birth of the Lord

Now came the most delightful hour, fraught with all blessings, when precisely the asterisk Rohini was at the ascendant and when the rest of the asterisks, planets and stars bore a gentle aspect. The quarters became clear; while the firmament was marked with the presence of multitudes of stars shining unobscured. The earth was seems with its towns, villages, stations, of cowherds and mines full of festivities. The rivers flowed in a limpid stream; ponds bloomed with lotuses, rows of forest-trees laden with bunches of flowers rang with the sweet noise of birds and swarms of bees. A hollowed breeze and wafting a sweet fragrance, blew delightful to the touch. The minds of the righteous became cheerful. When that birthless lord was about to be born kettledrums sounded in heaven. At that time Kinnaras and Gandharvas sang, Siddhas and Charanas uttered praises and Vidyadhara women danced with celestial nymphs. Full of joy, sages and gods showered flowers and clouds gently rumbled after the manner of the roaring ocean. When the midnight enveloped in thick darkness came and when peoples prayer for His descent began, the lord Vishnu, the Indweller of all hearts, manifested Himself in His entirety even as the full moon would appear in the eastem horizon.