Yashoda


In Hindu mythology, Yashoda, also spelt as Yasodha, is the foster-mother of Lord Krishna and wife of Nanda. She is described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism. According to Bhagavata Purana, Krishna was born to Devaki, but Krishna's father Vasudeva brought the newborn Krishna to Nanda Baba in Gokul, in order to raise and protect Krishna from Devaki's brother Kansa, the king of Mathura. The name Yashoda means 'one who is giver of Fame '.
In Srimad Bhagavatam, Yashoda is praised as:

Krishna

Various childhood episodes or lilas of Krishna, growing up in Yashoda's household, abound in Hindu religious texts. Important among them is Krishna giving darshan to Yashoda with his Vishwaroopa. Ved Vyasa states in Mahabharata that sage Narada once visited Krishna at Brindavan. Krishna was playing in sand and was swallowing it. Yashoda, upon seeing it, was furious with Krishna for disobeying her and punished him by tying him to a grinding stone. Upon witnessing this act Sage Narada stated "Enna Thavam Saidhanai, Yashoda" undertaken to be bestowed with the powers to punish the supreme )". This is also seen as a question to Narayana as to how he accepts this. It literally asks what penance Yashoda has undertaken in her previous birth to be bestowed with the powers to punish, love, and care for the Supreme Vishnu.
Upon this request it is said that Krishna opens his mouth in front of Yashoda, who sees the Seven Oceans and the entire Universe and also Narayana seated upon Adishesha, attended upon by his consort Mahalakshmi. Upon this divine intervention, Mother Yashoda faints, to be revived by Krishna and attended by Sage Narada, who explains to her about Krishna's life. Krishna stealing butter, Krishna tied to a mortar as written by poet-saint Surdas, where her deep affection for Krishna becomes an epitome of 'Vatsalya Prema', Mother's Love and even 'Vatsalya Bhakti’, Mother's Devotion.

Balarama

Yasoda played an important role in raising Krishna 's elder brother Balarama. Later she had a daughter of her own named as Ekānaṅgā.

Mother

She is the mother of SuBhadrā & God Shree Krishna. YogaMāya was born to her. Due to the influence of maya the whole world was asleep. As per Krishna's instruction the baby was exchanged by Vasudeva Anakadundubhi. Yasodha was unaware that she gave birth to a daughter. She thought that she gave birth to a putra BhagaVān Shree Krishna and was more committed to Her son even after he returned to Mathura.

YogaMāya

or Vindhyavasini is the biological daughter of Yashoda.
According to Devi Bhagwat Purana, Kansa, the ruler of Mathura had decided to kill Krishna as soon as he was born. In order to protect Krishna from Kansa, Krishna and Yoganidra or YogaMāya were born at the same time from the wombs of Yashoda, respectively, and were exchanged by Vasudeva Anakadundubhi. Krishna survived as foster son of Yashoda. While Kansa tried to kill YogaMāya, she assumed her real form as Devi and flew to the sky. She then retired to dwell in Vindhya hills as Vindhyavasini Devi.

As Vakula Devi

In the Dwapara Yugam, Yashoda couldn’t witness the marriage of Lord Krishna with Rukmini. Lord Krishna promised her that she would get that chance of seeing his marriage when the Lord Krishna incarnates again as Lord Venkateswara in the Kali Yugam. In the Kali yugam, Yashoda was born as Vakula Devi, as the mother of Lord Venkateshwara and witnessed the marriage between Venkateshwara and Goddess Padmavathi.

Modern works

1975 Telugu film Yashoda Krishna, directed by C. S. Rao, presented events in the life of Krishna and his attachment towards Yashoda. Sridevi played the role of the child Krishna in the film.