Why Devaki was Imprisoned

Devaki is Aditi reborn. Her time in captivity under Kamsa was not without a deeper cause rooted in events long ago.

Aditi and Diti, both were wives of Sage Kashyapa. Aditi served her husband with deep devotion and love, which greatly pleased him. Touched by her dedication, Kasyapa offered her a boon. Aditi wished for a son who would be noble and powerful — and thus, Indra, the king of the Devas, was born to her.

Seeing the honor Aditi received, Diti too desired a son equal in strength and stature. Kasyapa granted her wish as well. As Diti’s pregnancy progressed, she radiated a divine glow, and Aditi, in a moment of weakness, felt a trace of jealousy. She shared her concern with her son Indra — that Diti’s child might surpass him and shift the balance of power among the gods.

Following his mother’s words, Indra approached Diti gently and offered to serve her during her pregnancy. Diti, touched by his kindness, welcomed him warmly. But while she rested, Indra, influenced by fear and a sense of duty, entered her womb and divided the unborn child into many parts using his divine weapon, the Vajra.

Despite the pain, the unborn child cried out. Indra, hoping to calm him, whispered, 'Ma ruda' — 'Do not cry'. From this, the 49 Maruts — the wind deities — were born.

When Diti awoke and learned what had happened, her grief turned into a sorrowful curse. She held Aditi responsible and said, 'Because your son has destroyed my child even before birth, he will lose swarga that he is going to rule. And as for you, Aditi — in another life, you will endure the heartbreak of losing your own children and live behind bars, powerless to stop it.'

In time, that curse unfolded. In the 28th Dvapara Yuga, Aditi took birth as Devaki. Kamsa, her brother, fearing the prophecy of his downfall, imprisoned her and took the lives of her newborns one by one. Yet, from that suffering emerged divine purpose — for her eighth child was Krishna, destined to restore dharma.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi