When is Janmashtami?
Janmashtami 2007 is on September 3rd/4th
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 (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.
Birth of Lord Krishna
Janmashtami is celebrated to welcome and enjoy Lord Krishna's birth. The birth of Lord Krishna took place when the various planets were in auspicious places. It is said that God chooses a particular time, as to when he will take birth as a human and the planetary systems are adjusted accordingly.
Auspicious Nakshatra (Constellation)
Around the time of Bhagwan Krishna's birth, Rohini Nakshatra was predominant as it is considered to be quite auspicious. This is so because it is under the supervision of Brahma, the creator of Universe. Sri Krishna was born in the month Of Sravana more than 5000 years ago.
Born in Dwapur Yug (Iron Age)
According to some scholars, Krishna was born on Wednesday,the eighth day of second fortnight in Sravana month in the year of Visvavasu around 3227 BC, also known as Dwapur Yug. July 19th 3228 BC to be more accurate. He lived for 125 years and disappeared on February 18th 3102 BC on the new moon night of Phalguna. His death was the onset of the current corrupt age known as Kaliyug.
Universal Happiness of all Forms of Life
From the time, Devki conceived Sri Krishna, she began to glow and exude divine light. The prison walls glowed with the aura of the new born infant. Atmosphere of peace and happiness prevailed all over, Forests were all green and full of trees with all kinds of beautiful flowers, rivers were all swollen due to joy, peacocks began to dance in sheer joy, people in all villages started being happy.
Objective of Krishna's Birth
The main objective of Lord Krishna's birth was to free Mother Earth from the wickedness of demons. Playing an important part in Mahabharata (legendary battle in Kurukshetra) and propagating the theory of bhakti and good karma were other important objectives.
Events Before The Birth of Sri Krishna
The people of Mathura were extremely unhappy with the wicked king Kansa who put his father, king Ugrasen in prison and declared himself the king of Mathura. It was to put an end to his evil ways and other demons that Lord Vishnu decided to take birth on Earth in human form. According to Akashvani (heavenly voice) at the wedding of his beloved sister Devki, Kansa got to know that the eighth child of his sister will take birth to kill him. So, in turn he rushed to kill his sister. Kansa gave up the idea of killing after being assured by Vasudev that he will handover all his children to him. He put them in Prison. Kansa killed all the six infants as soon as they were born. The seventh child (Balram) was saved due to divine intervention, when he was transferred from Devki's womb to that of Rohini's (other wife of Vasudev).
Events During the Birth of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell in the captivity of King Kansa. He took birth in divine form with lotus like eyes,his palms bearing the signs of a lotus and discus. He had a swastika sign on his sole. Wearing a yellow colored silk cloth, adorned with precious diamond earrings and a crown made of emeralds. Soon after the birth, a chain of events astonished Vasudev,when he saw the gates of the cell flow open and all the guards fast asleep. He immediately thought of Nand ,his close friend in Gokul and decided to handover his child to him in order to save him from the clutch of Kansa.
River Yamuna Bows To The Feet of Sri Krishna
The night of birth was witnessed by heavy rains which led to River Yamuna being in floods. As soon as the feet of Lord immersed in the river, the flow became normal and Yamuna made way for the Lord. Sheshnag, the serpent formed an umbrella to save the new born baby from rain.
Exchange of the Babies
Vasudev kept his child next to fast asleep Yashoda and took the baby girl lying with him back to Mathura. The baby girl is believed to be the sister of Lord Vishnu.
Disappearance of The Divine Child
On hearing the news of birth of the eighth child of Devki and Vasudev, Kansa rushed to the prison-cell and lifted the baby girl to kill her despite pleadings from Devki. However, instead of hitting the stone, the child flew up in the air and announced that the annihilator of Kansa was born and in safe hands.Krishna later grew in Gokul and finally killed his maternal uncle, King Kansa.
janmashtami Pooja Process
The festival of Janmashtami is considered a very pious day by Hindus. Lot of bhajan singing, hymn chanting and poojas are performed this day. Devotees queue all the major Krishna temples to seek his blessings. People perform elaborate poojas during the festival. They keep day long fast. Functions and prayer meetings are organised to share the glory of their favourite God.
The general pooja process begins early in the morning with devotees giving a bath or abhishek to Bal Gopal's idol with gangajal, ghee, water, honey and curd. The idol is then adorned with new clothes (preferably in yellow colour), stone or other precious jewellery.
Next, the idol of lord is offered bhog, the contents of bhog may vary. Fruits, kheer, pedha, milk, and milk products are made. There are devotees who offer chappan bhog(56 dishes) to Bal Gopal.
Thereafter, special Krishna pooja is performed. The cradle containing the divine infant's idol is rocked, conch is blown. Devotees sing Krishna arti, some people read out 108 names of lord. They get totally immersed in the name and praise of Gopal.
After the entire pooja is over, devotees break their fast by having panchamrit. The time of breaking the fast may vary, this is so, because the time of performing pooja also differs from place to place. While some devotees choose to perform pooja at midnight and break fast, others perform pooja in the evening and have food.
Janmashtami Bhajans
The festivity of Janmashtami will be incomplete without singing bhajans or hymns in praise of lord Krishna. There are various bhajans describing the feats and accomplishments of Lord. Few of the bhajans are listed below to be sung during Janmashtami.
"Bhajo Radhe Govinda
Bhajo Radhe Govinda
Gopala Tera pyara naam hai
Gopala Tera pyara naam hai
Nandalala Tera pyara naam hai
Mor mukat maathe tilak viraje
Gale vaijanthimala Gale vaijanthimala
Koi kahe Vasudev ka Nandan
Koi kahe Nandalala Koi kahe Nandalala
Bhajo Radhe Govinda . . .
Gaj aur Grehe lade jal bitar
Jal mein chakra chalaya Jal mein chakra chalaya
Jab jab bhid padi bhagaton par
Nanggi pairin dhaya Nanggi pairin dhaya
Bhajo Radhe Govinda".
"Mere Pyare Madan Gopal
Choti choti gaiyan, chote chote gawaal,
chote se mere, madan gopal
mor mukut mathe saaje, gale mein swaranmaal,
chote se mere madan gopal
Kaano mein karanphool, haathon mein ratnajadhit hath haar,
chote se mere madan gopal
pitamber saaje tan pe, uspe sundar motiyon ki maal
chote se mere madan gopal
pairon mein jhanjhar sohe, jab nache hari angana dwaar.
Chote se mere madan gopal
Bhaye sab ke mann ko bal gopal,Karke solah shringar,
chote se mere Madan Gopal ".
"Nandlal Tohri Mahima Aparampar
Mere pyare nandlal, kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan,
janam liya mathura nagariya, karne danavon ka sanghar
kaise karoon tohri mahima ka Bakhan.
Janam data thi Devki Mata, Yashoda ko bhi diya maa ka samman
kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan
Putana ko mukt kiya, har liye Kansa ke pran
kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan.
Gopiyon sang raas kiya, Radha ko diya sampurna pyar.
Kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan.
Chaliyon sang chal kiya, deeno sang seedha vyavhar,
kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan.
Pandavon ka saath diya, Kauravon ko diya pachhar,
kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan.
Mere pyare nandlal kaise karoon tohri mahima ka bakhan ".
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 ".
jai jai sree krishna
radhe krishna
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