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Celebration of divine mischief
Janmastami, also known as Krishnastami or Gokulastami is a festival dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna and commemorates his birth. The festival occurs on the eighth day (Astami) of a lunar fortnight (Purnamasi) hence the name (Krishna+astami). Krishnastami usually falls in late August and is celebrated over two days. This first day is Krishnastami or Gokulastami.
Janmastami, also known as Krishnastami or Gokulastami is a festival dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna and commemorates his birth. The festival occurs on the eighth day (Astami) of a lunar fortnight (Purnamasi) hence the name (Krishna+astami). Krishnastami usually falls in late August and is celebrated over two days. This first day is Krishnastami or Gokulastami.
The second day is called Kalastami or more popularly Janmastami. On the midnight between the first and second days the `birth of Lord Krishna is replicated with great devotion. Ceremony of Dahi-handi (breaking a pot full of milk and its derivatives) takes place on the second day. This ceremony is so popular that Krishnastami has come to be synonymous with the ceremony of Dahi-handi.
Temples and homes are beautifully decorated and lit. An attractive feature of the celebrations are decorations depicting stories of Lord Krishna`s childhood. There are five main "Jhankis" of Janmashtami which depict the entire sequence of events from Lord Krishna`s birth to his being discovered in Gokul.
The "jhankis" include the birth of Krishna in jail, Vasudev carrying Krishna to safety across the river Yamuna amidst thunder and lightning, Vasudev`s return to the jail, Kansa killing Yashoda`s daughter and finally the little Krishna in the cradle in Gokul.
"Jhankis" are created out of dolls dressed up as kids, men and women with lehangas, chunnis, dhotis & kurtas. Raslila of every type are also performed - Janmlila, Shankarlila, Putnalila and Naglila. In the evening bhajans are sung which end at midnight, the auspicious moment when Lord Krishna was born. Thereafter arti is done, prasad distributed and flowers showered on the idol.
Rituals:
The priests chant holy mantras and bathe the idol with Gangajal, milk, ghee and honey pouring all these from a conch shell. Only after the ceremony is over, the devotees break their daylong fast. On Janmashtami, the devotees keep awake and sing bhajans till midnight, the moment when Krishna was born. People fast all day and eat only after the midnight birth ceremony. Often the image of the baby Krishna is placed on a swing and bathed with charanamrit (holy water). Midnight prayers are performed. The sound of hymns and religious songs extol the greatness of Krishna. At midnight between the first and the second day the `birth of Lord Krishna` is replicated with pomp and ceremony. Delicacies are prepared from milk and curds that Krishna loved. The more popular ceremony of Dahi-handi (breaking a pot full of milk and its derivatives} takes place on the second day. This ceremony is so popular that Krishnastami has come to be synonymous with the ceremony of Dahi-handi.
The Ceremony of Dahi-Handi
During this ceremony a large earthenware pot is filled with milk, curds, butter, honey fruits etc. and is suspended from a height between 20 to 40 feet. Sporting young men and boys come forward to claim this prize. To do so they construct a human pyramid by standing over each other`s shoulders till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. Normally, currency notes are tied to the rope by which the pot is suspended. This prize money is distributed among those who participate in the pyramid building
In his childhood, Lord Krishna along with his mates used to raid the houses of his neighbours in search of milk and butter. Myths and tales tell us that every day after the men and womenfolk left for their farms, the naughty and adventurous Krishna along with a band of his mates would build a human pyramid and plunder the caskets of milk and butter much to the chagrin of the owners. Mythological sketch of Lord Krishna:
Kansa, the king of Mathura was a very cruel tyrant. His tyranny spared no one, even the sages had to bear the brunt of this. Finally the gods could tolerate no more of it and in a dream Kansa was told that his evil reign would be brought to an end by his sister Devaki`s son who would kill him. The cowardly tyrant immediately threw his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudev in prison so that he could kill all the sons born to Devaki. The Cruelty of Kansa
