The Supreme Lord Krishna is completely spiritual, and everything connected to Him, including His appearance in this world, is transcendental in nature.

Lord Krishna appeared on this earth around 5000 years ago, in the city of Mathura, as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki.

The birth of Lord Krishna may appear to be like that of an ordinary human being. However, the following descriptions in the scriptures establish that His birth is not ordinary; it is transcendental in nature.

Appearance of Lord Krishna in the Prison

Lord Krishna did not take birth from the womb of Devaki like an ordinary human being. It is described in Srimad Bhagavatam that He first manifested in the mind of Vasudeva, and then transferred to the mind of Devaki, before finally appearing before her in His majestic form of Vishnu.

Vasudeva beheld a wondrous child with four hands, beautifully dressed and adorned. However, after the prayers of His parents, the Lord transformed into the form of an ordinary child.

Lord Krishna Appears by His Own Free Will

All the living entities in this world are governed by the laws of nature. We have no control over either our birth or death. At the time of death, after giving up our present body, we are forced by nature to accept another body, based on our karma.

However, Lord Krishna’s birth is not forced by material nature. On the other hand, the material nature is working under His direction, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita (9.10). He appears in this world by His own free will.

Lord Krishna Appears in His Original Spiritual Body

Though Lord Krishna appears to possess a material body like us, His body is not material. He states that He appears in this world in His original transcendental form. He manifests His spiritual form as He exists in His spiritual kingdom.

Lord Krishna’s spiritual body is an eternal form of knowledge and bliss (sat, chit and ananda). It is changeless, whereas we keep changing bodies, every time we take birth.

Lord Krishna Eternally Exists

Lord Krishna’s appearance and disappearance are analogous to the sun’s rising, moving before us, and then disappearing from our eyesight. Actually, the sun perpetually exists in every part of the solar system. However, he becomes visible at a scheduled time and invisible at another scheduled time. Similarly, the Lord appears in this universe and leaves our sight, as per the prescribed schedules in the Vedic literature. He exists at all times and in every place, but by His mercy, when He appears before us, we perceive it as His birth.

Lord Krishna’ Birth is Happening Every Moment

Lord Krishna’s birth occurs at every moment in the material creation. It can be understood with the same example of the sun.

The sun’s rising and setting are going on at every moment; somewhere in the world, people are witnessing sunrise, and in some other part, sunset. Similarly, Krishna is always there somewhere, and His transcendental advent and pastimes are going on continuously, either in this or another universe. 

Lord Krishna’s Birth and Activities are Divine

Lord Krishna Himself declares that His birth and activities are all ‘divyam’ (Bhagavad-gita 4.9), meaning divine or transcendental. He further states that one who knows their transcendental nature does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains His eternal abode.

In conclusion, the birth of Lord Krishna is not merely a historical event but a transcendental occurrence with profound spiritual significance. Sri Krishna Janmashtami is the joyous festival that celebrates this transcendental event, welcoming the Lord’s auspicious advent. On this special occasion, let us pray to Lord Krishna to bless us with the factual understanding of His birth and activities, which will lead us to liberation from the cycle of birth and death and grant the ultimate spiritual reward of associating with Him in His divine abode.

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