Krishna - The Dark Lord of Dwaraka

Kamsa behaved more and more as a tyrant and was

particularly vicious to the other wives of Vasudeva. The wives
fled and hid in the various villages in the outskirts of Mathura.
Rohini who was the sister of Yashoda, fled and stayed at
Gokula with Yashoda and her husband Nanda, who was the
chief of the cowherds there.
The Brahma Vairvatha Purana has a very interesting story in
this connection.
In the times of old, when Kashyap had married the thirteen
daughters of Daksha, he would spend equal times with all his
wives and keep them happy. At one such time, when he was
with Kadru, the mother of all the Nagas, the eldest sister Aditi
was impatiently waiting for Kashyap to come home. When
Aditi realized that Kashyap was delayed because he was at
Kadru's house, Aditi cursed Kadru to be born as a human.
It is said that it was because of the curse that Kadru was born
as Rohini, one of the wives of Vasudeva.
(The Harivamsa gives another account for the incarnation of
Rohini. The story says that Sage Kashyap stole Varuna's cow
with the help of two of his wives Aditi and Surabhi.
Because of this they were cursed to be born as cowherds. Sage
Kashyap was born as Vasudeva, Aditi was born as Devaki and
Surabhi was born as Rohini.)
Nanda and Yashoda who were the chief of the cowherds in
the village of Gokula have a very interesting story behind
them.
The eldest Vasu of the heavens was Drona and his wife was
the pious Dhara. Together the two of them performed penance
for many many years. The only reason they performed the
penance was to see Lord Narayana with their own eyes. After
long years of penance they heard the glorious voice of the
Lord. 'Not only would you see the Lord, you would bring him
up, in your next lives!'
It is said that Drona and Dharma were born as Nanda and
Yashoda for this very reason.
************
After the death of her first six sons, Devaki was now carrying
her seventh child.
Lord Vishnu in the heavens, knew that now that the six
Sadha-Garbhas were released from their bondage, the next
child of Devaki could not be allowed be to be killed.
He smiled as he called for Maya, the Goddess of Illusion. 'The
seventh child of Devaki is Aadi Sesha! Devaki is in prison
and she cannot bring up her seventh child! You may have to
transfer the womb to another mother!'
Goddess Maya understood as she came to earth. Using her
powers, she transferred the child in Devaki's womb to a safe
place....far away.
Devaki was shocked when she felt something different.
Something had changed. As Devaki realized what it was, she
broke out weeping.

In the village of Gokula, Rohini was astonished, because she
was suddenly looking radiant. She felt an intense power
within her and slowly realized that a child was growing in her
womb....

After the birth of the six children of Devaki, Kamsa was
keeping a close watch on her. He was shocked when he saw
that the seventh child was no longer in Devaki's womb. Now
Kamsa was even more worried. Was the child which was
going to be born now, the seventh child or the eighth
child? He wondered.
Fuming Kamsa decided that Devaki and Vasudeva had to be
under constant vigil and put them in prison.


Rohini became the surrogate mother of the seventh child of
Devaki and she gave birth to a beautiful and strong child, who
was named as Rama.