In captivity Devaki bore six sons, each of whom were killed by Kansa. The seventh time, the gods again thought it necessary to intervene. On the night of the birth of their seventh child, the prison guards fell into a deep slumber and the doors were unlocked. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Vasudev slipped out of the prison and whisked away the God-child to the safety of a neighbouring kingdom which was ruled by King Nanda. King Nanda`s domain lay across the Yamuna river. We are told that at that time the Yamuna was in spate, but when the waters touched the feet of the God-child Sri-Krishna, the waters parted making a channel for Vasudev to pass. Lord Krishna at Gokul
The generous King Nanda gave away his new born daughter to Vasudev knowing fully well what fate awaited her at Kansa`s hands. Next morning Kansa completed his gruesome job complacent of the fact that his would-be avenger was still living. At Gokul, under King Nanda`s protection, Krishna got the loving affection of Nanda`s Queen Yashoda whom Krishna looked upon as a mother. Days passed in fun and frolic, while the child-Krishna grew up. But one-day rumours reached Kansa that Devaki`s son had somehow escaped his clutches and was living in Gokul. The Demoness Putana
To kill Krishna, he engaged a demoness named Putana. After specially treating the demoness Putana so that her nipples were poisoned he disguised her as a nymph and sent her to Gokul to try to breast-feed Krishna and kill him. But God that he was, the child Krishna saw through the game and in a miracle, we are told, the demoness fainted, the moment Krishna`s lips touched her breast. Kansa`s plot to eliminate Krishna was foiled. But as a result of sucking the poisoned milk Krishna`s originally fair skin turned dark. The story of Srikrishna`s life neatly explains away the reason for his dark complexion. Kalia Mardan and the Lifting of Mt. Govardhan
Krishna continued to live at Gokul. He acquired notoriety as a pilferer of milk and butter, but had endeared himself to the people of Gokul by his playfulness. Among other things attached to his notoriety, he lifted Mount Govardhan to save the people of Gokul from a storm. He also tamed Kalia, a giant snake that lived in the Yamuna river and terrorised the people of Gokul.
While still in his teens, Krishna came to Mathura where King Kansa had organised a wrestling tournament. Krishna participated in it and after defeating all the contestants, he challenged Kansa to a wrestling bout. The evil Kansa`s time was up: Krishna defeated and killed him.
Krishna`s role in Mahabharat
Another aspect linked with Krishna`s later life is his significant role in the epic Mahabharata. He was an adviser to the Pandavas and during the Mahabharata war between the Pandavas and Kauravas he was Arjuna`s charioteer. The original recitation of the Bhagvad Geeta (Song of the Blessed Lord) is accredited to him. This document contains profound ideas on many issues touching on the temporal and non-temporal aspects of life.
Celebrations at Braj Bhoomi
Janmashtmi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan. The main celebrations are performed at the Dwarkadhish temple in the form of Jhulanotsava and the Ghatas during the entire month of Shravan. The Ghatas are a unique feature of the month long celebrations. During the Ghatas the whole temple is covered with decoration of the same colour. Even the Lord is dressed up in the same colour.
The twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan takes on a festive look and spirit of devotion runs high among the people. It was on the banks of the Yamuna river where Lord Krishna played during his childhood and indulged in pranks and tricks with his friends and the gopis. There are about 400 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city and the major festivities are held at the Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram temple and Gopinath temple. The Raslila of Braj is thematically the basis of many performing arts.
The priests chant holy mantras and bathe the idol with Gangajal, milk, ghee and honey pouring all these from a conch shell. Only after the ceremony is over, the devotees break their daylong fast. On Janmashtami, the devotees keep awake and sing bhajans till midnight, the moment when Krishna was born. People fast all day and eat only after the midnight birth ceremony. Often the image of the baby Krishna is placed on a swing and bathed with charanamrit (holy water). Midnight prayers are performed. The sound of hymns and religious songs extol the greatness of Krishna. At midnight between the first and the second day the `birth of Lord Krishna` is replicated with pomp and ceremony. Delicacies are prepared from milk and curds that Krishna loved. The more popular ceremony of Dahi-handi (breaking a pot full of milk and its derivatives} takes place on the second day. This ceremony is so popular that Krishnastami has come to be synonymous with the ceremony of Dahi-handi.
