krishna's stories and his significance in the Hindu religion. The part I enjoyed reading most in the first section of Sister Nivedita's storytelling was about Krishna's birth. They say that his mother and father, Devaki and Vasudeva, were brought together by Devaki's brother, Kansa. Kansa was a tryant leader of Mathura. As he was driving his sister and her new husband to their new home, he received news that the eight child of the couple would be the reason for his downfall. For this reason, Kansa imprisoned them and successfully killed their first seven children. Their eighth child was born in the prison and instantly Devaki knew he was special. He had four arms, that each held a shank, discus, mace, and lotus. In order to save this child, Vasudeva took him to Gokool and switched out his son with Nanda's newborn daughter. When Kansa found out the eighth child was born, he went to the prison ready to slay the newborn who would be the reason for his downfall. When Kansa saw a girl instead of a boy, he was confused. The prophecy said that a boy would be born. Regardless, Kansa took precautions and was ready to kill the girl. As he was picking her up, the form of a Goddess arose and warned him that the boy who was going to destroy him was still alive in Gokool. I have always enjoyed hearing about Krishna's birth because it's such a unique story. If I were to write a story based on this birth, I would change it up and make it where Vasudeva didn't take Krishna away. Instead, I would show Krishna's powers from birth and write about how he was able to dodge Kansa's attempts at killing him. 

(Birth of Krishna. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography. Cradle Tales of Hinduism, Sister Nivedita. (1907)