Devaki

Devaki (देवकी) is the daughter of Devaka, sister of Kansa, wife of Vasudeva Anakadundubhi and biological mother of Balarama, Krishna and Subhadra.

After the marriage ceremony, Kansa volunteered to escort the newly-weds to Mathura and drove their chariot. A celestial voice proclaimed that "The eighth child of this Devaki that you are ferrying shall become your death!" Angered, Kansa rises to kill Devaki but is stopped by Vasudeva who promises to deliver each child to Kansa. Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi were imprisoned by Kansa due to a delusion caused by Narada in Kansa's mind. Her six children were killed, while the seventh Balarama appeared. Devaki's six dead sons were named Kírttimat, Sushena, Udayin, Bhadrasena, Rijudasa, and Bhadradeha. Devaki soon gave birth to Balarama and Krishna and the babies were Seshanaga and Vishnu. She protested against the killing of children of Rohini and Yashoda but Kansa hurls them on a rock. Yashoda's daughter transforms into an eight-armed goddess and said, "Fool your destroyer has already been born elsewhere." And vanishes into the heavens. Devaki and Vasudeva's imprisonment came to an end after Kansa's death.

Devaki upon hearing how Krishna restored his Guru Sandipani's son wished to see her own children. Krishna accedes her request and brings the children to Devaki from Patala. She nurses them with her milk and they attain heaven. After that, Devaki gets pregnant again and gives birth to a daughter as her 9th child, who is named as Subhadra, an incarnation of Yogmaya.

After the passing of Vasudeva after the Yadu massacre, Devaki cremates herself on Vasudeva's pyre along with his other wives Rohini, Bhadra and Madira.