Yashoda

In Hindu mythology, the god
Krishna’s foster mother, who receives
him on the night he is born, and cares
for him until he is old enough to
return to Mathura to claim his throne.
Yashoda is a paradigm for selfless
devotion, who loves Krishna as if he is
her own biological child. Her mythic
example of loving, motherly care has
provided the model for vatsalya
bhava, one of the five modes of devotion most prominently articulated by
Rupa Goswami, a devotee (bhakta) of
the god Krishna and a follower of the
Bengali saint Chaitanya. In the vatsalya mode of devotion, devotees consider themselves as God’s parents,
lavishing love and care on the deity as
a cow cares for her calf.