Janmashtmi Festival

Janmashtmi

Janmashtmi is a festival celebrated on the occasion of the birth of Lord Krishna. It is also renowned as Krishnashtami, Gokulashtami, Yadukulashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti. This year Janmastmi is celebrated on 30th August, on the ashtami of Bhadrapad Krishna.

On this day, people visit Lord Krishna and Vishnu temple to worship them. They also do fasting, puja and prepare special dainty, sweet dishes and share with each other.

Lord Krishna Story

In accordance with Hindu Mythology, this was the  eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. it is believed that whenever the evil on earth is at its zenith, then God descends on this earth to pave the way for the people from darkness. The same reason follows the incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Krishna.

The story behind the emanation of the Lord Krishna began much before his birth. Once there lived a person who wasn't a demon but his actions were. These actions are the consequences of the curse that his mother gave to him because she was cheated by someone, whi took the form of his father, to engage with her. To understand the story completely you can check here.

After his birth, the King Ugrasen adopted him and gave the name Kans. But as day passes, he became so cunning and cruel that the Lords of heaven felt it necessary to annihilate him. 

Here, on the earth, Kans was celebrating the marriage of his sister, Devaki. She was married to Vasudev. On their way to home, a prophecy filled the sky with words, " Your death is approaching you. The eighth son of Devaki will punish you for your Karma."

He was so frightened by this augury that he decided to kill Devaki but her husband, Vasudev saved her by promising Kans that they will handover all their children to him so that he can kill the probability of his death. Kans agreed to this but put Devaki and Vasudev behind the bars. He also continued to harass and torture them.

According to Vasudev's promise, Kans bruetly killed the first six kids of Devaki. Lord Vishnu with the help of Yogmaya and Mahamaya devi made the seventh child of Devaki to take birth as the child of Rohini, named Balrama. When Lord Krishna was born, the guards went to inform the King Kans. But Lord Krishna with his power managed to make other guards to sleep and the doors of the jail were open so that he could safely reach the house of Nand- Yashoda's house in nearby village called Gokul. On their way, they also faced terrific raining and turbulent flow of Yamuna river. But they conquered all the obstacles and safely replaces the baby girl of Yashoda with Krishna.

When Kans got the news of their escape and the fact that his reason for death was alive, he sent various demons to kill the child. At first he sent Putana to kill Krishna. And this list continued to increase untill the day of Kans is reached. The demons who were sent by Kans to kill Krishna were Shakatasura, Vatsasura, Bakasura, Arishtasura, Aghasura and many more.

The day of Janmastmi is the sign that maybe sometimes we feel that evil is so powerful but at last good always wins over evil. So, we must have positive approach towards every situation and also fill the surrounding with positivity, optimism and happiness. With these word, we wish a very happy Janmashtami to you and your family.