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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s10: Kaṁsa

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s10

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Kaṁsa

c20.s10.1

Kamsa was the son of king Uggaseṇa of Mahurā. It is said that at the time of Kamsa's conception, his mother had a chronic longing to eat the flesh of her husband. The child was taken to be unlucky and as soon as he was born, he was kept in a box and was floated in the Jumna; later on, he was picked up by the merchant Soriya, who handed him over to king Jarāsandha of Rāvagaha. Jarāsandha gave him his daughter Jivayaśā in marriage. In course of time, Kamsa grew up and came to Mathurā. He made Uggaseṇa prisoner and began to rule over the kingdom of Mathurā.

c20.s10.2

It is said that once Jivayaśā, placing Devakī on her shoulders, was dancing with pride. At that time she saw the ascetic Atumuktakakumāra, the younger brother of Kamsa, and invited him to play with them. At this Atumuktakakumāra predicted that the seventh son of Devakī would slay Kamsa. It is said that Kamsa asked for seven issues from Vasudeva, the husband of Devaī. Kamsa had already killed six sons of Devaī but when the seventh one was born, Vasudeva quickly exchanged him with the daughter of Jasoyā, the wife of Nanda. In course of time, Kanha Vāsudeva grew up and he killed Kamsa⁸⁹ (see Andhagavahṇī; Kaṇha).

c20.s10.3

⁸⁹ Vasu. p. 368f; Kalpa. Ṭī, 6, p. 173 ff.

c20.s10.4

When Jarāsandha heard of the death of his son-in-law, he got very angry with the Yādavas. Thereupon Samudravijaya, Krsna, Balabhadra, Nemikumāra, Ugrasena, etc. and many other Yādavas are said to have migrated to the west of Mathurā, where Satyabhāmā, the wife of Kṛṣṇa, gave birth to Bhānu and Bhramara, and founded the city of Dwārakā. Later on, Jarāsandha marched to Dwārakā and was killed by Kṛṣṇa.⁹⁰

c20.s10.5

⁹⁰ Kalpa. Ṭī. 6, p 176. ff; for the Vedic tradition see P. H. A. I. p., 119.

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