Shri Krishna Janmashtami

Shri Krishna Janmashtami, The birth of Lord Krishna took place at the end of the Dwapar era at midnight on the eighth day of Bhadra Krishna Pakchya in the city jail of Mathura. He was born as the eighth fetus from his parents imprisoned immediately after their marriage. Lord Krishna was the God-Guru of the universe, he incarnated as the child of mother Devaki and father Basudeva to eradicate sin and give eternal education to society. At that time, with the rise in injustice, tyranny, bribery, and falsehood, as well as the destruction of religion was taking place, God, the ruler of this world, came to Devaki’s womb with a normal human nature, after consulting with the gods, thinking that he should incarnate as Lord Krishna.

The omniscient Lord Krishna initially performed an innocent human child act. Through childhood acts, he was indirectly showing the purpose of his incarnation in society. One after another amazing, sensational child acts astonished the society of that time, and sometimes Krishna, who kept his word, gave a complete impression that he was some supernatural personality and also confirmed that he was God. But such an impression was perceived only by the loved ones of God, while the normal society fascinated by the human form of God was ignorant but astonished.

At the time of his birth also, he performed supernatural acts and showed his divine form to his mother Devaki and father Basudev. Similarly, he proved his devotees by showing his different forms with the introduction of his supernatural power, his divine personality being different from normal human beings. In a different context, by deceiving women by drinking Putna’s milk, deceiving Bramha by creating the lost cattle reappearing, protecting the people of Gokul from the wrath of Indra by holding the Govardhan mountain, compelling the arrogant Indra to bow down in the context of holding Govardhan mountain, showing Raslila (the sport of krishṉā and gopi’s) to the Gopi and Gopinis, by showing his form in the chariot and the Yamuna river simultaneously to his uncle Akrur, he showed his supernatural and divine form. At the same time, by covering that supernaturalness with illusion, he would create a situation where the common people would be entangled in this illusion.

The supernatural qualities and form of God were experienced by different people. In fact, Lord Krishna’s unique form blossoms when he was entering a wrestling match organized by Kansa. From the common people to the kings and emperors present there, got the impression of the divine form of God. In this context, in the eyes of those who were present, the uniqueness of God is evaluated as follows:

1. The wrestlers saw God as a Thunderbolt.
2. Ordinary human beings saw supernatural human.
3. Women saw him as Kamadev in person.
4. Gopijan saw him as a relative.
5. Sinful and wicked kings saw an efficient administrator.
6. Devaki, Basudeva, and Nanda-Yashoda saw a baby son.
7. King Kansa saw his death in person.
8. The wise men saw a great man.
9. Yogis saw the supreme element (Spirit).
10. The shepherds saw him as the Supreme God.

The introduction of such different feelings in the same person at once reflects the identity of uniqueness. Another thing that can be seen in Krishna is the realization of the Six-Wealth-Prosperity that exists in Paramatma (supreme soul). These are the six Aishwarya’s – wealth, religion, fame, attainment of transcendental credit, knowledge, and asceticism.

ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्थ धर्मस्य यशसः श्रियः ।
ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षड्णां भगः इतीरितः ।।

The above six things should reside in the qualities of God and uniqueness and ability must be present there. Lord Krishna was rich and prosperous in these qualities.

When God is established and worshiped in a house or a temple, then those places are not ordinary but are full of all these six auspicious things. Therefore, during the ritual of Pranpratishtha (consecration of image), the Ritualist wants these six things to come in that figure. Therefore, God’s consecration of the Image is done methodically at the appropriate time. The purpose of rejoicing in auspicious and stable consecration is to ensure that the auspiciousness of Lord Krishna abides there forever, and when the devotee worships and prays at any time they acquire those qualities to a greater extent. The purpose of consecrating the image at the auspicious time is to have the qualities of god and auspiciousness of Lord Krishna remain there for all eternity and, at any time, when a devotee worships and prays, one should also get more of those qualities.

Although a person cannot become Krishna, if Krishna wants he will surely make one endowed with knowledge, strength, virtue, speed, wealth, and fame. This is the difference between a devotee and a god. This kind of uniqueness can be seen in many acts of Lord Krishna and can be meditated on while studying His praises. Such uniqueness is not found anywhere else except in Lord Krishna. This is the characteristic and uniqueness of Lord Krishna.

Worship method during Shri Krishna Janmashtami

There is a mine of wealth in God, due to this fact devotees’ aspirations are fulfilled when they serve god. Devotees also are always very eager to worship such a god. The method of worship can be known as follows:- First of all, one should meditate on the God who is breastfeeding in the lap of mother Yashodha. After meditating in this way, one should worship God according to the name mantra as follows: –

ध्यानं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
आसनं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
पाद्यं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
अर्घ्यं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
आचमनीयं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
पुनराचमनीयं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
पञ्चामृतं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
शुद्धोदकं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
पीताम्बरयुग्मं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
यज्ञोपवीतं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
चन्दनं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
तिलयवान् समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
पुष्पाणि समर्पयामि, पुष्पमालां समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
धूपं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
दीपं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
नैवेद्यं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
तुलसीपत्रं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
फलं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
द्रव्यक्षिणां समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
आरार्तिक्यं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
मन्त्रपुष्पाञ्जलिं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
प्रदक्षिणां समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
साष्टाङ्ग प्रणामं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।
क्षमापनं समर्पयामि श्रीकृष्णाय नमः।

In this way, by offering available items to the lord while meditating on his name and if one is abroad or outside the house, one can perform the worship while meditating on his name as well as offering different items to him from the heart on Shri Krishna Janmashtami. To worship a God is to worship him with a pure body, dress, and pure mind, meditating on God, remembering his deeds and dedicating all of one’s deeds to God.

All the deeds done by Lord Krishna, endowed with all the virtues are guiding and instructive for us human beings. Our welfare is enhanced when we try to practice the life of Lord Krishna in our daily life which is more meritorious than the deeds of the most dignified Lord Shri Ram. To imitate yoga as a yogi does is to follow the formulas that make life successful from the acts and deeds and stories performed by God. In particular, the following teachings can be taken from lord Krishna: –

1. For worldly happiness and transcendental happiness, and also even in the acquisition of wealth, God’s grace is needed, one cannot just acquire them by one’s own will. Therefore, the worship of God should be the goal of life.
2. Friendship should be made with everyone as needed. Small and big are due to karma. So good deeds should be done by recognizing good karma.
3. If God is willing even the impossible is made possible. So we should have the feeling of doing good deeds and surrendering to God.
4. From the biography of Lord Krishna, one can learn that a person who is constantly on the lookout for possibilities, even in the midst of the impossible, will surely succeed.
5. The biography of Lord Krishna teaches that a person who perseveres without giving up his religion, rites, and culture without being distracted even in times of extreme sorrow is successful. Since many greeds, worldly pleasures and lusts interfere with one’s promise, one can achieve one’s goal only by being free from such subjects and controlling one’s senses. Many such lessons can be learned from the biography of Lord Krishna.

 To Read this article in the Nepali Language please click here. Shri Krishna Janmashtami.