When Kamsa attempted to kill the seventh child of his sister Devaki, the child lept into the air, and appeared as the Goddess Durga, resplendent with eight arms wielding celestial weapons, her arms decorated with sandalwood paste, and decked with various ornaments. She mocked Kamsa’s efforts, and told him that the eighth child of Devaki had already appeared, and that his (Kamsa’s) doom was now inevitable…
The Goddess also told Kamsa that Lord Krsna’s eight saktis would appear soon after, and two sisters who are like great palaces of transcendental beauty will appear… and Lord Krsna would soon accept both their hands in marriage…
The story continues with Putana, the witch employed by Kamsa flying over various lands, kidnapping children to devour. As she flew over the Vindhya mountains, the priest of the Vindhyas chanted a mantra that frightened her, and in doing so, she dropped one of the children, a baby girl.
As she entered Gokula, Putana was killed by Lord Krsna. Six other baby girls were discovered by Paurnamasi in the lap of the dead witch. Paurnamasi. They were Lalita, Bhadra, Saibya, Padma, Syama, and Srimati Radharani. Paurnamasi quickly gave five of the girls to five gopis in different parts of Vrindavan, and she presented Srimati Radharani to Yashoda’s nurse, Mukhara, saying “Here is your son-in-law Vrishabhanu’s daughter.”
Srimati Radharani’s Lotus Feet
For those wondering… Sri Vishakha was discovered, floating on Yamuna by Jatila, Srimati Radharani’s mother-in-law. The child that Putana dropped while flying over the Vindya mountains was discovered by King Bhishmaka. She was Sri Rukmini devi. In due course of His pastimes, Lord Krsna first married Srimati Radharani in the forest of Bhandiravana. Later on, He kidnapped Sri Rukmini devi whilst she was surrounded by vying suitors at her svayamvara. And Goddess Durga’s prophecy to Kamsa indeed came true…
When Nanda Maharaja consulted Garga Muni regarding Lord Krsna’s horoscope, the sage replied that the happiest day of Krsna’s life would be the day Srimati Radharani appeared in Vraja- Sri Radhashtami!
All glories to the appearance of the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Radharani!
All glories to the Beloved of Sri Gopivallabha!
Note: Portions of the following post were adapted from http://www.shriradharaman.com/, and the original source of this account is the play “Sri Lalita Madhava” by Sri Rupa Goswami.
4 KRSNA 