Neev: Hey there, everyone! Welcome back to Mythical Masala with Neev, the podcast where we explore the most exciting, magical, and downright legendary stories from Indian mythology. I’m Neev, your host, and guess what? Today, I’ve got company! Please welcome my brand-new co-host…Raahi!

Co-host: Hi, everyone! Thanks for having me, Neev. I’m so excited to be here and talk about Lord Krishna. His story has everything—action, drama, and even some hilarious pranks!

Neev: Absolutely! Krishna’s life is like the ultimate blockbuster movie. But today, we’re going back to the very beginning—his miraculous birth and the events that set the stage for his legendary adventures. Ready to dive in?

Co-host: Let’s do it! And listeners, buckle up, because this is going to be epic.

Neev: So, our story begins in the grand city of Mathura, ruled by Kansa, a demon king who was feared for his cruelty and power. But here’s the thing—he had a soft side for his sister, Devaki. He adored her so much that he decided to personally drive her and her husband, Vasudeva, in their wedding chariot.

Co-host: Which, honestly, is pretty sweet for a demon king. I mean, would you ever expect Darth Vader to drive someone’s getaway car? No, right?

Neev:  Exactly! But this isn’t your typical fairy tale, because just as Kansa was enjoying his sentimental moment, a booming voice from the heavens interrupted him. It said, ‘Foolish Kansa, do you even realize whose chariot you’re driving? The eighth son born to Vasudeva and Devaki will be your doom!

Co-host: Talk about bad timing! One minute you’re feeling all proud, and the next, the universe is giving you a death prophecy. Awkward!

Neev: Kansa’s face darkened. In a fit of rage, he unsheathed his sword and turned on Devaki, ready to kill her on the spot. But Vasudeva stepped in, pleading for her life. He promised Kansa that he would hand over every child they bore.

Co-host: What! Was Vasudeva ready to sacrifice their future children to save his wife? That’s true love!

Neev: And Kansa, ever the egomaniac, agreed. But instead of letting them live freely, he locked them in a prison. Why trust when you can imprison, right? From that moment on, he was obsessed with stopping this prophecy."

Neev: Now, here’s where things get even more intense. Devaki and Vasudeva were heartbroken as Kansa mercilessly killed their first six children. And just when things couldn’t seem worse, Narada, the mischievous divine sage, showed up to stir the pot.

Co-host: Narada was like that friend who sees drama brewing and thinks, ‘You know what this situation needs? More chaos!’ He told Kansa, ‘By the way, that eighth child? It’s not just any kid—it’s Vishnu Himself!’

Neev: Kansa, of course, doubled down on his evil plans. But here’s the twist: when Devaki became pregnant with her seventh child, Lord Vishnu decided to act. He transferred the baby to Rohini, Vasudeva’s second wife, who was living safely in Gokul. That baby was Balarama, Krishna’s big brother!

Co-host: That’s crazy and creepy at the same time. I am starting to get where babies come from…but how do you transfer a baby from one mother to another?

Neev: Seriously! I have no idea! That’s why this is Indian Mythology! Anything can happen - it can even defy science!

So where were we!. while Balarama was safe in Gokul, Kansa was clueless, thinking the seventh child was lost. But the real suspense was still building."

Co-host: Yeah! And the eighth son is supposed to be the main one in the prophecy, so Devaki and Vasudeva must be still worried. 

Neev: The stars aligned, quite literally, as the time came for Krishna’s birth. A special constellation lit up the sky, with the star Rohini shining brighter than ever. Rivers became calm, flowers bloomed, and divine music filled the air as apsaras danced in celebration.

Co-host: Sounds like a celestial baby shower! Imagine trying to top that on Instagram!"

Neev: Vasudeva and Devaki were still quite worried. Just then Lord Vishnu appeared in the prison, reassuring the couple that their suffering was almost over and he had a plan."

Co-host: you mean like in a dream or did he really descend from the heavens!

Neev: You can interpret it as you want but that appearance gave Vasudeva and Devaki a ray of hope. Devaki gave birth to a glowing, radiant baby boy—Krishna, the eighth child who would change everything. 

Co-host: Did you know Lord Krishna was born on the stroke of midnight on Ashtami, which is the 8th day after the full moon. Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated as Janmashtami every year around august. 

