Yashoda

Yashoda

Yashoda adorning Krishna by Raja Ravi Varma
Devanagari यशोदा
Consort Nanda

Yashoda (Yaśodā), also spelt as Yasoda, is the foster-mother to the god Krishna and a wife of Nanda in the Puranic texts of Hinduism. Within the Bhagavata Purana, it is described that Krishna who was born to Devaki, was given to Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul exchanging her daughter Yogmaya by Krishna's father Vasudeva on the night of his birth, for his protection from Devaki's brother, Kansa, the king of Mathura.

Yashoda and Krishna

Krishna Foster Mother Yashoda with the Infant Krishna. Chola period early 12th century, Tamil Nadu, India.
Illustration of a Bhagavata Purana manuscript, ca. 1500 A.D.

Various childhood episodes or Lilas of Krishna, growing in Yashoda's household abound in Hindu religious texts, important amongst them are, Krishna giving darshan to Yashoda with his Vishwaroopa or his Divine Form. Also it is stated by Ved Vyasa in Mahabharata, the main Epic which portrays Krishna as principal hero, that venerable sage Maharishi Narada once visited Krishna at Brindavan.

Krishna as usual was playing in sand and was swallowing it. Mother Yashoda, upon seeing it, was furious with Krishna for disobeying her and punished Krishna by tying him to a grinding stone. Upon witnessing this act a couplet broke forth Sage Narada "Enna Thavam Saidhanai, Yashoda" which in Tamil literally means: "What penance have You (Mother Yashoda) undertaken to be bestowed with the powers to punish the supreme (Narayana)". And also seen as a question to Naryana himself as to how he accepts all this. It literally means what penance Yashoda had undertaken in her previous birth to be bestowed upon with the powers to punish, love, and care for the Supreme Vishnu.

Upon this request it is said that Krishna opens his mouth in front of Yashoda who sees the Seven Oceans, the entire Universe with its vast expanse and also Narayana seated upon Adishesha (The Divine Snake), attended upon by his beloved consort Mahalakshmi. Upon this divine intervention, Mother Yashoda faints only to be revived by Krishna and attended by Sage Narada, who explains to her about Krishna's Life.,[1] Krishna stealing the butter, Krishna tied to mortar[2] especially in couplets written by poet-saint Surdas,[3] where her deep affection for Krishna becomes an epitome of 'Vatsalya Prema', Mother's Love and even 'Vatsalya Bhakti’, Mother's Devotion,.[4][5]

Yashoda and Balarama

Yasoda also played an important role in the upbringing of Krishna's elder brother Balarama (the son of Rohini) and sister Subhadra. She also had a daughter of her own known as Ekānaṅgā.

Yasodha Selfless mother

She is the mother of Yogamaya(kali) and Krishna. Yogamaya(Durga Goddess) was born to her. Due to influence of maya the Whole World were asleep. As per Krishna's instruction the baby was exchanged by Vasudeva. Yasodha was unaware that she gave birth to a daughter. She thought that she gave birth to putra (son) Sri krishna and was more committed to Her son (Krishna) even after He returned to Mathura.

Yashoda and Vindhyavasini Devi

According to Devi Bhagwat Purana, Kansa, the ruler of Mathura had decided to kill his sister Devaki's son Krishna as soon as he was born. In order to protect Krishna from Kansa, Krishna and Yoganidra or Yogamaya were born at the same time from the wombs of Devaki and Yashoda respectively and were exchanged by Vasudeva. Krishna survived as foster son of Yashoda. While Kansa tried to kill Yogamaya, Yashoda's daughter, she assumes her real form as Devi and flown to sky.She then retired to dwell in Vindhya hills as Vindhyavasini Devi.[6]

See also

Modern works

Yashoda Krishna, a 1975 Telugu film directed by C. S. Rao.[7] The film picturised the some events in the life of Krishna and his attachment towards Yashoda. Sridevi played a role of the child Krishna in the film.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yashoda.
  1. ↑ Story of Krishna and Yashoda
  2. ↑ Krishna Tied to Mortar
  3. ↑ Maata Vachan
  4. ↑ Vatsalya
  5. ↑ Yashoda and Krishna
  6. ↑ Ravindra K. Jain (2002). Between History and Legend: Status and Power in Bundelkhand. Orient Blackswan. pp. 31–32. ISBN 9788125021940.
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187604/
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