#devaki

@sundaralekhan day 3: women-centric romance

She is the youngest daughter of Devaka and a cousin of Kamsa through her uncle Ugrasena. She, along with her 6 older sisters, is married to Vasudeva, the son of Aryaka Shoora, the head of a competing Yadava family. In the Ghata-Jataka she is identified as Devagabhha, who gives all her children to a certain attendant called Nandagopa to raise for the time being.

She is also undeniably the mother of Krishna Vaasudeva- in fact the earliest mention that we have found of Krishna by name, in the Chadogya-upanishad, is when he is noted as 'Devaki-putra': "Tadhvaitada Ghora-Aangirasah Krishna-yah Devaki-putra-yah uktvaah uvaacha apipaasa eva sa vabhoova".

It is unclear if her sisters were already married to Vasudeva when her marriage was fixed, or whether they were married to him at Devaki's marriage altar (given conflicting versions exist).

During her marriage, there is a quarrel, where another Yadava cousin Somadatta tries to kidnap her from the altar to marry her himself. Aware of his plan, another cousin, Shini, pulls her away on to his chariot to save her. During this disagreement, Shini kicks Somadatta in the head.

The anger owing to this humiliation, Somadatta infuses in his son Bhoorisrava's head, and it all culminates in Bhoorisrava joining the Kaurava side during the war of Kurukshetra, just to exact revenge on Satyaki, Shini's grandson, and is finally killed by him.

The above story however, gives us a clear view of how Kamsa gained control of Mathura so easily, and so fast. This duel of Shini and Somadatta would have given him the perfect distraction to surround the lot of them with his own army contingents (probably a gift from Jarasandha), and also maybe already arrest his legal-father, Ugrasena.

Bhagavatam then presents a dramatic narrative where Kamsa hears a divine warning proclaiming that Devaki's son will eventually kill him, and then he imprisons both Devaki and Vasudeva after exacting a promise from the latter to get free rein to murder all of Devaki's children.

However, knowing Vasudeva's overall command of the parliament, the above seems like a case of poetic exaggeration, and the couple, after a successful coup led by Kamsa, became politically powerless but were otherwise free to live in their own quarters in Mathura, maybe under supervision or at max, a house arrest.

Then, as per the popular retelling (supported by Bhagavatam), Devaki gives birth to six children, and they are all murdered by Kamsa. Her seventh son is magically transported to Rohini's womb in Gokula, and Krishna is the eighth. Harivamsha and most of the older documents however present a slightly different story.

Here, Balarama is the oldest child of Vasudeva's and Rohini is noted to be pregnant even at the time of Devaki's wedding (after, or slightly before, that drama she flees Mathura and takes up residence with Nanda-gopa, and Balarama is born there, no magic). Bala-charita notes Krishna as the seventh child and Harivamsha notes him as the eighth, but overall, given among Devaki's children he is still seventh.

About the six children too, Dr. Bhaduri, present an interesting analysis. He recounts the backstory given for them in Harivamsha, where the sons of Kalanemi are reborn as Devaki's kids bearing a curse to be killed by their father (that being Kamsa, Kalanemi's Dvapara reincarnation). Together, these danavas are called the 'Shadgarbha'. However, Harivamsha never once clarifies if there are 'six' sons of just one. Hence, Dr. Bhaduri posits that there could have been just one child, named Shadgarbha at birth who was then murdered by Kamsa, making Krishna Devaki's second child, and the name of that one child itself going on to create a ripple effect of new stories in the subsequent puranas. He notes that the narrator of Harivamsha very much uses singular indicators for the child, locking in this possibility. This explanation maintains the 2-3 year age gap between Krishna and Balarama (even though this causes issues with lining them up with the Pandavas) all while maintaining the birth order where Balarama is the oldest.

The night Krishna is born, we know, it was a night of torrential rain. Again subverting Bhagavatham's description of a calm, post-rain lull, in the older text, Krishna is born with the storm fully raging on outside, it rather being an indicator of the tumultuous, transformative life that he is going to lead. Taking advantage of people's fear of this near-calamity, Vasudeva is able to give Kamsa's guards a slip, and he manages to exchange baby-Krishna with the stillborn(??) daughter of Nanda.

Once Devaki gets a hold of the other baby, she tries her level best to shield her as well from Kamsa but is unable to do so, and we also get Yogamaya, the preceptor deity behind the child, warn Kamsa again, post-which overcome with guilt Kamsa backpedals a bit. Her warning can also be explained by the gossip spread by some citizens who might have seen Vasudeva execute his own plans. Here, we see Devaki, though still angry within, be kind to a now-sobbing and apologizing Kamsa and embrace him 'like a mother' [giving a glimpse into how their relationship might have been before this].

