Lord Krishna is revered as the eighth avatar of Vishnu, who descended to Earth to uphold Dharma and spread peace and love. The name Krishna, derived from the Sanskrit word for "dark," reflects his distinctive dark or blue complexion. Krishna is often depicted as a charming young boy with radiant eyes and divine charisma, playing his flute against a backdrop of "dark or blue" skin.
Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva. Devaki, the sister of the ruthless King Kansa, was married to Vasudeva, who was a close friend of Kansa. During the wedding festivities, a divine prophecy warned Kansa that Devaki’s eighth son would be his doom. Fearing this prophecy, Kansa attempted to kill Devaki, but Vasudeva intervened, promising to surrender the child to Kansa in exchange for his mercy.
Despite their promises, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, and began a brutal campaign of murdering their children, smashing each one against a rock. Over time, six of Devaki's children were killed in this manner. When Devaki became pregnant with her seventh child, Lord Vishnu ordered the goddess Mahamaya to transfer the fetus to the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva’s first wife. Rohini was residing with Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul, and the seventh child, Bala Rama, was born there.
A year later, Devaki gave birth to her eighth child, Krishna, at midnight on Ashtami, a day celebrated as Janmashtami. Kansa's attempts to kill Krishna were thwarted each time by divine intervention. Eventually, Krishna confronted Kansa, holding him accountable for his evil deeds, including the killing of innocent children, imprisoning Devaki and Vasudeva, and oppressing the people of Mathura.
In a dramatic turn of events, Krishna vanquished Kansa with his Sudarshan Chakra, ending the tyrant's reign of terror. This pivotal moment in Krishna's life symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated with great fervor during Janmashtami.
