The festival celebrating the birth of Shri Krishna, known by various names such as Shri Krishna Jayanti, Janmashtami and Gokulashtami is an important festival in the Hindu calendar. This festival has been celebrated on the eighth day after the full moon in the month of Shravan.
As the festival is known by different names so also it is celebrated on two different days by different Hindu sects. This year (2009) Sri Krishna Jayanti is being celebrated on August 13 and August 14.
The first day is known as Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami and the second day is known as Kalashtami or Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is worshipped as the eighth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu.
He is one of the most popular and widely worshipped deities among all Hindus throughout the world.
anmashtami 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 (star). 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
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.
The festival of Shri Krishna Janmashtami has been celebrated with great devotion throughout India. The celebrations have special significance in Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwaraka, the places associated with the life and activities of Shri Krishna. Devotees fast for twenty four hours on the eve of the festival and break the fast at midnight-the time at which Shri Krishna was believed to have been born. The image of infant Krishna is bathed and is cradled in the midnight time. The conch shell is blown and the devotees celebrate the birth of Shri Krishna by singing devotional songs and by dancing with great joy.
In Karnataka in particular, Vaishnavas who are the followers of Shri Madhvacharya, who had established the famous Shri Krishna temple at Udupi and the Ashta Mautts and Iyengars or the Srivaishnavas, followers of Ramanujacharya, make elaborate preparations for the festival. The idol of Shri Krishna is placed in a decorated mandapam. On the wooden ceiling of the mandapam various snacks and sweets along with fruits considered the favourites of Shri Krishna are suspended.
Rituals and Customs of Janmashtami
Janmashtami festival witnesses many interesting customs and rituals in various states and cities of India. While some rituals are common to all, others are unique and restricted to a particular region or city. These customs and rituals are followed religiously by all the Lord Krishna devotees year after year.
Rituals and Customs Observed during Janmashtami
Fasting: The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival. Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight. People prefer to have only milk and milk products as they were the favourite of Lord Krishna. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast- It involves fasting without having a single drop of water. There are other ardent followers , who keep the fast for two days in the honour of Lord Krishna.
Chanting: Devotees indulge in continuous chanting all day long. They chant mantras and shlokas to please the lord. Religious atmosphere prevails everywhere. Devotees highlight his feats and his divine characteristics. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples. Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna.
Translation:
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O Krishna with a fresh cloud-like body, O heart-enticer, O abode of river of happiness, O house of happiness, mercy, and tranquility.||1||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O benevolent to people and cows, O beautiful tresses one, O dearest of the city Mathura with beautiful clad, O temple of qualities and happiness, and house of wealth and treasure.||2||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O lotus-eyed, O lotus inside our lake-like heart, O red-lipped, O beautiful baby Krishna, O pleaser of eyes, O one with ear-pleasing name.||3||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O slayer of the fear of this world and ornation of the earth, O malice-destructor and pleasure of (my) eyes, O support to cross the cycle of life and death and bestower of every wealth.||4||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O fascinating boy (Krishna), O care-taker of the entire universe, O absolver of the sinners in Kaliyuga, O supporter of earth (during the boar-incarnation), O cow-herd rearer, O leader of this universe, O Raam.||5||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O Krishna reverred by world and dearest of Gokul, O protector of Mathura with sandalwood like soil of foot, O serene, pristine and soft, O Shyaam.||6||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O Krishna with a forehead resplendent like hundred moons, with a lotus-garland and a flamboyant walking gait, O decorative actor with a garland of Kaustubh-Jewel.||7||
Accept my salutes, O dearest one of Kamalaa (Laxmi), O Krishna, the dear one of ruler of Vraja (Nanda) who cannot be described by voice, O hard to please even by Radha and consort of Lakshmi, O abode of Veda (knowledge) and Universe, O Krishna.||8||
Krishna Bal Leela
Lord Krishna is one of the most loved and adored Gods of Hindu religion. The foremost reason of the glorification and reverence of Bhagwan Krishna is his Bal Leela. Bal Leela depicts various episodes between the period of his birth till the age of ten. Lord Krishna right from the time of his birth displayed the signs of his divine being.
