Devaki (Sanskrit: देवकी, IAST: Devakī) is a character in Hindu literature, most noted for being the mother of the god Krishna.[1][2] She is one of the seven daughters of Devapa or Devaka, a king of the Yadu dynasty, and has four brothers.[3] She is one of the wives of Vasudeva.[4] Her cousin is Kamsa,[5][6] the king of Mathura, a cruel tyrant who had been told by Narada that he had been an asura killed by Vishnu in his previous life (Kalanemi), exacerbating his wickedness.[7] According to popular tradition, Devaki is considered to be an incarnation of Aditi, a mother goddess who was the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Kashyapa.[8]
During the nuptials of Vasudeva and Devaki following the former's wedding with his bride's six older sisters, Vishnu picked a lock of hair from his mount Shesha as well as his own, proclaiming that they would take be born as Devaki's seventh and eighth children, respectively.[9] After the marriage ceremony, Kamsa volunteered to escort the newly-weds to Mathura and drove their chariot. A celestial voice, an aśarīrī, prophesied that the eighth child of Devaki would become Kamsa's death, and deliver the land from his wickedness. Angered, Kamsa rose to kill Devaki, but was stopped by Vasudeva, who promised to give each child to Kamsa, whom he would subsequently kill.[10][11][12]
Imprisonment
Birth and escape of Krishna.
Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned by Kamsa due to the paranoia that had taken root in the tyrant's mind.[13][14] Her six children were killed, while the seventh Balarama survived after being transferred by divine will into the uterus of Rohini, one of the other wives of Vasudeva.[15][16]
Devaki's six dead sons were named Kírttimat, Sushena, Udayin, Bhadrasena, Rijudasa, and Bhadradeha.[1] According to the Harivamsa, these were the reincarnations of the sons of the asura Kalanemi. They had performed intense austerities to worship the creator deity Brahma, unbeknownst to their own grandfather, Hiranyakashipu. The latter, furious at their actions, cursed them to be born on earth and be slain by Kamsa, who himself was a form of their father.[17]
Devaki soon mothered Balarama through the surrogacy of Rohini.[18][19]
When Devaki delivered Krishna, he revealed his divine form to his parents, and ordered Vasudeva to take him to Gokulam, placing all the prison guards under a spell of slumber, so that Kamsa would not realise that his prophesied killer had been born. Vasudeva swapped Krishna with Yogamaya, the daughter who had been born to Nanda and Yashoda on the very same day, and returned to the cell.[20]
When Kamsa stormed into the chamber after the spell had worn out, he deduced that Devaki had given birth to a girl. Devaki protested against the killing of the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda, but Kamsa hurled her against a rock, recognising that the gender of his prophesied slayer had not been specified. Yashoda's daughter transformed into an eight-armed goddess, and stated, "Fool, your destroyer has already been born elsewhere." She subsequently vanished into the heavens.[18]
Devaki and Vasudeva's imprisonment came to an end after Kamsa's death.[21]
Salvation to the Sadgarbhas
Devaki, upon hearing how Krishna restored his Guru Sandipani's son, wished to see her own children.[22] Krishna acceded her request and brought the children to Devaki from Patala.[22][23] She nursed them with her milk and they attained heaven.[23]
Death
After the passing of Vasudeva after the Yadu massacre, Devaki cremated herself on Vasudeva's pyre, performing sati, along with his other wives, Rohini, Bhadra, and Madira.[24]
Worship
A painting of Devaki with Krishna
In the state of Goa, Devaki Krishna Sansthan temple is a unique temple, perhaps is the only temple in India where Krishna is worshiped alongside mother Devaki. The main deity Devakikrishna and affiliate deities of Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar were originally located at Choodamani island (Chorão island of today). To avoid persecution during the Goa Inquisition they were taken to Mayem in Bicholim and from there shifted to the present location at Mashel. The garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the temple has an idol of Devaki and Krishna. The idol of Devaki is in standing posture holding baby Krishna with her left hand.[25]
^Devaki bore eight children, but the first six were killed by her cousin Kamsa upon their birth. Balarama was conceived by Devaki, but he was transferred into the womb of Rohini by the goddess Yogamaya.
