Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who simultaneously possesses six opulences in full i.e. wealth, power, fame, beauty, wisdom, and renunciation. His auspicious birth is Worldwide celebrated as Janmashtami Celebration Day.
(Understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
He is a historical person who appeared on this planet Earth 5,000 years ago, stayed for 125 years on this planet, and played exactly like a human being but His activities were unparalleled. His appearance is celebrated as Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
Lord Sri Krishna declares in Srimad Bhagavad-gita that He appears by His own will whenever and wherever there is a decline in true religious practices and a predominant rise of irreligiosity. On the plea of Bhumi, the predominating deity of earth and Lord Brahma, Lord Sri Krishna appeared on earth in Dvapara yuga.
Along with the Lord, there is the birth of many demigods and their wives in different pious families in due course of time to assist the Lord in His mission of annihilating the demons and establishing the devotees.
Lord Krishna appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon as the eighth child of Mother Devaki and Vasudeva. His appearance within the womb of Devaki is not subject to any ordinary material conditions. Lord Sri Krishna entered the unalloyed heart of His father, Vasudeva, and then transferred Himself to the heart of Devaki, and consequently from the heart to her womb. Janmashtami celebrations are held to commemorate his divine appearance.
He appeared as a dazzling bright blackish cloud in a wonderfully decorated four-handed form. He ordered Vasudeva to take Him to Gokul and exchange with the daughter just born of Mother Yashoda and on the request of Mother Devaki He transferred Himself into an ordinary child. Under the influence of Yogamaya, the doorkeepers were overwhelmed with deep sleep and all the palace doors opened, and Vasudeva exchanged the babies without difficulty. His appearance was celebrated at Gokul as Nandotsav.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami event is celebrated worldwide with great devotion and variegated festivities. There are splendid decorations, chanting of auspicious mantras, performances of melodious kirtans, bhajans, dramas and displays of video shows, narrations of wonderful pastimes of the Lord, etc.
The Lord is offered Maha-abhisheka, dressed and decorated gorgeously with jewelry and flowers, and presented with numerous bhoga items. Devotees fast on this day and break the fast at midnight with non-grain maha-prasadam.
Srila Roop Goswami recommends in the Nectar of devotion that one should observe special service during the Janmashtami celebrations. The day is extremely auspicious for generosity, and one should offer Janmashtami donations and obtain the unique favor of Lord Sri Krishna.
Janmashtami celebration is to commemorate the divine appearance of Lord Sri Krishna on this earth. His appearance marks the elimination of miscreants and the rule of righteousness. Lord Sri Krishna is ascertained as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all Vedic scriptures and the living entities are described as His parts and parcels.
Serving the Supreme Lord by celebrating His divine appearance and observing variegated festivities is declared as the occupational duty of every living entity. This auspicious observance of Janmashtami seva invokes the merciful favor of Lord Sri Krishna to flourish in life and revive our forgotten relationship with Him.
Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur celebrates the great annual Janmashtami event with great grandeur. The unique highlight of the ISKCON Janmashtami is the Maha-abhishekam of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram with pancamrita, pancagavya, variegated fruit juices, and flowers.
It accompanies auspicious artis, melodious kirtans and bhajans, devotees dancing before the Lord, and many more spectacular detailed festivities.
In ISKCON temple Janmashtami there is an organization of multifarious programs like Jhulan Seva, Laddu Gopal Abhishekam, Cultural Activities, and a huge display of paraphernalia items related to the worship of Lord Sri Krishna.
The Lord is decorated with beautiful dresses, brilliant jewelry, and exquisite flower garlands and is offered more than 108 delectable bhoga offerings including His favorite Makhan Mishri. Millions of devotees take benefit of Lord’s darshan which is open throughout the day up to Maha-Arti at 12 AM. The Janmashtami celebration culminate in a midnight feast of non-grain maha-prasadam distribution.
Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur will celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami on 26th August, Monday. The celebrations will commence in the early morning of Arti and Abhishekam. There will be organization of maha-abhishekam 4 times in the day and an opportunity for personally offering abhisheka and Jhulan Seva to Laddu Gopal Deity throughout the day.
Makhan Mishri Prasadam will be distributed to those who perform the Jhulan Seva. Devotees will fast up to midnight arti and there will be distribution of be non-grain prasadam feast for fast breaking.
The advent of Lord Sri Krishna is explained by Srila Prabhupada as transcendental. He remarks that the Janmashtami program is being celebrated across the globe since the birth of Lord Krishna is divine.
Srila Prabhupada also appeared on Nandotsav Day, and the day is celebrated as Vyas Puja Day in the Worldwide Hare Krishna Movement.
