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

Scientific Importance of observing a fast on Ekadashi

From time immemorial, devotees have been observing fasts twice a month on the Ekadashi days. This fasting is, in general, for everyone. Ekadashi ('Eka' is 1, 'Dasha' is 10) is the 11th day in the lunar calendar, i.e. counting from the new moon day and also from the full moon day.

According to research, the air pressure in the earth’s atmosphere rapidly changes on both the new moon (Amavasya) and the full moon (Poornima) days. This is because of the orbital paths - combination of the sun, moon and the earth and their varying distances at particular intervals (i.e. every 24 hours for one entire rotation of the Earth). Accordingly the pressure in the atmosphere too changes drastically and varies from day to day.

This can be observed by the change in the nature of the tidal waves on the new moon and full moon days. On an Amavasya, the waves are very high and rough due to the increase in atmospheric pressure in the oceans. But from the next day onwards, the waves become calm - an indication that the pressure has also receded. Particularly on the 11th day from new moon or full moon days, the pressure is  very light or nil.

Now, based on this fact, the significance of Ekadashi fasting can be explained in this way -

1.    Compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmospheric pressure is lowest on Ekadashi days. Thus, this is the best time to fast and cleanse our bodies. If we fast on any other day, the high pressure/strain may damage our system. On this day, the body never experiences the pain while we cleanse our systems, thus refreshing the entire body mechanism - specifically the liver/stomach/bowel.

As the atmospheric pressure builds up faster and doubles on the 12th day from Amavasya / Poornima days (called as Dwadashi), to avoid any complications in the body, people fasting are advised to consume food as early in the morning as possible, the next day.

2.    It is noted that fasting on this day is also very conducive to concentrate on meditation and prayers. According to science, it takes about 3-4 days for the brain to understand our food intake after we have eaten. It is said that if we eat light/fast on Ekadashi days, that intake will reach the brain correspondingly on the new moon/full moon day.

Health Benefits

Nowadays, people also fast for health reasons; fasting helps in the detoxification of the body. Everyone wants to look good by staying fit in the current times. As such, you may find many youngsters across India fasting. In the medical context, fasting refers to the state achieved after digestion of a meal. A number of metabolic adjustments occur during fasting and many medical diagnostic tests for blood sugar, cholesterol levels are standardized to fasting conditions. Thus fasting has medical reasons coated with religious significance in India.

1.    Cleansing of the bowels - Those who observe Fasting on Ekadashi days stay in good health, cleanse their bowel systems and are mostly free from frequent ailments. Also, it is said that for those on the spiritual/religious path, observing a fast on Ekadashi days, provides a mental peace, by way of self-realization. This sort of penance is believed to aid them in their spiritual path, thus making them pure in body and mind.

2.    Enforcing a better way of life - Fasting improves blood flow or circulation and the body's capacity to eliminate toxins, resulting in a better overall health. One feels more energetic and alert and is more resistant to all forms of disease or illness. It even slows down the aging process, which is a little more due to the accumulated effects of our bad habits or wrong ways of living. A day of fasting teaches one, self-control and discipline. It greatly helps to break those addictions that are destroying us and helps us start to acquire new and positive habits.

Now, let us look at the other scientific facts concerning the 11th day from the full moon & new Moon.

In the Indian Vedic system, there are different methods to calculate a month. One such is counting from the new moon day (Amavasya). From the new moon day till the full moon day it is called as Shukla Paksha (waxing/growing moon). From the full moon day till the next Amavasya, it is known as Krishna Paksha (waning/shrinking moon).

In the celestial phenomena, the Earth as well as moon rise and settle at the same time on Amavasya. From the next day up till Amavasya, the moon moves about a distance of 12 degrees from the solar path. On the Ekadashi day (11th day from full moon) the Moon stays at a distance of about 135 degrees in the solar path – this causes lesser gravitation force and thus resulting in lesser atmospheric pressure. Therefore fasting on an Ekadashi day will not affect the body system as also hunger is said to be minimum at this time.

ನ ಗಾಯಾತ್ರ್ಯಾ ಪರ ಮಂತ್ರಃ ನ ಮಾತೃ ಪರದೇವತಾ |

ನ ಗಂಗಾನ್ಯಃ ಪರಮಂ ತೀರ್ಥಂ ನ ಏಕಾದಶ್ಯಾಃ ಸಮಂ ವ್ರತಂ ||

lÉ aÉÉrɧrÉÉ mÉU qÉǧÉÈ lÉ qÉÉiÉ× mÉU SæuÉiÉÉqÉ |

lÉ aÉ…¡ûÉlrÉÈ mÉUqÉqÉç iÉÏjÉïqÉç lÉ LãMüÉSzrÉÉÈ xÉqÉqÉç uÉëiÉqÉç ||

 

Na GaayatryA para mantrah Na MAthru para dEvatA

Na GangAnyAh paramam theertham Na EkAdashyAh samam vratam

 
The rough translation: There is no mantra superior to the Gayatri mantra, There is no god superior to the Mother, There is no water more purifying or superior than River Ganges. And finally, there is no fast/ austerities (Vratha) more sacred or superior than the Ekadashi.

 

What can be consumed during Ekadashi?

 

Since the very purpose of the fast is to minimize bodily activities and to increase activities of devotion, prayer and peace, observers either abstain from completely or, at least, minimize the intake of food. Light meals of comprising of fruits, milk, milk products, vegetables, nuts, water and various non-cereal flours, fruits like banana, are eaten by those not undertaking a total fast. Grains and beans are avoided generally on the day of Ekadashi. These meals usually do not deliver the heavy bog-down feeling experienced after eating the same size meals cooked with grains and pulses. In general, onion and garlic are not consumed. In addition, cream, and heavy fat items are avoided on Ekadashi.

Apart from cleansing one's body bi-monthly, Ekadashi is also an excellent time to purify one’s mind and thoughts! Learning the scientific perspective of why Ekadashi is observed, can be an enriching experience. It is amazing how the ancient Vedic Indians devised this method to keep ourselves fit and free from any negative influences! 

Reference:

http://scienceofhinduism.blogspot.in/2008/08/why-do-we-fast-on-ekadesi-days.html
https://www.trsiyengar.com/id18.shtml
http://ekadasifast.blogspot.in/2009/02/benefits-of-ekadasi.html
http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/05/how-to-observe-ekadasi-ekadashi-vrat.html
http://www.dipika.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=318:eating-rules-for-ekadashi-what-to-eat-or-not-to-eat-on-ekadashi&catid=26:ekadashi-the-day-for-lord-hari&Itemid=30
http://harmonist.us/2009/06/the-inner-meaning-of-ekadasi/