5245th Birth Anniversary of Lord Krishna

Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or sometimes simply as Janmashtami, is an annual celebration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

Hindus across India and abroad are gearing up for one of their most significant festivals - Janmashtami. This year Janmashtami would be celebrated on 14th August. Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna was born at midnight on the 'eighth day' or the 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar.

Significance of Janmashtami

The Kingdom of Mathura was under deep peril and melancholy under the rule of King Kansa. The ruthless king had a sister known as Princess Devaki, whom he loved dearly. He married his little sister to Vasudeva with much grandeur and magnificence, when suddenly the cloud roared with a prophecy that the eighth son of Devaki & Vasudev would be the cause of his death. The merciless king took over the loving brother and he immediately threw Devaki and Vasudev into the prison or 'Karaghar'.

The cruel king went on to kill all the six children that Devaki had borne in all those years. However, the seventh child who was informed to be miscarried was mystically transferred to the womb of Princess Rohini in Vrindavan who grew up to become Balram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. During the birth of Lord Krishna, Vasudev was guided by the Gods and carried the baby to Vrindavan to the house of Nanda and Yasoda. It was a night of frightening thunderstorm and heavy downpour. But Vasudev kept walking with Krishna over his head in a basket, braving the storm and the choppy river.

To protect Krishna, Shesh Nag (the Snake God) also quietly rose from behind to cover his lord from the rains, as Vasudeva made his way. When he reached Nanda's place, Vasudeva kept his son and returned with their girl child born on the same day to present her to King Kansa in the hope that he wouldn't harm her because the prophecy had said that the eighth 'son' would be the one to kill him. But the merciless Kansa held the child and tried to throw her against a rock when she rose to the air taking the form of Goddess Durga, warning him about his death. And sure enough, years later, Krishna took the life of Kansa and Mathura was reinstated as a happy kingdom once again.

The Janmashtami Fast, Bhog and Pooja Rituals

Devotees of Lord Krishna observe a ritualistic fast during his birth anniversary. Devotees eat only a single meal a day before Janmashtami. On the fasting day, devotees take a Sankalpa to observe a day long fast and to break it on the next day when the Ashtami Tithi is over. They perform the Krishna Abhishekam, with milk, ghee and water, and proceed to offer 'bhog' to the God. Through the day of fasting no grains are consumed, the devotees take a meal containing fruits and water, called 'Phallar'.

The Chappan Bhog

As a common practice, after sundown, they recite hymns and sing bhajans in the name of the Lord and break their fast only after midnight. The following day, which is referred to as 'Nanda Utsav', as an offering to the Lord, devotees put together a list of 56 food items, which is referred to as the 'Chappan Bhog'. This is later distributed among the people after the fast. As legend goes, it constitutes Krishna's favourite dishes and usually includes cereals, fruits, dry fruits, sweets, drinks, namkeen and pickles in quantities of eight under each category. Some of the common items which are found in the bhog are makhan mishri, kheer, rasgulla, jalebi, rabri, mathri, malpua, mohanbhog, chutney, murabba, saag, dahi, Khichadi, tikkis, milk, cashews etc.

Date and Mahurat of Janmashtami Pooja and Fasting

श्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी भाद्रपद की कृष्ण पक्ष की अष्टमी को मनाया जाता है। इस बार जन्माष्टमी 2 और 3 सितंबर को है। कई बार कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी दो अलग-अलग दिनों पर हो जाती है जब-जब ऐसा होता है, तब पहले दिन वाली जन्माष्टमी स्मार्त सम्प्रदाय के लोगों के लिए और दूसरे दिन वाली जन्माष्टमी वैष्णव सम्प्रदाय के लोगों के लिए होती है। जो कि इस साल भी 2 दिन पड़ रही है। जिसमें पहला दिन अर्थात 2 सितम्बर को स्मार्त की होगी और 3 सितम्बर को वैष्णव संप्रदाय की मनाई जाएगी।

इस साल भी 2 सितंबर को रविवार 8.48 रात तक सप्तमी तिथि है और उसको बाद अष्टमी तिथि शुरू हो जाएगी और रविवार की रात को ही चंद्रमा भी रोहिणी नक्षत्र में उच्च राशि वृषभ मे ही है। इस बार भाद्रपद कृष्ण पक्ष की अष्टमी रात्रि 8:48 बजे से शुरू होकर अगले दिन 3 सितंबर को रात्रि 07:20 बजे समाप्त हो जाएगी। 3 सितंबर को रात को 7.20 से नवमी तिथि है और मृगशिरा नक्षत्र है। 

Note -
Lord Krishna lived for 125 years. RAJKOT: It's now official. Lord Krishna was born on 21-07-3227 BC and died on 18-02-3102 BC. RAJKOT: It''s now official.

Happy Janmashtami Blog Reader !