JKP

The Divine Appearance of Shri Krishna

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
23 August 2026
0 Comments
The Divine Appearance of Shri Krishna

(Adapted from a speech made by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaji on Janmashtami)

Around 5,000 years ago, on this very day, Shri Krishna appeared in this world. But who is this Shri Krishna whose divine appearance we celebrate?

No one can truly explain who He is, nor can He be understood through words or intellectual reasoning. The Vedas and scriptures offer only glimpses of His infinite nature. Beyond words and intellect lies a realm that cannot be grasped by the ordinary mind.

Saints describe Shri Krishna’s complexion as being like a blue lotus. Yet, no earthly blue lotus possesses such extraordinary beauty that one could gaze at it endlessly. Such divine beauty can only be experienced through divine perception. Even Brahma could not comprehend Him. He travelled through the lotus stalk from which he had appeared for thousands of years, seeking its origin, but could not find its end.

Everything about God is therefore bewildering to the human intellect. He is without desires, because He has nothing to attain. We have desires because we seek happiness and freedom from misery. 

God is Bliss Himself – what could He possibly need to attain? Yet He performs actions. He is the Unborn and eternal Lord, yet He takes birth.

He is beyond the limitations of the senses, yet He sees and hears everything. He knows the actions of every soul and, sitting within everyone, dispenses the results of those actions.

We, too, are eternal souls, but our abilities are limited. In our ignorance, we identify ourselves with the body and become attached to the world in our search for happiness. The saints remind us that we are not the body but the soul. This world is like a prison where we experience the consequences of our actions.

And it was into this very world, this prison of ours, that the Unborn Lord chose to appear.

The Divine Circumstances of His Appearance

Kansa, the tyrannical king of Mathura, was the brother of Devaki. On the day of Devaki’s marriage to Vasudev, a divine voice warned Kansa that Devaki’s eighth son would be the cause of his death. Overcome by fear, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudev and began killing their children one after another.

Shri Krishna never entered Devaki’s womb as an ordinary child. First, He entered Vasudev’s heart. Then He left Vasudev’s heart and entered Devaki’s heart. While sitting in her heart, He made Devaki experience all the symptoms of pregnancy, just as an ordinary woman would.

When the period of gestation according to worldly calculations was complete, Shri Krishna appeared before His parents in His divine four-armed form.

All the sensations Devaki had experienced suddenly ended. Her womb was empty, yet the Lord had not emerged from it. Instead, He was standing before her in His divine form, holding the conch, disc, club and lotus.

Devaki and Vasudev immediately understood that He was God and began glorifying Him. They reminded Him that they had prayed to attain Him as their son, but He had appeared as their Father.

Shri Krishna explained that He had appeared in His divine form to assure them that He was indeed the same Personality who had granted them their boon. Had He appeared immediately as an ordinary child, they might have wondered whether He was a celestial being or a human being. Therefore, He had given them proof of His divinity.

Then He transformed Himself into a small baby and began to cry.

Before Kansa received the news and could prepare to act against his perceived enemy, another divine drama unfolded. Through the power of Yogmaya, Shri Krishna’s divine potency, the prison doors opened, the guards fell asleep.

Vasudev Ji lifted the newborn Shri Krishna and carried Him out of the prison and headed   towards Gokul. The Yamuna river stood in their path. As Vasudev Ji entered the river, he was about to drown. At that moment, Shri Krishna extended His lotus feet and touched the waters of the Yamuna. The Yamuna parted, allowing Vasudev Ji to cross safely.

They reached Gokul, where Nand Baba’s residence was carefully guarded. Yet once again, through Yogmaya, everyone was made to fall asleep and the doors opened automatically.

Yashoda had given birth to a child. She had been made unconscious by Yogmaya and did not know whether she had delivered a boy or a girl.

Vasudev Ji entered her room and saw the newborn girl. He understood that this too was the work of the mischievous Lord.

God inspired him, “Leave Me here and take the girl with you.” Vasudev Ji placed Shri Krishna beside Yashoda and returned to Mathura with the girl. 

Yamuna river once again parted for them. The gates opened once more, and he re-entered the prison. All these events transpired swiftly, before Kansa could reach the prison. Travelling from Mathura to Gokul, which is about six miles, typically takes 3-4 hours. Yet, under the influence of yogmaya, these events occurred in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in Gokul, when Shri Krishna began to cry, the people soon realised that a baby boy had been born and began celebrating with great joy, dancing and singing.

When Kansa was informed that Devaki had given birth, he immediately rushed to the prison. But to his surprise, he found that the newborn was a girl. Believing that she might still be the one destined to cause his death, he seized her and attempted to dash her against a rock. But she slipped from his hands and rose into the sky. Then, revealing her divine form, she proclaimed:

“Your slayer is already in Braj.”

Thus, the Unborn Lord appeared to take birth. The One who has nothing to attain performed this divine action. The One whom even Brahma cannot comprehend appeared as a tiny baby in the arms of Vasudev.

Such is the divine mystery of Shri Krishna’s appearance beyond the comprehension of the intellect, yet revealed through His divine grace and pastimes. His birth, His divine actions, and His leelas are all beyond our understanding. Unlike our actions, which are driven by desires and personal gain, every action of God is for the welfare of others. 

His appearance in this worldly prison can be understood through a simple example. A prison may be visited by police officers, a magistrate, doctors, or even a minister who comes to inspect its functioning. They enter the prison, but they do not become prisoners. They come for a purpose – to ensure its proper management and welfare. Similarly, when Shri Krishna appears in this world, He does not become bound by it. He appears by His own divine will and performs His divine leelas for the welfare of the souls residing here. 

Through His divine leelas, He guides us towards liberation from worldly bondage and leads us towards our ultimate goal – the attainment of Divine Bliss. 

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.