^Mani, Vettam (1 January 2015). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 210. ISBN978-81-208-0597-2.
^Chapple, Christopher Key (19 March 2009). The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition. SUNY Press. p. 14. ISBN978-1-4384-2841-3.
^Herman, A. L. (4 May 2018). A Brief Introduction To Hinduism: Religion, Philosophy, And Ways Of Liberation. Routledge. p. 20. ISBN978-0-429-98238-5.
^Knapp, Stephen (2005). The Heart of kshatriya Hinduism: The Eastern Path to Freedom, Empowerment And Illumination. iUniverse. ISBN978-0-595-35075-9.
^Mani, Vettam (1 January 2015). Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 210. ISBN978-81-208-0597-2.
^Monaghan, Patricia (1 April 2014). Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines. New World Library. p. 95. ISBN978-1-60868-218-8.
^"harivaMsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva: Chapter 1 - Advent of Narada and Kamsa's Response". from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
^The Mahabharata, Book 16: Mausala Parva: Section 7.
^"Devkikrishna Temple, Marcel". www.goatourism.gov.in. Govt of Goa. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
May 14, 2023
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This article is about the mother of Krishna For other uses see Devaki disambiguation Devaki Sanskrit द वक IAST Devaki is a character in Hindu literature most noted for being the mother of the god Krishna 1 2 She is one of the seven daughters of Devapa or Devaka a king of the Yadu dynasty and has four brothers 3 She is one of the wives of Vasudeva 4 Her cousin is Kamsa 5 6 the king of Mathura a cruel tyrant who had been told by Narada that he had been an asura killed by Vishnu in his previous life Kalanemi exacerbating his wickedness 7 According to popular tradition Devaki is considered to be an incarnation of Aditi a mother goddess who was the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Kashyapa 8 DevakiKrishna and Balarama meet their parents Painting by Raja Ravi Varma TextsBhagavata Purana MahabharataPersonal informationParentsDevaka Devapa father SiblingsDhrtadeva Santideva Upadeva Srideva Devaraksita and Sahadeva Sisters Devavana Upadeva Sudeva Devavardhana Brothers SpouseVasudevaChildrenBalarama and Krishna Subhadra step daughter Sadgarbha First six children a DynastyYaduvamsha Contents 1 Marriage 2 Imprisonment 3 Salvation to the Sadgarbhas 4 Death 5 Worship 6 See also 7 Notes 8 ReferencesMarriage Edit Vasudeva and Devaki traveling in a carriage During the nuptials of Vasudeva and Devaki following the former s wedding with his bride s six older sisters Vishnu picked a lock of hair from his mount Shesha as well as his own proclaiming that they would take be born as Devaki s seventh and eighth children respectively 9 After the marriage ceremony Kamsa volunteered to escort the newly weds to Mathura and drove their chariot A celestial voice an asariri prophesied that the eighth child of Devaki would become Kamsa s death and deliver the land from his wickedness Angered Kamsa rose to kill Devaki but was stopped by Vasudeva who promised to give each child to Kamsa whom he would subsequently kill 10 11 12 Imprisonment Edit Birth and escape of Krishna Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned by Kamsa due to the paranoia that had taken root in the tyrant s mind 13 14 Her six children were killed while the seventh Balarama survived after being transferred by divine will into the uterus of Rohini one of the other wives of Vasudeva 15 16 Devaki s six dead sons were named Kirttimat Sushena Udayin Bhadrasena Rijudasa and Bhadradeha 1 According to the Harivamsa these were the reincarnations of the sons of the asura Kalanemi They had performed intense austerities to worship the creator deity Brahma unbeknownst to their own grandfather Hiranyakashipu The latter furious at their actions cursed them to be born on earth and be slain by Kamsa who himself was a form of their father 17 Devaki soon mothered Balarama through the surrogacy of Rohini 18 19 When Devaki delivered Krishna he revealed his divine form to his parents and ordered Vasudeva to take him to Gokulam placing all the prison guards under a spell of slumber so that Kamsa would not realise that his prophesied killer had been born Vasudeva swapped Krishna with Yogamaya the daughter who had been born to Nanda and Yashoda on the very