How to observe Krishna Janmashtami?

It is said that the greatest Sri Krishna pooja that a person can do is to read the Bhagavad Gita and contemplate. But many people feel the need to perform a puja when they feel they need to connect with the Supreme Being. A simple puja dedicated to Lord Krishna helps in keeping the mind calm and in concentrating. Some people exclusively perform Sri Krishna pooja during Sri Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami or Gokulashtami.

On this day special Poojas and rituals with chanting of shlokas are conducted in all the Krishna temples. Devotional songs are sung in the praise of Krishna. In places like Mathura (birth lace of Krishna); Dwaraka (Krishna rules this place); Gokula (the place where Krishna  grew up) and Vrindavan (where Krishna spent time with his consort Radha), the festivities are colourful and special. 

In Udupi, Karnataka the festival is celebrated in the Krishna mutt. Devotees fast on this day and offer the pooja to the Lord at midnight and then break the fast by consuming Naivedya (offerings). Variety of delicious savouries are prepared on this day and offered to the Lord along with fruits, coconut, butter (Krishna's favourite as a child), avalakki/poha (flattened rice) and milk. Some of the savouries prepared on this day Tengol, chakkali, Shankarpoli, Kodabale, Karchikayi, Coconut Barfi, Besan Laddoo, Wheat Laddoo, Sev, Avalakki, Chivda, Rava Laddoo, Mysore pak etc.

In Maharashtra, Dahi Handi ritual is carried out with great enthusiasm. An earthern oot filled with curd/yogurt is hung 20 to 30 feet above ground and the group which breaks it by forming a human pyramid wins the contest.

In households, a small cradle made of wood or silver is decorated and the idol of Balakrishna (Baby Krishna) is decorated and worshipped. A special arathi is performed and songs in praise of Lord Krishna is sung. The neighbourhood women and children are invited home and offered KumKum, turmeric powder, flowers, fruits, betel leaf and nuts, and a packet of assorted savouries.

Women sing lullabies and the cradle is slowly swayed by a thread decorated with flowers. Baby boys are dressed as Krishna complete with peacock feather in the hair and flute in the hand. 

Here is how to perform a simple puja dedicated to Lord Krishna:

• Select a calm and quite place.
• Clean the pooja area and then take a bath.
• Place a photograph or idol or picture of Lord Krishna also of Lord Ganesha.
• Keep a lamp ready. Place some flowers and fruits or sweets ready in a plate.
• Pray to Ganesha.
• Meditate for a few minutes to clear the mind of unwanted thoughts.
• Now light the lamp.
• Meditate or pray to Lord Krishna.
• Offer flowers – Tulsi leaves is the best offering made to Krishna. You can light incense or agarbathis. If needed you can ring the bell, while offering flowers.
• Chant the shloka – Om Namo Vasudevaya Namah.
• Now offer fruits or any sweet or usual food prepared for the deity. You can sprinkle some water after making the offering.

You can meditate for a few minutes or read some shlokas or prayers dedicated to Krishna.

After the Krishna Puja remove the fruits and share it as ‘prasad’ with others.

After the puja, find some time to read the Bhagavad Gita and contemplate. One finds ideas and thoughts rushing in while chanting this - which will help you in finding new meaning and direction in your life. Other spiritual books that can be read include Uddhava Gita and Srimad Bhagavad Purana.

Popular Shlokas/ songs:

Achuthashtakam

Madhurashtakam

Krishna Nee Begane Baaro

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya

Sri Krishna taught us to rise above rituals and to perform action. The best offering to Sri Krishna is to perform one’s duty by realizing the human within.

Also Read: The legend of Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami

The legend of Janmashtami

One of India’s most popular festivals - Janmashtami - is celebrated through the years with immense zest and fervour, to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna - the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The legend of this festival basically revolves around the birth of Lord Krishna with the purpose of getting the world rid of evil sources.