Episode of Killing of Demoness Putana
According to legend, King Kansa wanted to kill Krishna as it was predicted that he would grow up to kill the King. So Demoness Putana went about killing all the male infants in Mathura and other neighboring towns in the move to kill the new born Lord Krishna. She took the form of a beautiful woman and smeared her breast with poison. While roaming from one town to another, she reached Nand baba's house, and saw Bal Krishna lying in the cradle. She then fled with the child and fed Lord Krishna her milk in the vain hope of killing him. Lord Krishna kept smiling and drinking the milk and after a while Putana shrieked with pain. It is said that while suc'king the milk, Lord Krishna suc'ked her life thus killing her.
Episode of Overturning the Cart by Lord Krishna
As per a folklore, during one of the birth ceremonies of Lord Krishna, Mata Yashoda kept fast asleep Krishna under a cart full of milk . Lord Krishna started crying for milk after getting up, but Mata Yashoda didn't hear his cries so Lord Krishna kicked the cart with his feet and overturned it. The pots were shattered and milk started flowing into his mouth. When the story of overturned cart was narrated to Mata Yashoda, she could not believe it.
Episode of Displaying the Cosmos to Mother Yashoda
Legend has it that one day Mata Yashoda was cuddling Lord Krishna and playing with him. The child lying on his mother's lap yawned and opened his mouth. Mata Yashoda saw the whole universe in his mouth, the sun, the moon and all the stars, the sky, mountains, rivers, islands, oceans, all the continents, all living as well as non living beings.
Episode of Killing of Demon Trinivarta
It is believed that King Kansa sent one of his loyal servant, Demon Trinivarta to kill Lord Krishna. The demon took the form of a whirlwind and carried the child away. As soon as the demon reached the sky, he found it difficult to proceed further on account of the heaviness of the child. Unable to bear his own weight as well as the weight of the child, demon Trinivarta fell on the ground and met his fate. His took his original form after the death and Mata Yashoda was astonished to see her child lying on the dead demon.
Episode with the Fruit Seller
According to another famous folklore, Lord Krishna went to a woman fruit seller and asked her to give him some fruits in exchange for a handful of grains. The woman took the handful of grains from Lord Krishna and put in her basket and left. On reaching home, the woman was astonished to see her basket full of precious stones and gems instead of grains.
Episode of Omnipresent Lord Krishna
Bal Gopal was very mischievous and found great pleasure in playing pranks on gopis. He would steal their milk, butter, break their earthen pots to get butter. One day Lord Krishna, broke all the earthen pots of a gopi in order to get butter. On being caught red handed, the gopi went to mother Yashoda to inform her of her son's mischievous deeds. She was shocked to see the Lord standing next to his mother; Feeling embarrassed she left the place.
There are many more popular Bal Leelas of God like the killing of demons Aghasura, Bakasura, brothers of demoness Putana . Mata Yashoda tying Lord Krishna with a rope but each time the rope would fall short by a few inches is another famous episode of Krishna Bal Leela.
Arti for Janmashtami
Arti is a ceremony, held to welcome Lord or a saintly person. Auspicious articles like incense and diyas are offered to the lord. Arti is an important ceremony held to mark any kind of religious or spiritual celebration.
Janmashtami arti is performed every year to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Krishna arti is performed in every house as well as temple during the festival.
Lord Krishna's Arti
Jai shri Krishna hare, prabhu jai jai Girdhari,
Danav-dal balihari, Go dwij hitkari.
Jai Govind dayanidhi, Govardhan dhari,
Vanshidhar banvari, braj jan priyakari.
Ganika godh ajamil, gajpati bhayhari,
Arat-arti hari, jai mangalkari.
Gopalak gopeshwar, draupadi dukhdari,
Shabar suta sukhkari, Gautam tiya tari.
Jan prahlad pramodak, narhari tanu dhari,
jan man ranjankari, diti sut sanhari.
Tidwish-sut sanrakshak, rakshak manjhari,
Pandu suvan shubhkari, kaurav madhari.
Manmath-manmath mohan, murli rav kari,
Vrindavipin bihari, yamuna tat chari.
Agh bak baki udharak, trinavarta tari,
bidhi surpati madhari, kansa muktikari.
Shesh mahesh saraswati, gun gavat hari,
Kal kirti vistari, bhakt bheeti hari.
Narayan sharnagat, ati agh aghhari,
Pad-raj pawankari, chahat hitkari.