same day and returned to the cell 20 When Kamsa stormed into the chamber after the spell had worn out he deduced that Devaki had given birth to a girl Devaki protested against the killing of the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda but Kamsa hurled her against a rock recognising that the gender of his prophesied slayer had not been specified Yashoda s daughter transformed into an eight armed goddess and stated Fool your destroyer has already been born elsewhere She subsequently vanished into the heavens 18 Devaki and Vasudeva s imprisonment came to an end after Kamsa s death 21 Salvation to the Sadgarbhas EditDevaki upon hearing how Krishna restored his Guru Sandipani s son wished to see her own children 22 Krishna acceded her request and brought the children to Devaki from Patala 22 23 She nursed them with her milk and they attained heaven 23 Death EditAfter the passing of Vasudeva after the Yadu massacre Devaki cremated herself on Vasudeva s pyre performing sati along with his other wives Rohini Bhadra and Madira 24 Worship Edit A painting of Devaki with Krishna In the state of Goa Devaki Krishna Sansthan temple is a unique temple perhaps is the only temple in India where Krishna is worshiped alongside mother Devaki The main deity Devakikrishna and affiliate deities of Bhumika Devi Laxmi Ravalnath Mallinath Katyayani Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar were originally located at Choodamani island Chorao island of today To avoid persecution during the Goa Inquisition they were taken to Mayem in Bicholim and from there shifted to the present location at Mashel The garbhagriha inner sanctum of the temple has an idol of Devaki and Krishna The idol of Devaki is in standing posture holding baby Krishna with her left hand 25 See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Devaki Iringole Kavu Yogmaya Temple Gomanta KingdomNotes Edit Devaki bore eight children but the first six were killed by her cousin Kamsa upon their birth Balarama was conceived by Devaki but he was transferred into the womb of Rohini by the goddess Yogamaya References Edit a b XV The Vishnu Purana Book IV p 438 123 The Mahabharata Book VI Sacred texts com p 311 Mani Vettam 1 January 2015 Puranic Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature Motilal Banarsidass p 210 ISBN 978 81 208 0597 2 XIV The Vishnu Purana Book IV Sacred texts com p 435 Chapple Christopher Key 19 March 2009 The Bhagavad Gita Twenty fifth Anniversary Edition SUNY Press p 14 ISBN 978 1 4384 2841 3 Herman A L 4 May 2018 A Brief Introduction To Hinduism Religion Philosophy And Ways Of Liberation Routledge p 20 ISBN 978 0 429 98238 5 Knapp Stephen 2005 The Heart of kshatriya Hinduism The Eastern Path to Freedom Empowerment And Illumination iUniverse ISBN 978 0 595 35075 9 Mani Vettam 1 January 2015 Puranic Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature Motilal Banarsidass p 210 ISBN 978 81 208 0597 2 Monaghan Patricia 1 April 2014 Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines New World Library p 95 ISBN 978 1 60868 218 8 1 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org 1 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org 1 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org harivaMsha in the mahAbharata viShNuparva Chapter 1 Advent of Narada and Kamsa s Response Archived from the original on 25 April 2015 Retrieved 23 December 2016 1 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org 2 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org I The Vishnu Purana Book V pp 490 491 Debroy Bibek 9 September 2016 Harivamsha Penguin UK ISBN 978 93 86057 91 4 a b III The Vishnu Purana Book V p 502 3 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org Yogamaya enters into the womb of Yashoda and Hari into Devaki Chapter II www wisdomlib org 30 August 2014 Retrieved 12 September 2022 44 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Bhagavata org a b 85 SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CANTO 10 Bhagavata org a b 85 SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CANTO 10 Bhagavata org The Mahabharata Book 16 Mausala Parva Section 7 Devkikrishna Temple Marcel www goatourism gov in Govt of Goa Retrieved 3 August 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Devaki amp oldid 1154667328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
