Sri Swamiji’s Discourse during Sri Krishna Janmaashtami, Mysore Ashrama, Aug 23, 2008

"Krishna's incarnation is to remove ignorance and suffering. His mother did not have hospital delivery. He was born as Ayonija (spontaneous i.e. not through the womb). He had no medical care. He was born in the dark corner of a prison, and His parents were in chains. He was carried across the Yamuna in heavy rain. Why did He undergo all this hardship? Just like a professor who rehearses his lessons, just like a Guru who repeats a mantra millions of times before giving it as an initiation to a disciple, just like a mother who smells or tastes the quality of food before feeding the child, just like a doctor who tests the effect and side effect of a newly discovered medicine on animals before giving it to human beings, Krishna also underwent these rigorous methods to show that everyone has to take the hardships in life."