Gokula Jananotsava

When Nanda woke on the morning after Kṛshṇa’s arrival, he found that Yaśodā had given birth to a son. Nanda believed the child was his own. He held a great jananotsava (birth celebration) for him. Vasudeva, who was Kṛshṇa’s true father, then came from Mathurā to visit, and he warned Nanda of hidden dangers. The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa tells this in the fifth chapter of the tenth Skanda.

Nanda’s joy and the celebration

Nanda did not know the events of the night. He did not know that the infant beside Yaśodā was the Parātpara Brahman, carried across the flooded Yamunā by Vasudeva. He knew only that he had a son, and the news filled him with pure joy.

Nanda arranged a great jananotsava on an enormous scale. He bathed, performed his nitya-sandhyā (daily prayers), and then began the great giving of wealth. He gave away:

• thousands of cows, decorated with gold ornaments and coloured cloth
• large amounts of grain and sesame seed
• bolts of fine cloth
• gold coins

Brāhmaṇas and scholars were invited. They were honoured with rich food, gifts and dakshiṇā (fees). Musicians, bards and performers came from many settlements and were received with honour. Yaśodā gave sindūra (red powder), oil (tailam) and betel (tāmbūlam) to the women of Gokula in the traditional way. The whole settlement rang with the sounds of joy: conch shells, drums, the lowing of cows and the singing of auspicious songs.

Vasudeva’s visit

Vasudeva was in Mathurā. He had been freed from Kaṃsa’s prison, but he was still watched. He felt a strong wish to see the child he had placed beside Yaśodā. He found a reason to travel and came to Nanda’s settlement in Gokula.

Nanda welcomed Vasudeva with great affection. Vasudeva sat and watched the celebration with joy, and his eyes kept turning to the infant beside Yaśodā. He knew the child was his son, the Parātpara Brahman himself, but he could not say so. He watched the festival as an honoured guest and kept his secret in his heart.

Vasudeva’s warning

Before leaving, Vasudeva took Nanda aside and spoke with urgency about omens he had seen. He said: “O Nanda, I have seen troubling signs in the stars and in the world around Mathurā. These signs show that hidden dangers are moving toward your settlement from the side of Kaṃsa’s forces. Please be watchful. Post guards. Keep the community alert. Do not let any stranger enter the settlement without knowing who he is. Above all, guard the children.”

Nanda listened closely and took the warning to heart. He arranged for more watchfulness in Gokula. Vasudeva then went back to Mathurā.

His warnings were well founded, because Pūtanā was already on her way.

Sources

• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 5