The Ceremony of Dahi-Handi
During this ceremony a large earthenware pot is filled with milk, curds, butter, honey fruits etc. and is suspended from a height between 20 to 40 feet. Sporting young men and boys come forward to claim this prize. To do so they construct a human pyramid by standing over each other`s shoulders till the pyramid is tall enough to enable the topmost person to reach the pot and claim the contents after breaking it. Normally, currency notes are tied to the rope by which the pot is suspended. This prize money is distributed among those who participate in the pyramid building
In his childhood, Lord Krishna along with his mates used to raid the houses of his neighbours in search of milk and butter. Myths and tales tell us that every day after the men and womenfolk left for their farms, the naughty and adventurous Krishna along with a band of his mates would build a human pyramid and plunder the caskets of milk and butter much to the chagrin of the owners. Mythological sketch of Lord Krishna:
Kansa, the king of Mathura was a very cruel tyrant. His tyranny spared no one, even the sages had to bear the brunt of this. Finally the gods could tolerate no more of it and in a dream Kansa was told that his evil reign would be brought to an end by his sister Devaki`s son who would kill him. The cowardly tyrant immediately threw his sister Devaki and her husband Vasudev in prison so that he could kill all the sons born to Devaki. The Cruelty of Kansa
In captivity Devaki bore six sons, each of whom were killed by Kansa. The seventh time, the gods again thought it necessary to intervene. On the night of the birth of their seventh child, the prison guards fell into a deep slumber and the doors were unlocked. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Vasudev slipped out of the prison and whisked away the God-child to the safety of a neighbouring kingdom which was ruled by King Nanda. King Nanda`s domain lay across the Yamuna river. We are told that at that time the Yamuna was in spate, but when the waters touched the feet of the God-child Sri-Krishna, the waters parted making a channel for Vasudev to pass. Lord Krishna at Gokul
The generous King Nanda gave away his new born daughter to Vasudev knowing fully well what fate awaited her at Kansa`s hands. Next morning Kansa completed his gruesome job complacent of the fact that his would-be avenger was still living. At Gokul, under King Nanda`s protection, Krishna got the loving affection of Nanda`s Queen Yashoda whom Krishna looked upon as a mother. Days passed in fun and frolic, while the child-Krishna grew up. But one-day rumours reached Kansa that Devaki`s son had somehow escaped his clutches and was living in Gokul. The Demoness Putana
To kill Krishna, he engaged a demoness named Putana. After specially treating the demoness Putana so that her nipples were poisoned he disguised her as a nymph and sent her to Gokul to try to breast-feed Krishna and kill him. But God that he was, the child Krishna saw through the game and in a miracle, we are told, the demoness fainted, the moment Krishna`s lips touched her breast. Kansa`s plot to eliminate Krishna was foiled. But as a result of sucking the poisoned milk Krishna`s originally fair skin turned dark. The story of Srikrishna`s life neatly explains away the reason for his dark complexion. Kalia Mardan and the Lifting of Mt. Govardhan
Krishna continued to live at Gokul. He acquired notoriety as a pilferer of milk and butter, but had endeared himself to the people of Gokul by his playfulness. Among other things attached to his notoriety, he lifted Mount Govardhan to save the people of Gokul from a storm. He also tamed Kalia, a giant snake that lived in the Yamuna river and terrorised the people of Gokul.
While still in his teens, Krishna came to Mathura where King Kansa had organised a wrestling tournament. Krishna participated in it and after defeating all the contestants, he challenged Kansa to a wrestling bout. The evil Kansa`s time was up: Krishna defeated and killed him.
Krishna`s role in Mahabharat
Another aspect linked with Krishna`s later life is his significant role in the epic Mahabharata. He was an adviser to the Pandavas and during the Mahabharata war between the Pandavas and Kauravas he was Arjuna`s charioteer. The original recitation of the Bhagvad Geeta (Song of the Blessed Lord) is accredited to him. This document contains profound ideas on many issues touching on the temporal and non-temporal aspects of life.
Celebrations at Braj Bhoomi
Janmashtmi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan. The main celebrations are performed at the Dwarkadhish temple in the form of Jhulanotsava and the Ghatas during the entire month of Shravan. The Ghatas are a unique feature of the month long celebrations. During the Ghatas the whole temple is covered with decoration of the same colour. Even the Lord is dressed up in the same colour.
The twin cities of Mathura-Vrindavan takes on a festive look and spirit of devotion runs high among the people. It was on the banks of the Yamuna river where Lord Krishna played during his childhood and indulged in pranks and tricks with his friends and the gopis. There are about 400 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city and the major festivities are held at the Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balram temple and Gopinath temple. The Raslila of Braj is thematically the basis of many performing arts.