Sree Krishna Janmashtami – The Story of Lord Krishna’s Birth

Krishna is one of the most widely worshiped avatars of Mahavishnu. Janmashtami literally translates to birthday and Krishna janmashtami commemorates the birth of lord Krishna. Krishna jayanthi is not exclusive to vaishnavites alone. Across the Hindu society, Krishna janmashtami is celebrated by all. According to traditional Hindu astrology, Lord Krishna was born when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha (Taurus) at the Rohini Nakshatram (star) on the eight day (Ashtami) of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana (this corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha in North India). All these conditions have to match to celebrate Sri Krishna Jayanti but most of the time these conditions never match in the calendars of various Hindu sects. Krishna in Bhagavad Gita asks to rise above time, birth and death and even for him we have determined two birthdays.

So the different sections in Hinduism have adopted their own standards for celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna. For some sect, it is the ‘ashtami’ day that is important. For some sect, it is the star ‘rohini.

There are a few traditions practiced during Sri Krishna Janmashtami, No grains should be consumed during Janmashtami fasting until the fast is broken on next day after Sunrise. All rules followed during Ekadashi fasting should be followed during Janmashtami fasting also.

Parana which means breaking the fast should be done at an appropriate time. For Krishna Janmashtami fasting, Parana is done on next day after Sunrise when Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra are over. If Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra don’t get over before Sunset then fast can be broken during day time when either Ashtami Tithi or Rohini Nakshatra is over. When neither Ashtami Tithi nor Rohini Nakshatra is over before Sunset or even Hindu Midnight (also known as Nishita Time) one should wait to get them over before breaking the fast.

Sri Krishna Birth Story

The most important ritual is done during night when it is said that Krishna was born. The story of Krishna’s birth and childhood is something we have all been told and retold since our childhood.

Kamsa was a tyrant who ruled over Mathura, the mention of his name sent shivers down the spine of his subjects. Kamsa’s sister was married to Vasudeva, a voice from the heavens echoed across the kingdom. It prophesied that their 8^th son would kill Kamsa. Kamsa immediately decided to kill both of them but vasudeva begged for mercy with a condition that each child should be handed over to kamsa on birth. Hence kamsa put both his sister and her husband in prison. When Devaki gave birth to her first child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this way, he killed the first six sons of Devaki. Even before her 8th child was born, Devaki and Vasudeva started lamenting its fate and theirs. As soon as baby Krishna was born a white dazzling light blinded all the guards and officers in the prison. Even devaki fainted at the sight of the light then suddenly Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said he himself was coming to rescue them and the people of Mathura.  .He asked Vasudeva to carry him to the house of his friend, the cowherd chief Nanda in Gokula right after his birth, where Nanda’s wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter. Vishnu assured them that “nothing shall bar your path”. Vasudeva had to carry baby Krishna over the river Yamuna and there was a heavy rain, but the five headed snake adi sheshan gave him shelter and the river split in to two parts to make way for Vasudeva.

When Vasudeva reached Gokula, he found the door of Nanda’s house open. He exchanged the babies and hurried back to the prison of Kamsa with the baby girl. Early in the morning, all the people at Gokula rejoiced the birth of Nanda’s beautiful male child. Vasudeva came back to Mathura and as he entered, the doors of the prison closed themselves. When Kamsa came to know about the birth, he rushed inside the prison and tried to kill the baby. But the child turned in to goddess yoga Maya who taunted kamsa that his end was coming sooner than he anticipated. His nemesis will return to Mathura to take back what is rightfully his.

Krishna’s birthplace Mathura and Vrindavan celebrate this occasion with great pomp and show. Raslilas or religious plays are performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. At our very own homes we decorate idols of Krishna, recreate footprints of Krishna leading from the door to the puja room.  Making Krishna’s favorite delicacies is also habitual among Hindus, to those who can’t afford it just butter and ghee appeases the lord. 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 Cochlea or Susana. 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.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita,

“If you offer Me with love a leaf, flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

Krishna is not as grand as we make of him. He is what you see in him. To some he is the grand king of Mathura, to others the valuable adviser he was to Arjuna or the wonderful friend to Kuselan. friend king or adviser, he simple, kind and divine in all his forms. Not to mention charming and mischievous

It is believed that lord Krishna visits all his devotees’ houses and blesses them with health and happiness. In most temples, plays and kadhakalakshebam (musical plays) are organized which educated the audience about lord Krishna. The stories are conveyed through song which makes it a thoroughly enjoyable affair. Those who do not believe in materialistic worship of the lord, can resort to reading bhagavad gita and Krishna puranam and have an enlightening evening. The joy of knowledge doubles when it is shared hence preaching the stories of Krishna to you near and dear people is a blissful experience.

Krishna Bhajan

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