Janmashtami, popularly known as Krishna Janmashtami is the birthday of revered Lord Krishna which is celebrated with much enthusiasm and renewed vigour all over India in the month of either August or September every year. If we go by the Hindu calendar, auspicious occasion falls on the Ashtami or eighth day of the Krishna Paksh or dark fortnight of Bhadon month. Janmashatami festival originated in Gokul and engulfed the Mathura region, before spreading to the entire Uttar Pradesh and various parts of the nation. There is no iota of doubt that Lord Krishna is the epitome of love, faith, friendship, and peace. The epic ‘Bhagawad Gita’ would not have been known, had Lord Krishna not been around to savour the people and to impart them the essence of life and how to overcome the hurdles with poise and finesse.
The story of Mahabharata has a lot to do with the life of Krishna. It may be recalled that during the Dharma Yuddha or war between Pandavas and Kauravas, Lord Krishna played the charioteer of Arjuna. He realised the need to counsel Arjuna on Dharma (righteous path), Karma (deeds), theistic devotion, yogic ideals, salvation and knowledge, among others, because Arjuna was in emotional turmoil after he was forced to annihilate his deadly-foes, even though they were his brothers and cousins. Krishna was crystal-clear in uttering that whenever the evil deeds rear its ugly head, he will destroy them with his iron-hands. He also stressed on the need to preserve the humility aspect to Pandavas.
Lord Krishna was named “Makhanchor”(the one who steals butter) during his childhood days. The story goes around that he used to steal butter from every household of Gokul, without realising its adverse consequences he faced from his mother, ‘Yasoda’. ‘Dahi Handi’ is another important aspect of this festival that is observed on the second day of Janmashtami, where the tantrums displayed by Krishna with his intrisnic ability and uncanny anticipation would be explained. An earthen pot or handi is filled with butter, ghee, dry fruits, and milk would be kept at a considerable height and it would be tied with ropes for the devotees to compete with each in climbing on each other before reaching the handi and breaking it with chanting of hyms like, ‘Govindaalare’.
Janmashatami is the favourite festival for children, who look at Lord Krishna as their class-mate and friend, as they grew up listening to his mischievous deeds and fun-filled activities with joy and enthusiasm. Janmashatami is observed with much fasnfare, especially in Mathura and Brindavan. The devotees would observe fast until midnight, the traditional hour of his birth. Subsequently, the image of Krishna is bathed in water and milk, dressed in new clothes, and worshipped. Temples and household shrines are decorated with leaves and flowers. Sweets are initially offered to the lord before distributing it as prasadam to the people.
The devotees of Krishna commemorate the events of his birth with elaborate representations of Mathura, where he was born, besides in the ‘yamuna river’, over which he was transported to safety when the demon Kamsan was hell-bent on eliminating him, and Gokul, the reminiscence of his childhood days, using small images of the god, besides the animals and birds of the forest join in the celebration of Janmashtami. Pots of milk are hung from tall poles in the streets, and the people form human pyramids and break the pots, besides imitating Krishna’s childhood play with the cowherd boys, as the devotees would recreate the scene that enabled Krishna and other children to steal the curds by dodging their mothers with utmost ease.
A large number of people open their bank accounts and take steps for other welfare activities, during Janmashatami. Marriage-hunting also place during this time, as the firm belief is that the welknown festival would augur well for the entire family, if any attempt is being made for progress on the education. A section of people do affirm that they are relieved from health complications, if any, on the occasion of Janmashatami. The devotees are also happy that Lord Krishna is the centre of attraction during the celebration of Deepavali. Janmashtami also preaches Ahimsa and Lord Krishna’s advice in Gita depicts that the people cannot claim anything as their own.
A 1500-year-old ancient Krishna temple is situated at Kotayyam district in Kerala. The significant aspect of this temple is that it would remain opened for the whole year and would be closed only for two minutes in a day, that is, from night 11.58 pm to 12.00 am to offer prasadam to the lord and the devotees. The story goes around that since Krishna would remain hungry the temple would be opened for that particular time to feed him and the people thronging the temple to whet their appetite.
K.V. Venugopal, Chennai.