The Supreme Lord is addressed in the Vedas as Aja meaning unborn, so although He is unborn, He takes birth, and acts like an ordinary person but His birth and activities are divine. One who can understand the divine nature of Lord Krishna’s birth and activities is liberated from the repetitive cycle of birth and death in this material world. Authoritative scriptures like Srimad Bhagavad-gita Srimad Bhagavatam and other Vedic literature ascertain the transcendental nature of Lord Sri Krishna’s name, form, pastimes, etc.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees used to dress themselves like cowherd boys on the Janmashtami celebration and Mahaprabhu would carry a balance with pots of yogurt.
The time of Lord Krishna is compared to the rising of the full moon on the eastern horizon. Although He appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon since He appeared in the dynasty in the hierarchy of the moon, the moon was in over joyous condition and appeared just like a full moon.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami festival is especially significant for the Vaishnava devotees. Lord Sri Krishna appeared on the plea of Mother Earth, who was overburdened by the sinful rulers. He appeared as the eighth son of Mother Devaki and killed many wicked rulers and demons to establish the devotees.
The celebration of Sri Krishna Janmashtami glorifies the merciful appearance of the Supreme Lord to please the devotees and annihilate sinful demons. Scriptures declare that the Supreme Lord Krishna is like the sun, which dissipates all darkness by his presence. The appearance and activities of the Supreme Lord are meant to give a chance to the conditioned souls to understand and become attracted by His transcendental personality and pastime so that everyone can develop the desire to associate with Him eternally.
💠 Aghasur Vadh: Krishna’s Divine Victory Over the Demon Serpent
When Lord Krishna was enjoying childhood pastimes with His cowherd boyfriends a demon named Aghasur assumed the form of a very fat serpent expanded in eight miles. Aghasur happened to be the younger brother of the witch Putana and demon Bakasur and was instigated by Kamsa. His mouth was stretched like a mountain cave desiring to swallow all boys along with Lord Krishna.
All the boys entered into the cave-like mouth of the demon. After some deliberation Krishna entered, and the demon tried to smash Krishna and His companions. Krishna expanded Himself and choked the life air of the demon, which ultimately burst out of a hole in his skull. Then Krishna brought the boys back to consciousness by His transcendental glance.
💠 Goverdhan Lila: Krishna’s Divine Protection of Residents of Vrindavan
When Krishna and Balaram saw that the cowherd men were preparing for a sacrifice to be offered to Demigod Indra, to establish exclusive devotional service Krishna suggested forgoing the sacrifice and instead worshiping Goverdhan Hill. When Indra understood the situation, he became angry and vented by calling the devastating cloud, Samvartaka.
Indra ordered to inundate Vrindavan, but Krishna lifted the Goverdhan Hill with the little finger of His left hand and protected the inhabitants for one week. Baffled in his determination Indra asked the clouds to desist. The inhabitants of Vrindavan accompanied by their animals were under the protection of the umbrella-like Goverdhan Hill undisturbed by hunger, thirst, or any other discomfort. When the sky cleared and there was sunshine Krishna replaced the Goverdhan Hill in the same position.
💠 Meeting with Sudama Brahman: Krishna’s Heartfelt Gift to His Devotee
Sudama was a very nice Brahman friend of Lord Krishna and was materially detached. The wife of the Brahman requested him with humility to go to Lord Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune. With four palmfuls of chipped rice tied in a small cloth as present, he proceeded towards Dvaraka to see Lord Krishna.
Lord Krishna upon seeing the brahman immediately left His seat, embraced him, and personally offered him a seat, fruits, and drinks. Lord washed his feet and sprinkled the water onto His head. Afterward, Krishna snatched the chipped rice from him and ate one morsel, which blessed the Sudama brahman with much opulence in this life and the next.
The pleasure of Lord Sri Krishna is the center of all festivities organized on Janmashtami day. The day is observed with fasting to intensify the devotional practices. Devotees fast till midnight and afterward, break the fast with non-grain prasadam. Throughout the day there are engagements in variegated devotional services unto Lord Krishna such as Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, other authorized stotras, and Bhagavad-Gita, Kirtans, and bhajans are sung, enchanting Janmashtami Puja is performed for the Lord.
There is an opportunity to offer Jhulan Seva to Laddu Gopal Deity. The auspicious day is observed by offering contributions for annadaan and gau seva, which satisfies Lord Krishna, the benefactor of cows. Participate in the multiple ways to delight Supreme Lord Krishna on this Janmashtami Celebration and be blessed with divine benedictions.
