Short Krishna Stories | Janmashtami Stories for Kids

Stories on Sri Krishna for Janmashtami

In the era of the Svayambhuva Manu, prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni were instructed by Lord Brahma to have progeny. They performed severe austerities for twelve thousand years of the demigods to have the Lord as their child. Pleased by their austerities the Lord appeared and granted them this benediction. Since He gave them this benediction three times, in Satya-yuga He first appeared as the son of Prsni and Sutapa and was called Prsnigarba. In Treta-yuga they were Aditi and Kasyapa Muni and the Lord appeared as Vamanadeva. Finally in the Dvapara yuga, Krishna in His original form, appeared as the child of Devaki and Vasudeva. Krishna appeared specifically on the request of Bhudevi, the presiding deity of the Earth planet. Distressed by the burden of many demons who had appeared as powerful Kshatriyas and were ruling the planet impiously, she assumed the form of a cow and pleaded to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma with all the demigods prayed to Lord Vishnu in Svetadvipa by chanting the Purusa-sukta prayers. At this time the Lord informed Brahma that in order to establish religiosity and destroy evil, He would soon appear as His original Self. In the meantime the various demigods were instructed to take birth in various families in the Yadu dynasty and prepare for the appearance of the Lord.

Lord Krishna - Idol of Bal Gopal

Draped in silk and decorated with Jewels, Krishna, was born in his four-armed form of Vishnu Avatar. Sri Krishna appeared on the Earth with four weapons- the conch, club, disc and lotus. Parents of Sri Krishna wished and prayed to almighty to turn Sri Krishna into an ordinary baby as it was really very important for them to hide the little baby from Kamsa. The Lord listened to them and asked Vasudeva, the father of Sri Krishna, to take him to Vrindavan in order to exchange Sri Krishna with a newly born baby girl. It was due to the Lord’s grace Sri Krishna turned in a baby.

It was surprising that suddenly all the shackles and chains of the prison of Kamsa broke to make way for Vasudeva. All the guards of the prison fell asleep to make the process smooth and hassle-free. Vasudeva went out carrying his little baby without throwing questions to anyone. Vasudeva went across the holy Jamuna River to Vrindavana. When all the cowherds were asleep, Vasudeva entered into the house of Nanda with Krishna quietly. He placed his son on the bed of Yasoda. While returning back to his own shack, he picked up the newly born baby girl.

The omen said that the eight son of Vasudeva would kill Kamsa. So, there was a chance that Kamsa would spare the baby girl. However, Kamsa listened to no one; he dragged the little girl and thrashed her against a stone. He didn’t even bother to lend an ear to Devaki’s entreat. Suddenly, the girl slipped out of his hands and magically took the shape of the holy Hindu deity, Durga. Draped in fine garments and jewels, she rose above the head of Kamsa. Devi Durga uttered, "The enemy you contemplate is living somewhere else. You are a fool to hurt innocent children. Krishna will kill you."

Showing regret, the repentant Kamsa, begged to Devaki and Vasudeva to forgive him for his sins. He released both of them from shackles and opened the chains. He cried falling down on their feet. On the very next day, nevertheless, he was suggested and advised by all his ministers to kill all the new born babies in and around the entire territory. He gave up his emotional and sentimental attitude in order to kill all the newborn babies.

The Birth of Lord Shri Krishna