Shri Krishan Janamashtami

2010-09-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of one of the most famous Gods of Hindu religion, Bhagwan Krishna, on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the month of Sravana or Savana. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 'Rohini' nakshatram . It is generally celebrated in the month of August-September according to the Christian Calendar. Legend has it that Sri Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa.
Position of Stars at the time of Birth
It was only on the eighth day of the second fortnight, in the month of Sravana when, the moon entered the house of Vrishabha in Rohini Nakshatra (star) that Lord appeared. According to Barhapatyamana, the month of Sravana corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha. Lord was born in the year of Visvavasu, appx. 5,227 years ago.
Celebrated for over Two Days
Janmashtami is celebrated for over two days as “Rohini” nakshatra and Ashtami may not fall on the same day. The first day known as Krishnashtami, as the birth of Bhagwan Krishna falls on the eighth day after Raksha Bandhan, which generally falls in the month of August. The second day is known as Kalashtami.
Welcome the Lord at Midnight
Special pujas are held in Sri Krishna Temples around the world. Special poojas and rituals are also held at midnight – the time of Krishna’s birth. Processions with tabloids depicting various episodes from the life of Shri Krishna enacted by children are a major highlight of the festival.
Staunch Krishna devotees fast on the day and it is a 24-hour fast.
It is only at midnight between the first and the second day that birth of Sri Krishna took place. The actual festivities begin during midnight in this 48 hour period. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lot of hymns, arti taking place and blowing of the Conch (shankh), rocking the cradle of Lord. The idol of lord is bathed with Panchamrit (A mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal). The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with other sweets. While some Fast on the first day and break it at midnight for others the fasting continues for both days. The period coincides with rainy season.
In Maharashtra, Janmashtami is famous for the Dahi Handi and the next day is observed as Gopalkala.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami or Sri Krishna Jayanti is mainly celebrated in Lord Krishna or Vishnu temples. Hindu spiritual organizations conduct numerous programs like discourses, dramas and processions on the day. In 2010, Sri Krishna Janmashtami is on September 1 (West and South India) and on September 2 in North India. The reason for two separate days can be found here.
If you plan to celebrate or perform rituals at home on the day, the ideal method will be to recite the mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’ This can be done while performing pujas or throughout the day.
Pujas involve offering flowers and performing Arati.
It must be remembered here that Lord Krishna is happy with anything that is offered to him in true devotion. Krishna was happy with sweat drenched beaten rice offered by Kuchela or Sudama. He was happy with the last leaf left in Draupadi’s Akaheyapatra. He was content with the gruel in Vidura’s (Dhritarashtra’s minister in Mahabharata) home.
So, one need not indulge in complex rituals to please Krishna. Just the japa
‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’
rendered devotionally is more than enough

KRISHAN JANAMASHTAMI

Shri Krishan Janamashtami