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Indian Literature

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Submitted By rubelle07
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Objectives:
Objectives:

At the end of the Discussion, the students will be able to: 1. Understand the Story of Krishna’s birth 2. Identify the Literary Elements of the Story. 3. Discover Indian Culture through their Literature. Read and Learn!
Read and Learn!

The Birth of Shri Krishna
The birth of Krishna is in itself a transcendental phenomenon that generates awe among the Hindus and overwhelms one and all with its supra mundane happenings.
Mother Earth, unable to bear the burden of sins committed b y evil kings and rulers, appealed to Brahma, the Creator for help. Brahma prayed to the Supreme Lord Vishnu, who assured him that he would soon be born on earth to annihilate tyrannical forces.
One such evil force was Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura (in northern India) and his people were utterly terrified of him. On the day Kamsa's sister Devaki was married off to Vasudeva, an akashvani or voice from the sky was heard prophesying that Devaki's 8th son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. The frightened Kamsa immediately unsheathed his sword to kill his sister but Vasudeva intervened and implored Kamsa to spare his bride, and promised to hand over every new born child to him.
Kamsa relented but imprisoned both Devaki and her husband Vasudeva.
When Devaki gave birth to her first child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this way, he killed the first six sons of Devaki. Even before her 8th child was born, Devaki and Vasudeva started lamenting its fate and theirs. Then suddenly Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said he himself was coming to rescue them and the people of Mathura. He asked Vasudeva to carry him to the house of his friend, the cowherd chief Nanda in Gokula right after his birth, where Nanda's wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter.
He was to exchange his boy and bring Yashoda's baby daughter back to the prison. Vishnu assured them that "nothing shall bar your path".
At midnight on ashtami, the divine baby was born in Kamsa's prison. Remembering the divine instructions, Vasudeva clasped the child to his bosom and started for Gokula, but found that his legs were in chains. He jerked his legs and was unfettered! The massive iron-barred doors unlocked and opened up.
While crossing river Yamuna, Vasudeva held his baby high over his head. The rain fell in torrents and the river was in spate. But the water made way for Vasudeva and miraculously a five-mouthed snake followed him from behind and provided shelter over the baby.
When Vasudeva reached Gokula, he found the door of Nanda's house open. He exchanged the babies and hurried back to the prison of Kamsa with the baby girl. Early in the morning, all the people at Gokula rejoiced the birth of Nanda's beautiful male child. Vasudeva came back to Mathura and as he entered, the doors of the prison closed themselves.
When Kamsa came to know about the birth, he rushed inside the prison and tried to kill the baby. But this time it skipped from his hand and reaching the sky. She was transformed into the goddess Yogamaya, who told Kamsa: "O foolish! What will you get by killing me? Your nemesis is already born somewhere else."
In his youth Krishna killed Kamsa along with all his cruel associates, liberated his parents from prison, and reinstated Ugrasen as the King of Mathura.

Let’s find out!
Let’s find out!

LITERARY ELEMENTS Themes: * Heroism Pride and downfall * Discovery - discovering strength * Home - security of a homestead Symbols: Mathura : holy city and was under the rule of tyrannical king Kamsa Kamsa : Son of Ugrasena , greedy and cunning king Vasudev: King of Yadus, husband of Devaki Deavaki : Sister of Kamsa Oracle : The divine voice that warns Kamsa of his death Krishna : Eighth son of Vasudev and Devaki which Kamsa was trying to kill because this child will said to kill him. King Nanda, Queen Yashoda : The ruler of the Gokul Kingdom and become the parents of Krishna
Political Issues:
Mathura was under the rule of a tyrannical king named Kamsa. Kamsa was so greedy and cunning that he not even spared his father Ugrasena; having imprisoned him kamsa declared himself to be the King of Mathura. Ugrasena was a nice ruler, and Kamsa was just the opposite. It was a trying time for the commoners of Mathura to put up with Kamsa's extravagance and unfair rule. above all this, Kamsa locked his horns time and again with the rulers of the Yadu dynasty which led to frequent wars and troubled the peace-loving citizens of Mathura.
Social Issues: When a good news came about the wedding of Princess Devaki and King Vasudev of Yadu Dynasty the people of Matura became happy. The Mathura citizens welcomed the wedding, for it surely meant that Kamsa’s frequent wars with the Yadu dynasty would come to an end. Mathura wore a festive look. Everyone was in festive spirits. Even the usually desolate citizens of Mathura were looking happy. and that was a great thing to see, since the people of Mathura did not smile often. How cold they, with such an awful king like Kamsa to guide them
Values:
Lord Sri Krishna was inexplicably attractive and enthralling. There are countless fascinating stories to direct that the Divine is attractive. This is so that the little attractions that the mind longs for are freed and that is why he is called Man Mohana. The Taste of love hooks you on to the infinity, to the Divinity and intoxicates you. The power of the cosmos with the knowledge brings not only stability but also infinite bliss in life.

References
References

www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/birth_of_sri_krishna.htm http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/indian_mythology_stories/ http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Go-Hi/Hinduism-and-Mythology.html
http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordkrishna/p/krishna_birth.htm

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