The mother of Krishna, imprisoned by her brother Kamsa.
Accounts of this vary across texts and traditions. This entry primarily follows Puranic tradition, with other tellings (Mahabharata) noted where relevant.
Introduction
Devaki is the wife of Vasudeva and the mother of Krishna. She was the cousin (or in some accounts the sister) of Kamsa.
Family
The prophecy
At her wedding, a voice foretold that her eighth son would kill Kamsa. Kamsa imprisoned her and Vasudeva, and killed their first six children as they were born. The seventh child was transferred to Rohini's womb and became Balarama. Krishna was the eighth.
This entry is independently written for myVamsam using the sources listed above.
Where traditions differ, this entry identifies the relevant tradition rather than presenting one account as universally established fact.