Near to his end, Kamsa has called for an emergency midnight sabha of all the Yadava families, invited her and Vasudeva, specifically insulting them and trying to force them to give up Krishna's location (even though it was more of an open secret at that point). This time we see, for the first time in maybe twenty-five years, the former parliament takes a stand, unanimously rebuking Kamsa (mostly confident given their previous talks with Krishna himself and having secured his go-ahead for this). This terrifies the dictator who promptly sends Akroora to immediately bring Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, 'in chains if need be'!

Akroora, without any drama, sits Krishna, Balarama and Nanda down and explains the situation in brief. He then launches into a long-winded expositions about Devaki's mental state given she is probably one of the people that have been most directly and viscerally affected by this turn of events. Akroora also tries to emotionally sway Krishna (wasn't needed, really, but it does set the tone for this character going forward), but telling him, in great detail, how his parents are being insulted just for trying to keep him alive (never mind a parent's inherent duty!).

I personally do not think Devaki would have appreciated being used as a point of manipulation to push her son towards a situation that she has sacrificed so much to have him avoid! Regardless, Krishna had already made up his mind to go, so it didn't matter as much, but he too was annoyed at being micromanaged into doing his duty.

When Krishna finally kills Kamsa, we see Vasudeva (rather than one of the brothers), take charge of the situation. He does it with such finesse, that even Ugrasena and Padmavati have to pull Krishna aside to convince his father to let Padmavati complete the final rites of her son (if it was up to Vasudeva, he would probably hang him up for the public to see!).

☀ SHRI KRISHNA ☀

“I trust in my wisdom and intuition by learning into the mystery of the unconscious. I remaining open to the Knowledge and insights that are being revealed to me" being”

The High Priestess Symbolises Esoterism and Veils Between worlds the High Priestess is the Grone, the Nother and the Maiden through out there life being both the Authority and the Messager

Symbols

Planet: Moon

Animals: Dogs, Camels and Storks

Plants: Hazel, Pomegranatus. Moonwort, cyress, Jasmine, Melon, Lotus and Cotton

Musical Note: G

Crystals: Aquamarine, Labradorite, Black Tourmaline(for Boaz) and Moonstone(for Jachin)

Gods: Hekate, Isis, Persephone, Selene, Cerridwen, Ganesha, Tsukiyomi, Nimue, Devaki, Hathor, The Triple Moon Goddess and Ect…

That night it rained. Vasudeva huddled in the corner of their cell, drawing a moaning Devaki close to himself. Lightning flashed through the high, barred window, and the rumble of thunder followed.

He was brawn, his biceps clasping his foe betwixt them as he thrashed him to the ground in a trice. His knuckles morphed white, blue-black curls which donned an iridescent peacock feather all the time bellowed at his outrage and danced upon his shoulders. His warm hazel eyes, which were oceans of compassion blazed like the dancing flames of fire, rage filling him at the mere sight of his imprisoned parents, at them from whom he had to part right after his birth.

A nine year old Satyabhama witnessed in awe, the glory of the son of Devaki, of whom she had harkened limitless narratives of. Of his bravery, his extraordinary strength and prowess at slaying demons which his own maternal uncle sent for the sole purpose of killing him right from his very first day in the world. The eleven and a half year old boy afore her chocolate eyes wasn't the cowherd of Vrindāvana, he was the Kāla of Kamsa and his tyranny at Mathurā. Vraja leela had come to a cease, and this was the commencement of his Mathura leela.

Gritting in his teeth, the immoral son of Ugrasena jumped to his feet and pounced upon his sororal nephew, desiring to push him to the ground with all his vitality, but to no avail. Satyabhama's Madhava stood like a bull among men, his feet on the ground as firm as his character and resolution. He was to be known as Yogeshvara after all, a title bestowed to him which made him the lord of yogis. Krishna was Leela Purushottama, the best among men.

"If you lose, my lovely nephew, then you die. And if I do, your guile parents and vicious grandfather will be pushed in the mouth of death, Krishna!" Kamsa sneered, reminding him the rules of this duel and casted a spontaneous glance on the executioners. "I'll kill you." every syllable he uttered dripped acid, his eyes now bloodshot.

"We shall see that, dearest uncle." Kanha scoffed, his eyes a swirling melange of his fury and the agony that sprang in him at the sight of his children who cried 'Trahi! Trahi!' over the years. Ugrasena, Devaki and Vasudeva, raised their palms in abhaya mudra, blessing the lord who bowed his head subtly, assuring them with a sempiternal seraphic smile. The shackled royals stood at a dais, awaiting to be guillotined the moment their Kanha would dispatch his vicious uncle to the afterlife.

