The Eighth Wonder is Here!

In the previous blog, "The Lord is Coming", we explored an essential moment where an aura of divine energy surrounded Vasudev and Devaki. This enchanting glow manifested after Lord Narayan had entered the hearts and minds of the devoted couple. The dark clouds of impending doom hovered over Kans, who caught sight of this radiant aura emanating from his sister. Instantly, he was filled with dread, knowing that Devaki was pregnant with the child destined to slay him.

Consumed by paranoia, Kans anxiously awaited the birth of this prophesied child, his obsession causing his mind to spiral into chaos. His fears took shape in every corner of his consciousness, making him believe he saw Lord Narayan in the form of a child at every turn. This overwhelming anxiety transformed him into a man possessed by his own fear.

Meanwhile, the auspicious moment drew near as Devaki, in the confines of the prison, gave birth to the eighth child.

Let's continue the story.........

The Revelation of the Divine Child

Vasudev gazed upon the newborn child with awe and wonder, recognising that this was no ordinary infant. Narayan then manifested Himself in His true, divine form. The sight before Vasudev was extraordinary; he realised that standing before him was not merely a child, but Narayan Himself in all His divine glory.

Vasudev's eyes were drawn to the lotus-like eyes of the Lord, whose presence radiated an ethereal beauty. The Lord was holding in his four arms, sacred emblems: the Shankh (conch), Chakra (discus), Gada (mace), and Padma (lotus). Vasudev noted the renowned mark adorning Narayan's chest and neck, and saw that He was dressed in a yellow silk dhoti. The divine figure, dark as a rain cloud, illuminated the entire space with the brilliance of His crown and the shimmer of earrings shaped like a fish, casting an aura of splendour throughout. Vasudev was captivated, unable to look away, as if he were drinking in the beauty and magnificence of the Lord with his eyes.

As reality began to seep into his consciousness, he realised he had just become a father. Being a kshatriya, he understood the importance of fulfilling his duties and performing the rites that accompanied this sacred occasion. With renewed purpose, he resolved to worship a thousand Brahmins and, with the blessings of holy waters, to offer a thousand cows as gifts. Although he could not perform these rites at that very moment, he promised himself that once the opportunity arose, he would fulfil his vows with utmost devotion.

Vasudev’s Humble Worship

Vasudev stood with folded palms, his head bowed low in humble worship. He directed his heartfelt prayers to the Paramapurusha, the Supreme Being, Lord Narayan. With a voice trembling in devotion, he spoke:

"In your boundless kindness, O Lord, you have chosen to descend upon this earth for the sake of the world and for us, the humble Vasudev and Devaki. How can I fully capture the joy that swells within me? No longer am I the unfortunate one; instead, I find myself the most fortunate of men. My beloved wife now bears the honour of being the mother of the Lord Himself.

O Narayan, your mercy is truly immense, and I stand before you, filled with gratitude for your divine compassion."

Devaki's plea to the Lord

Devaki stood before the Lord, her heart swelling with both reverence and anxiety. The sight of the divine filled her with awe, yet a deep concern pierced her soul. With a voice trembling with emotion, she pleaded:

“You are the sole destroyer of everything. Please, have mercy on Mother Earth and on us. End the tyranny of Kans.”

Her words echoed the weight of her suffering, Kans, the cruel ruler who had inflicted unimaginable pain upon her and her husband. Devaki's heart ached as she imagined the relentless torment they had endured, and the dread of Kans loomed large over their precious moment.

As she gazed at the divine form, Devaki's apprehension grew. Kans, known for his ruthlessness and paranoia, would stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to his life, and she worried that he would soon learn of this miraculous birth.

“Please,” she pleaded:

“Let not Kans see you in this form, the form that Yogis spend lifetimes in penance to behold. This vision is reserved for the rarest of souls, not for ordinary eyes like mine. Please, hide your glorious divine form.”

Devaki’s plea was a sorrowful cry, tinged with the anguish of a mother who had already lost so much. She longed to cradle her child, to celebrate in the joy of motherhood, but the dread of Kans hung over her, reminding her of the fate that had befallen her previous newborn babies. The fear that Kans might come crashing in at any moment, sword in hand, filled her with unbearable fear. Her heart ached with the desperate wish that the Lord would conceal His Supreme form.

The Lord replied with a gentle, reassuring voice, “Devaki,” He said, “understand that our souls are intertwined across lifetimes. In your past lives, you were Prishni, and Vasudev was Sutapa. Together, you performed austere penance for twelve thousand (12,000) years. When I appeared before you in that life, you sought the boon of being blessed with a son like Me. Since there is no one in the world like Me, I took birth as your son Prishnagarbh in that life.”

He continued, explaining the cycle of births that bound them together: “Later, I was born as Vaman, who stopped Bali’s yagya when the two of you took birth as Aditi and Kashyap. This is going to be my third birth as your son. Afterwards, both of you will attain My abode.”

Divine Transformation and Vasudev’s Mission

The Lord instructed Vasudev to take Him to Gokul, to the home of Nand, the chief of the cowherds, and to bring back the child born to Yashoda, Nand’s wife. The divine form of the Lord faded. The divine child was now being held in Devaki's maternal embrace. However, both Vasudev and Devaki felt troubled by the daunting challenge ahead, for the prison's iron doors were securely locked and armed guards were stationed at every entrance. With the news of Devaki’s impending childbirth, Kans had escalated security measures, doubling the guards on duty.

Vasudev carefully placed the baby in a small wicker basket and covered him with his upper cloth. As he stood before the locked iron doors, despair began to set in. Suddenly, a miracle unfolded.

Summary

The miraculous event leading to the birth of the eighth child in prison, where the Lord initially manifests in His divine form, with four arms holding sacred emblems, before his parents, Vasudev and Devaki. Vasudev worships the Lord, while Devaki pleads with Him to conceal His transcendent form to protect Him from Kans. The Lord instructed Vasudev to take Him to Gokul and exchange Him for Nand's child. The Lord reassures Devaki, explaining to her the three births, before transforming into an ordinary baby.