It was back in the ‘Dwapara Yuga’ (almost 5000 years ago), when Mathura, which is the birth city of Sri Krishna, was ruled by King Ugrasena. He had a son, Kansa and a daughter Devaki. Kansa, who was selfish and wicked by nature, took over the throne, by imprisoning his father. It was on the day of his sister’s wedding to Vasudeva - one of the highly ranked officials in his army- that a heavenly voice predicted that Devaki’s eighth son will kill him. Scared by this prophecy, Kansa locked up the newlyweds in the prison. He succeeded in killing six newborns of Devaki, as the seventh child was transferred from Devaki’s womb to Rohini’s - Vasudeva’s first wife-and was born as Balarama. But Kansa thought that Devaki had a miscarriage.

Looking at Vasudeva and Devaki’s dilemma, Lord Vishnu appeared before them and promised them that he would come and free people of Mathura from the cruel hands of Kansa. It is said that Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapada. Lord Krishna’s birth was followed by an array of miraculous events. Soon after the birth, all the guards and soldiers had fallen into a deep slumber, following which the prison gates opened. Vasudeva- in a sub-conscious state- along with his newborn left for Gokul. It was said to be raining heavily and Vasudeva carried Lord Krishna in a basket above his head, while crossing the river Yamuna. He reached the cowherd chief Nanda’s house in Gokula, where Nanda’s wife Yashoda had delivered a baby girl that night. Vasudeva exchanged the baby and went back to the Mathura jail with the baby girl, and no one got to know about it.

On hearing the birth of the eighth child, Kansa rushed to kill the girl child. As usual, he didn’t give an ear to his sister’s endless pleas to let go of her baby. And just when he was about to bang the child’s head on the wall, the child vanished into thin air and warned Kansa that his assassin is born and is in Gokul. Lord Krishna was raised b

y his foster parents Nanda and Yashoda in Gokul, and later, he killed his evil uncle Kansa. Thereon, Janmashtami is celebrated annually to commemorate the holy deeds of Lord Krishna.

The festival is celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the country with utmost enthusiasm. It lasts for two days; where on the day before Janmashtami devotees fast and sing praises to Lord Krishna, which continues till midnight. An idol of baby Krishna is placed in a cradle and worshipped. People continue to sing devotional songs and dance at midnight- which is said to be the time when Lord Krishna was born. It is at this time when, people break their fast. Some of the places where this festival is celebrated in highest spirits are: Mathura, Vrindavan and Dwaraka.

On Janmashtami, the sport- Dahi Handi/Govinda takes place especially in places like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu. This game, which celebrates Krishna`s playful and notorious side, involves young men who form a tower to hit the pot full of curd or buttermilk, which is usually, hung high in the air with the help of a rope. Apart from Dahi Handi, a divine play called Rasa Lila is enacted in the cities of Vrindavan and Mathura to celebrate various parts of Krishna’s life. Besides India, this festival is also celebrated by devotees of Krishna in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

Lord Krishna, who generates high respect and admiration from Hindus, is worshipped this day and remembered this day-as a protector, a good friend and a teacher.

Also Read: How to Observe Krishna Janmashtami

Bhagirathi Jayanti and Ganga Dashara

Bhagirathi Jayanti

Bhagirathi Jayanti is believed to be the day when River Bhagirathi appeared on earth. It is observed in the Jyeshta month. It is believed that King Bhaigratha succeeded in bringing Ganga down to earth on the day after a long penance. Bhagirathi is a source stream of Holy River Ganga. 

The word ‘Bhagirathi’ in Sanskrit literally means caused by Bhagiratha. It refers to King Bhagiratha to gain Moksha or liberation for his 60,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint Kapila, brought the Goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges, from the heavens to the earth. 

Bhagirathi Jayanti is observed on the Ganga Dashara day and both celebrate the origin of Ganga River on earth. It is observed on the 10th day during the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Jyeshta month.

