OM SAIRAM: 2012-08-05

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Janmashtami, one of the most popular festivals of Hindus celebrates the birth of their beloved God, Sri Krishna. Detailed story of Janmashtami or Lord Krishna's birth has been narrated in Puranas. Please read on to know more about the various fascinating aspects of the legend of Janmashtami as stated in Puranas.

Mathura, a prominent town of Northern India and the birth city of Sri Krishna was ruled by King Ugrasen, a Yaduvanshi ( Belonging to the Community of Yadavs). He was a great king loved by his subjects. He had two children, a son Kansa and a daughter Devki. Kansa was quite cruel by nature, his wickedness knew no bounds when he jailed his father and forcefully became the king of Mathura.

Love for sister Devki and Brother in law Vasudev
Though Kansa was hard hearted but he loved his sister immensely and married her off to Vasudev, one the high ranking officers in his army. However on the day of wedding, as a result of a heavenly prediction that Devki's eighth child will be born to kill him, Kansa decided to kill his sister. On Vasudev's pleading, he put both of them in dungeons and let them live but with a promise that they will handover all their children to Kansa, only to be killed by him.

Birth of Balram
Kansa succeeded in killing all the six new born babies of Devki and Vasudev, however the seventh child was saved by divine intervention as the child was transferred from Devki's womb to that of Rohini's, Vasudev's other wife. Thus Balram, the elder brother of Krishna was born but Kansa thought that Devki had a miscarriage.

Birth of Krishna
The birth of the eighth child of Devki, Lord Krishna was followed by a chain of dramatic events. Soon after the birth of the child, as if by a sheer miracle, all the soldiers guarding the couple fell asleep and the gates of the dungeon flew open themselves. Vasudev decided to smuggle the child safely in a basket to his friend Nand in Gokul. Since it was raining heavily, River Yamuna was all swollen and Vasudev feared that both he as well as his child will drown if he tried to cross it, however, as soon as the feet of the infant touched the river, the flow of water became normal and Vasudev was able to cross it easily. Sheshnag, the five headed serpent of Lord Vishnu protected the child with its fangs. Vasudev knew that his was not an ordinary child but a divine being. After handing his child, to his dear friend, Nand, Vasudev returned back safely with a girl child and no one got to know about it.

Yogmaya's prediction
On hearing the news of the eighth born child, Kansa rushed to kill the girl. He paid no heed to Devki's plead of sparing the girl. He held the child by her legs and just as he was about to bang her against the wall, the girl vanished into thin air and told Kansa that his slayer had been born and was safe in Gokul. The girl child was none other than Yogmaya (divine illusion). The eighth child grew up as Yashoda and Nand's son in Gokul and later killed his maternal uncle Kansa, freeing all the people of Mathura from his tyranny.

Jai Shree Krishna

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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Happy Janmashtami=2012=

JAI NANDLALA J

""Yadã yadã hi dharmasya, glãnirbhavati Bhãratah,

Abhiyutthãnam adharmasya, tadãtmãnam srijãmyaham|

Paritrãnãya sãdhunãm, vinãshaya cha dushkritãm,

Dharmasamsthãpanãrthãya, sambhavãmi yugè
yugè||""

~ Lord Krishna to Arjuna
(Shrimat Bhagavat Geetã)

~ Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I, Myself, appear, ages after ages.

In the Bhagvat Geeta, this is what the Lord Himself promised. The Lord never failed to keep His promises down the ages. He incarnated down to the earth from His heavenly abode at the Vaikuntha, to save his devotees. In different forms, Lord Vishnu, the sustainer and the Supreme Soul, came down to the earth, one after another, just like "the waves in an ocean". But, His Avatãr (incarnation) Lord Krishna is said to be God Himself incarnated. It was the eighth day of the new-moon fortnight (krishnapaksha) of the month of Shrãvana.

Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who gave us the vital message of the Bhagwat Gita. The festival of Janmashtami (pronunciation : Janmãshtami) is now popularly celebrated outside of due largely to the extraordinary efforts of many many Krishna-devotees and many Hindu organizations. Reach out to all your fellow Indians on this auspicious occasion and wish them Happy Janmashtami ! ! !

Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, where his parents lived in captivity of the evil Kansa and he as a young boy came and vanquished his maternal uncle Kansa to ascend the throne and free his parents, celebrates Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. The main celebrations are performed at the Dwãrakadhish temple, Mathurã in the form of Jhulanotsava and the Ghatas during the entire month of Shrãvana.

The ghatas are a unique feature of the month long celebrations. During the ghatas of a particular colour the whole temple is covered with decoration in the same colour. Even the Lord dresses 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 gopies. There are about 400 temples dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city and the major festivities are held at the Bãnke Bihãri, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balarãm temple and Gopinãth temple. The Raslila of Braj is thematically the basis of many .

Indian mythical heritage overflows with a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.. The celestial powers figure in the beliefs of the people and the divine influence plays an important part in their lives. Yet, among these deities, the most beloved is Lord Krishna, the eighth avatãr (incarnation) of Vishnu. Janmasthami is a celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna and every ritual in the celebration of this auspicious occasion is associated with various phases of his life, which have been immortalised in both the religious and the folk literature.

Krishna Janmashtami is observed on the eighth day of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Bhadrapadha in the Hindu , when the Rohini Nakshatram is ascendent. The Hindu calendar being lunar, these two events [the day being the eighth of the waning moon (Krishna-paksha Ashtami) and the Rohini Nakshatram being ascendent] may overlap for only a few hours. In such an event, the festival may be celebrated on different (but successive) days by different people, depending on their local or family traditions. Lord Krishna was born in the Dwãpar Yuga (age called Dwapar, according to the Hindu religion), which came just before the Kal Yug. Janamasthami, His birthday falls on the Ashtami Tithi or the 8th day of the new moon fortnight in the month of Bhãdra some time in July or August. The Jhankis (tableaux) depicting many significant scenes from Lord Krishna"s life are the intrinsic part of Janmasthami. Devotees also make beautiful Jhulans (Cradles) for the Krishna. In some parts of India, young men break the Matkãs (Earthen Pots) filled with butter and curds. The most important tableux is that of baby Krishna. A idol of baby Krishna is placed on a cradle, which is rocked to recreate scenes from Krishna"s infancy. The devotees believe that anyone who makes a wish and while rocking the cradle in which the Lord is, his or her wish will be granted on this day. Other popular Jhankis are Kãliya Mardan(vanquishing the black snake Kãliya Nãga or serpent), Kansha Vadha ( Killing Kansha) and lifting the Govardhan Parvat (Mount Govardhan).

In Brindãvan, every year the Rãsleelãs or the folk theatre acting out stories from Lord Krishna"s life. This begins much before the Janmasthami day. These Rãsleelãs are staged by professional drama troupes or even young children. These dramas characterised by colourful and equally colourful backgrounds. Rãsleelas are usually accompanied by musicians and are very popular among the people.
The language spoken by the actors and the actresses is the Brajbhãsha, but sometimes, Hindi is also used.