What is the History of Janmashtami?
The narrative of Janmashtami is the story of Lord Krishna's arrival. It is observed annually on the eighth day of the Bhadrapada month. The Supreme Lord came in a cage to Queen Devaki and King Vasudeva in Mathura.
According to legend, a voice in the sky told Devaki's brother, the tyrant Kamsa, that one of her children would slay him. Kansa wanted to kill Devaki so that she would not have any children, still Vasudeva, her husband, asked Kamsa to forgive Devaki and promised to give any of her children to Kamsa, so Kamsa let Devaki go on Vasudev's guarantee. He imprisoned Queen Devaki as well as King Vasudeva. Kansa made sure that none of her children was alive.
Vasudeva was asked by Lord Krishna to carry Him as a newborn to his friend Nand raja in Gokul on the night of Lord Krishna's appearance. Yashoda was Nand raja's wife, as we all know. Vasudeva was having difficulty carrying Lord Krishna across the rushing Yamun river.
This is when Lord Vishnu's Shesh Naag appeared and assisted Vasudeva in safely carrying the kid across the river. Vasudeva then exchanged Lord Krishna for a baby girl born that night to Nand raja and Yashoda and returned to the prison with the girl child.
A divine miracle occurred when the evil Kamsa arrived to slay the baby girl. The baby morphed into Goddess Durga, who informed Kamsa of his impending destiny. This is the account of the arrival of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, on this planet.
What is the significance of Janmashtami?
Janmashtami is a magnificent ceremony commemorating Lord Krishna's appearance, who is revered as the Supreme Lord or Lord of the Lords. It is a festival of pleasure, love, and divinity. Through Kamsa's deeds, the narrative of Krishna's appearance teaches us that ego and pride are important flaws in humans that will only destroy them.
We end up doing things that are not Godly because of our ego. But we can beat ego with humility and love. The image of baby Krishna represents unbounded love. The appearance of Lord Krishna represents the prosperity of the mind, and it is this that we celebrate.
How is Janmashtami Celebrated?
Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated at midnight because it is believed that Lord Krishna was born on a dark, stormy, and windy night to end the dominion of his maternal uncle Kamsa. It is celebrated throughout India with devotional music, reading scriptures on Lord Krishna, people fast for the entire day, and various temples are elaborately decked to commemorate Krishna's life journey.
The Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan are especially meaningful because he spent his entire life there. At midnight, the deity of Krishna is bathed in water and milk, then dressed in fresh clothing and worshipped. Sweets are offered to God first, then distributed as Prasada.
Krishna devotees commemorate his birth by creating elaborate representations of Mathura, where he was born, the Yamuna River, which He was transported to safety, and Gokul (ancient Vraja), the scene of his childhood, using small deities of the God, the other participants, and the animals and birds of the forest.
Dahi Handi Celebration:
Credit: iStock Photos
On this day, people hang butter and milk pots from streetlight poles, and men construct pyramids to reach and break the pots. It is well-known as Dahi Handi. This foreshadows Krishna's early days of playing with the cowherd's boys and stealing curds hung out of reach by their mothers. As a result, he was also known as 'Makhanchor,' the butter thief. Groups of people sing and dance.
Celebrate Janmashtami from the bottom of your heart:
Remember that, just as we appreciate the attention and excitement of our birthdays, the Lord likewise enjoys our attention and gifts on His appearance day. The difference between us and Krishna is that He can completely reciprocate with every one of us. Everything we contribute to the Lord with love and devotion will benefit us infinitely in the transcendental realm, and those benefits will last forever.
Hare Krishna!!
