Why do so many myths of gods’ births involve stars?
Question:
Why do stories of many gods' births have a star at their births, such as Krishna?
Answer:
Mankind has long toyed with the idea that the stars controlled events. Astrology is "The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies and their supposed influence on human affairs." It is a belief that the positions of stars and planets impact people's lives. Many idolatrous religions have forms of astrology in their beliefs. It is popular because those who practice tell people what they want to hear.
Astrology is condemned in the Bible. "You are wearied with your many counsels; let now the astrologers, those who prophesy by the stars, those who predict by the new moons, stand up and save you from what will come upon you. Behold, they have become like stubble, fire burns them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame; there will be no coal to warm by nor a fire to sit before!" (Isaiah 47:13-14). Thus, astrology is a form of lying -- to yourself and others. It should be noted that astrology is different from God placing a sign in the heavenly bodies to announce a fact, which those who studied the stars saw.
For example, to prove to Hezekiah that his prayer was heard, God moved the sun. "Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down" (Isaiah 38:8). The moving of the sun did not influence Hezekiah's life. God used the heavens to give Hezekiah a sign.
In Hindu mythology, Krishna was born under the Rohini Nakshatra (a specific constellation in Vedic astrology). According to Hindu writings, the moon was precisely aligned in Taurus, and his birth occurred at midnight on the Ashtami Tithi (eighth day) of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada. The Rohini Nakshatra occurs once every lunar month. It is not a unique sign. It was only considered an auspicious time to be born.
In Hinduism, astrology is deeply woven into the fabric of daily life and religious tradition. Hindus believe that the positions of celestial bodies at birth directly reflect a person's karma, providing a map for spiritual and material destiny.
Christianity is far different. The star that the wise men were following was not an ordinary star. As the wise men left Jerusalem, they noticed something strange. The star appeared to be going before them (Matthew 2:9). Stars are relatively fixed objects. They don’t generally appear to move. Yet this one did, and as they entered Bethlehem, it appeared above one particular house. Again, think of the stars you see at night. Can you spot one that appears to be directly over your house and not your neighbors'? Obviously, the Lord’s hand was behind this wandering star. This doesn't support the concept of predicting a person's future based on the positions of stars. It is talking about people observing a sign that appeared in the heavens.