Story of King Bhagiratha bringing River Ganga from Heaven to Earth

As per Hindu tradition, it was King Bhagiratha’s austerities and desire to free the souls of his ancestors that brought Holy River Ganga from heaven to earth. One of the most important reasons why many people want to be cremated on the banks of Holy Ganga and want their ashes to be immersed in Ganga is that they will attain Moksha or liberation from cycle of birth and death. 

The story of King Bhagiratha is found in couple of Puranas, this is the one mentioned in the Narada Purana. Emperor Sagara had two wives – Keshini and Sumati. They were once offered two boons by Sage Aurva – first – an intelligent and pious son who will one day become a great king – second boon – sixty thousands sons.

Keshini opted for a single son and Sumati opted for sixty thousand sons.

The sixty thousands sons of Sumati created numerous troubles for the emperor. Indra and other devas, saints and human beings were fed up with the troubles created by the sons.

Indra then approached Sage Kapila to find a solution. Sage Kapila to divert the attention of the sixty thousands sons in matters of kingdom, asked the king to perform an Ashwamedha Yaga.

In an Ashwamedha Yaga, the emperor releases a horse which travels through different kingdoms. Those kings who are ready to be a vassal of the emperor do not object the horse running through their kingdom. But those kings that are not ready to be a vassal stop the horse and then the issue is settled on the battleground.

The sixty thousand sons were following the horse released by Emperor Sagara. One day Indra stole the horse and hid it at the spot where Sage Kapila was meditating. 

When the unruly sons discovered horse near Sage Kapila, they thought the saint had stolen it and started abusing and hitting him. Sage Kapila’s meditation was disturbed and the angry saint opened his eyes – reducing the sixty thousand sons into ashes. This spot is believed to the place were Ganga Sagar Mela is held annually – South of Kolkata – were Ganga merges with the Bay of Bengal.

Grandson of emperor Sagara reached the spot and prayed for forgiveness to Sage Kapila. The sage could not bring back the sons back but he said that they will attain Moksha when in future King Bhagiratha of the lineage will bring Ganga down from heaven to earth.

After several generations, Bhagiratha was born in the family and he performed great austerities and impressed Brahma and Shiva. 

Ganga descended from heaven and Lord Shiva held Her in his matted locks so that the power of Goddess does not destroy the earth. She then traveled to earth purifying all that she touched. 

Ganga Dashara Festival – Ganga Dasara

Ganga Aarti offered during Ganga Dashara at the Dashashwamedh Ghat,Varanasi

Ganga Dasara, also known as Maa Ganga Dashara, is a 10-day festival dedicated to Goddess Ganga (River Ganga or Ganges). In 2013, Ganga Dashara festival date is from June 9 to June 18. The festival is celebrated during the first ten days of the Jyeshta Month (May – June) – the first 10 days during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). 

It is believed that Goddess Ganga touched the earth on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshta (June 18, 2013). Legend has it that King Bhagirath performed intense austerities to bring down Ganga on to earth so that his ancestors are relieved of their sins. Finally, Ganga descended from heaven and Lord Shiva held Her in his matted locks so that the power of Goddess does not destroy the earth. She then traveled to earth purifying all that she touched.

The day of the celebration, Ganga Dashahara brings throngs of bathers to the banks of the river. A soak in the Ganges on this day is said to rid the bather of ten sins (dasha = Sanskrit "ten"; hara = to destroy) or alternatively, ten lifetimes of sins. Those who cannot journey to the river, however, can achieve the same results by bathing in any nearby body of water, which, for the true believer, in the Hindu tradition, takes on all the attributes of the Ganges

Numerous ceremonies are held on the occasion including pujas, prayers and other rituals. In recent years, with human greed destroying and polluting Ganga, there are special meetings and padyatras held on the occasion to highlight the importance of Ganga and the need to protect it.

It must be noted that the day Ganga descended on earth is observed differently in different regions. In some regions it is observed as Ganga Saptami and in some regions on the Akshaya Tritiya day.