Kamsa marred his face with a sickly scowl, growling as his nephew dodged his blow and twisted his arm, hauling him to the demesne once again. Krishna's clenched jaw twitched a muscle, the grim look on his face speaking of his ability of creation and destruction, his fierce form which the universe seldom witnessed.

Clasping her father's angavastram in her dainty fingers, Satyabhama concealed herself behind him, feeling her heart thump at the sight of a howling Kamsa as her curious eyes remained rooted to Kanha. Her eyes met his for a split second, and the daughter of Satrajita was swayed off her feet. She found in his eyes, a zephyr of his pure love kissing her heart. She knew that Bhudevi would forever belong to her Varahadeva, this form or the other. Much like how Hara-Gauri and Medha-Brahma belonged to each other alone - from the beginning of time, now and for the rest of eternity too.

'When have we ever parted, Bhamae?' he teased and she almost facepalmed at his mischief.

'Even at this time, hey Naatha?' The mystical curl of her lips and the scarlet of her cheeks were enough to amuse and confuse the merchant of Dvaraka, her father Satrajita at the same time as he failed to notice the warm and similar aureole the two kids radiated, being the parents of the universe.

'Never ever, my lord.' the corner of her lips tugged up, her chest swelled up in pride as she faced the duel arena once again. Her vaatsalya dripping doe eyes softened as she took in the form of a thoroughly exhausted Kamsa, catching his breath as he glared daggers at her lord. 'Convey Jaya back to our home in Vaikuntha. It is time.'

With a final groan, the manifestation of MahaVishnu pounced upon his maternal uncle, sending him flying back. A last, harsh blow of a fist and Kamsa breathed his last, his eyes rolling to the back as he was freed from his sinister body. Waiting with bated breaths, some adored Keshava while some loathed, some were left dumbstruck while others seemed pained.

A triumphant outcry erupted in the arena and Satyabhama released the breath she didn't know she had been holding in. Haladhara ruthlessly smashed Kamsa's supporters who attempted to ambush his baby brother. Resting his mighty mace on his shoulders, he gave a wide sarcastic grin to the ones who cowered away.

With a lone solemn glance, Krishna turned to the executioners of Kamsa who held his family and had been ordered to execute the instant Kamsa would lose. And within a fraction of second, Vasudeva, Devaki and Ugrasena were set independent, now breathing a sigh of relief.

Krishna gingerly strutted to his aunts with folded palms, Asti and Prapti who lamented and beat their breasts at the commencement of their widowhood by the corpse of their late husband. "Even though I tried my best to prevent it, it is I who has caused you great sorrow, Aunt. Please bestow me with forgiveness." his facial features bore torment and his gaze remained rooted to the floor, guilt eating him up from the inside. The daughters of Jarasandha then instantaneously left for their father's abode, Magadha. Satyabhama's shoulders dropped in dismay, knowing where this was going.

Mushtika, Chanoora and after the elephant Kuvalayapeeta, Krishna had passed the final hurdle named Kamsa like a child's play. Ultimately a new sun emerged from the back of the mountains, emitting rays that marked the break of dawn. A dawn of dharmarājya in Mathura. But, would it prevail for a prolonged period of time?

Grimacing, Satyabhama shook her head to clear her thoughts. For, for the world she had been a mere child and she had to keep everyone in that illusion, everywhen.

"Putri, come!" called Satrajit when he had scurried to the Yādava family. Pulling up a beatific beam, she twirled and hopped in her steps. Every step pulling her closer to where her Avyukta was, her giggles representing the ecstasy of the universe.

"What is your name, child?" Vasudeva smiled, noticing the way Kanha's gaze never left Satrajiti.

"Satyabhama." came the prompt, chirpy reply. The birds began singing melodies sweeter than honey as pleasant winds enveloped the arena.

Satyabhama, sang the universe, much like how the sound Om repeated itself over and over again.

Satyabhama, her name was like clouds weeping elixir, breathing life in barren lands.

"Satyabhama." Balarama repeated, almost in a whisper. "Beaming with truth. A jewel among women that you already seem like, little sister." he beamed as Ugrasena cooed at the child too.

"Indeed."

Devaki ran an affectionate hand in the midnight black tresses of the doe-eyed girl who in turn batted her eyelashes innocently, almost casting a spell on everyone. Krishna's feet drew him to his Bhama, her magnetism like that of the sun, and her petite frame only seemed to be squirming in front of his brawn one. A wine hued blush coated her cheeks as she lost and found herself in his lotus orbs at the same time.

"Satrajiti." he pronounced, his eyes bearing the purest form of love for his eternal consort.

'Priyatamā.'

"Rajkumar." she breathed, feeling him in her soul like she always did.

Below the cut for mentions of miscarriage and child death.