Neev: Vasudeva became alert and wondered how Vishnu’s plan was going to come together.  

Co-host: How could Vasudeva escape a locked prison, guarded by Kansa’s men?"

Neev: As soon as Krishna was born, the prison chains shattered, the doors swung open, and the guards fell into a deep sleep. It was like Vishnu activated some cheat codes!

Co-host: Yeah, like, ‘Press A-B-A-B, open sesame!’

Neev: Devaki immediately pleaded to her husband “There is not a moment to be lost.You must set out for Gokul with our son”. Vasudeva knew the evil Kansa should not come to know of the birth of Krisna.

Co-host: Yeah! Kansa would surely destroy the eighth child.

Neev: Vasudeva placed baby Krishna in a basket and began his journey through a stormy night. He was still worried but he had to trust Vishnu’s plan. 

Co-host: Don’t think he had a choice anyways! Hey, you said it's a stormy night. Why do all important things have to happen on stormy nights?

Neev: good observation. As Vasudeva neared the mighty River Yamuna, which had to be crossed to reach Gokul, the rain began to pour down heavily. The Yamuna River flooded making the crossing difficult.

Co-host: If Vishnu had the power to open the prison gates and put the guards to sleep, couldn’t he have stopped the rain?

Neev: Good point! Vasudeva stepped into the swirling waters with faith in his heart. As thunder boomed and lightning cracked across the sky, Vasudeva wondered how he would get to Gokul safely.

Co-host: I am wondering the same thing!

Neev:  The river was flooded and the water level rose high. But just as the waves touched Lord Krishna's feet, the river calmed down.

Co-host: And don’t forget Sheshnag, the giant serpent, who appeared out of nowhere to shield Krishna from the rain. Talk about VIP protection!

Neev: With faith guiding him, Vasudeva reached Gokul, where Nanda and Yashoda were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Yogamaya. Vasudeva quietly swapped the babies and hurried back to the prison.

Co-host: Vasudeva had to take a child back because Kansa was expecting Devaki to deliver a child and he would be mad otherwise.

Neev: Vasudev placed the baby-girl next to Devaki Just as he did so, the prison doors clanged shut. The prison guards awoke. They raised a loud clamour when they saw little Yogamaya. The guards immediately ran to tell evil Kansa about the eighth child.

Neev: The next morning, Kansa stormed into the prison, demanding to see the eighth child. Devaki pleaded, saying, ‘It’s just a baby girl. She can’t harm you! Please don’t kill her

Co-host: And let me guess! Kansa didn’t care.

Neev: Yeah! "Kansa picked Yogamaya up. "Die now” thundered evil Kansa as he threw Yogamaya to the ground. 

Co-host: Oh no! Vishnu please help!

Neev: Don’t worry! The baby-girl rose in the air. She was goddess Yognidra, who had been sent by Lord Vishnu to earth to teach Kansa a lesson. She warned him, ‘The one who will destroy you is already born! You cannot win’. She laughed and vanished into the sky. 

Co-host: (laughing) I am sure Kansa went from confident to completely panicked. He must have started plotting ways to find and destroy Krishna. 

Neev: Yeah! But he also realized  that it was futile to jail Devaki and Vasudeva. 

Co-host! No way! So he released them? That’s totally unexpected!

Neev: Meanwhile, in Gokul, Krishna was welcomed with joy and celebration. The village was alive with laughter, the smell of fresh butter, and the sound of cowherds playing. Beautiful gopis (female cowherds) shone in brightly coloured saris and flowers bloomed by the wayside.

Co-host: Fun fact: Krishna’s love for butter earned him the nickname 'Makhan Chor,' or butter thief. But we’ll get to his pranks later.

Neev: Nanda and Yashoda felt joy to see their children chuckle with laughter upon reaching Gokul. Lord Krishna's radiance was bright. His eyes shone like the stars and His sweet smile enchanted everyone. 

Co-host: It feels like how baby Superman landed in Smallville, and slowly Nanda and Yashoda will discover Lord Krishna's mighty powers.

Neev: Nanda and Yashoda arranged for the naming ceremony of both the children. Nanda wanted a revered sage to perform the ceremony. When the sage saw both the boys, he declared, "The two boys before you are sent from Heaven to destroy evil on earth. Many demons will attack them. But the two boys will prove victorious every timel"

Co-host: Really! Sage is revealing the secrets already! Wouldn’t that make the parents worried?

