Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/114

98 with the commencement of the lunation whenever that takes place; the Vaishnavas and the Madhvas regulate their fast by the moon’s passage through the asterism of Rohini.

Krishna is the most popular deity throughout the whole of India and is considered as the eighth Avatar or incarnation of Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity, and the following is a brief account of Krishna’s history as collected from the several Puranas.

In days gone by there reigned in Mathura, the modern Muttra, a most wicked and unpopular king, named Kamsa, who had a cousin named Devaki married to Vasudeva, of the lunar race. On the date of the latter’s marriage, Kamsa, the tyrant, drove the car in which Devaki and Vasudeva were conducted in procession. As the procession Was passing along the streets an unknown voice deep as thunder came from above. "Oh you fool, Kamsa! The eighth child of the lady in the car that you are now driving will put an end to your atrocious life." As soon as Kamsa heard this ominous voice, he became greatly enraged and attempted to put Devaki to death thereby preventing the possibility of the birth of his future enemy. But