Neev: Well, let’s just say they had mixed feelings about this. 

Co-host: Yeah! I have mixed feelings too. But wasn’t baby Krishna mischievous? Let’s share some of those stories. I need to have some fun now!

Neev: Yeah! Krishna was quite the prankster. One day, while Yashoda was busy bathing in the Yamuna River, she left Krishna near a bullock cart, thinking he’d nap peacefully. But Krishna had other plans."

Co-host: Let me guess—nap time didn’t exactly go as planned?

Neev: Not even close! Krishna woke up and started flailing his arms and legs. Somehow, his tiny foot got caught in the cart’s wheel. The gopis nearby were terrified, thinking the cart would hurt him.

Co-host: But Krishna wasn’t just any baby, right? So, what happened?

Neev: With one mighty kick, Krishna overturned the entire cart! The gopis ran to Yashoda, who came rushing over. She was shocked to see the overturned cart but relieved to find Krishna safe. When the gopis explained what had happened, Yashoda and Nanda were amazed. They realized their son wasn’t just strong—he was extraordinary!

Co-host: Baby Hercules vibes, right? Except instead of lifting a cart, he’s flipping it with his feet!

Neev: Krishna’s divine nature wasn’t always obvious to the people of Gokul. For them, he was an adorable, mischievous child. But every now and then, something extraordinary happened that reminded everyone who Krishna truly was.

Co-host: Wait, let me guess. Something celestial?

Neev: Krishna playing in the courtyard with his brother, Balarama. As they played, Krishna did something that sent Balarama running to Yashoda in a panic.

Co-host: Uh-oh, what did he do? Let me guess—something muddy?

Neev: Exactly! Krishna had stuffed handfuls of wet clay into his mouth. Balarama shouted, ‘Mother, come quickly! Krishna is eating mud!

Co-host: Oooh mud! Doesn’t it smell tasty! I don’t blame Krishna!

Neev: Yashoda rushed out, horrified. She knelt down and said, ‘Krishna, open your mouth right now!’" Krishna shook his head, pretending to be innocent. But when Yashoda insisted, Krishna finally opened his mouth. What Yashoda saw left her speechless."

Co-host: Let me guess—it wasn’t just mud in there.

Neev: Far from it. Inside Krishna’s mouth, Yashoda saw the entire universe—galaxies, stars, the earth, the sun, the moon, and everything in between. She was stunned, realizing her son was no ordinary boy.

Co-host: Wow. Talk about a mic drop moment. Yashoda must have been freaking out!

Neev:
Here’s another story. One day, after a particularly mischievous morning, Yashoda decided to teach Krishna a lesson. She tied him to an okhli—a large mortar used for grinding spices.

Co-host: Yashoda must have thought, ‘Let’s see how you get into trouble now.’ Spoiler alert: he found a way, didn’t he?

Neev: Of course! Krishna smiled and began dragging the heavy okhli across the courtyard. Eventually, he walked between two giant trees—an Arjuna tree and an Amla tree—that stood side by side. The okhli got stuck, and Krishna pulled harder.

Co-host: Uh-oh. I feel like these trees are about to have a bad day.

Neev: You’re absolutely right. Krishna pulled so hard that both trees came crashing down, roots and all! The gopis, who were nearby, screamed in shock. One of them ran to call Yashoda, shouting, ‘Krishna has uprooted the trees!’

Co-host: How does Yashoda react to stuff like this? Like, do you just say, ‘Oh, typical Tuesday,’ or what?

Neev: And with that, baby Krishna has already shown us that he’s no ordinary child.  But what happens when Krishna grows older? For now, Krishna was safe in Gokul, but Kansa’s shadow loomed large. 

Co-host: Wow, what a journey! From prophecies to miraculous escapes, Krishna’s story is already off to an incredible start.

Neev: And it’s only going to get better! Next time, we’ll explore Krishna’s childhood in Gokul—his mischievous pranks, his powers, and yes, some encounters with demons.

Co-host: I can’t wait! Make sure to tune into our next episode!

Neev: Yes, make sure to follow and subscribe to Mythical Masala with Neev for more exciting adventures. Thanks for tuning in, and see you next time!