So here I am back with details about #Janamastami under the project #Ignirant Hindu. More details about the project towards the end of the article just before I share the famous Govind ( Krishna ) Songs from Bollywood.
Why is Janmashtami Celebrated?
Krishan Janmashtami is the festival celebrating the birth of festival of the birth of Lord Krishna, the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu. Janmashtami is also called Gokulastami. In many places, it is celebrated with Dahi Handi ( More on it later)
When was Lord Krishna born?
As per various Vedic scriptures and people correlating the astronomical positions with every source they can lay hands on, it is safe to assume that Lord Krishna was born some 5252 years back on Wednesday, 21 July ( some refer to as 18 July), Shravan Krishna Ashtami, 3228 BCE in Rohini Nakshatra at Mid-Night in Mathura.
This is an accepted date first proposed by computer astrologer Arun K. Bansal- as it satisfies most of 155 astronomical references to the birth of Lord Krishna. The debate of the year and date of birth has no meaning to me. I believe in lord Krishna, and that is enough for me.
STORY OF LORD KRISHNA BIRTH.
BACKGROUND
Long back, evil king Kansa ruled Mathura. He imprisoned his own father, King Ugrasen, to claim the throne. He was a terror, so people prayed to Mother Earth, who took the form of a cow and went to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma then called Lord Vishnu, who assured Mother Earth that he would take birth as Lord Krishna to end tyrant Kansa.
Kansa’s sister Devaki was married to King Vasudeva, the Yadu king, to gain the trust of the Vasudeva clan and later, at an appropriate time, claim the Yadu King’s kingdom. And later, the kingdom.
AKASHVANI
During Devaki’s marriage, Kansa was told by a fortune teller that one of Devaki’s children would kill him. And the Akashvani (voice from heaven) announced that the Astrologer was right and that it would be his sister’s 8th child who would bring an end to his evil ways.
On hearing of the prophecy, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva. To save themselves from certain death in the hands of the evil king, Kansa Vasudeva promised to surrender all his newborn children to Kansa. Kansa agrees to spare Devaki’s life.
KILLING OF CHILDREN
It was also understood that as soon as a child is born to Devaki, Kansa would smash the child’s head against the prison walls, thus eliminating future trouble.
When Devaki’s 7th child is due, the child is transferred from her womb to the womb of Rohini, Vasudeva’s first wife, and is safely born. This child later on became to be known as Balrama, who was secretly brought up in Brij.
Subhadra – Krishna’s sister and Arjuna’s wife, Abhimanyu’s mother, is the daughter of Vasudeva from his first wife, Rohini.
Devaki’s 7th pregnancy is considered as a miscarriage. When Devaki is pregnant, Kansa wants to kill the newborn child as the prophecy claims Devaki’s 8th born would kill him.
BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA
Lord Vishnu appears in Devaki’s dream and informs that he will be born as the eighth child, and he will end the kingdom of Kansa.
The night Krishna was born, it was raining heavily. The handcuffs drop out when the child is born, and the jail doors open while the guards sleep. Vasudeva, as instructed, leaves the jail with just-born Krishna hidden in a wicker/bamboo basket.
It is said that when he was crossing the Yamuna River, the river would rise till the basket, touch the young born feet in respect and then retreat. Lord Vishnu’s assan, SheshNaag, the giant multi-headed snake, comes and helps Vasudeva carry Krishna safely across the river. It provides a canopy to protect the newborn child and the Vasydeva.
Vasudeva crosses the River Yamuna and exchanges Krishna with the newborn baby girl of Gokul’s head, Nanda and his wife, Yashoda. Vasudev then returns to jail. The girl child gives a loud cry as soon as she is kept next to Devaki. The jail guards inform Kansa that Devaki’s eighth child is finally born.
When Kansa tries to kill the girl child, she flies away from his hand and turns into Goddess Durga. Before disappearing, she tells Kansa that his death has arrived in his kingdom and will come back to punish him for his sins.
Knowing that he has killed every child born of Devaki, Kansa frees Vasudeva and Devaki and lets them live in a separate palace.
So, in the Vrindavan, Krishna was brought up by foster parents Nanda Baba and Yashoda of Gokul village. His elder brother Balaram and sister Subhadra ( Incarnation of Goddess Ekanansha/Vindhyavasini Devi) were children of Nand Baba and Yashoda.
Krishna killed Kansa later.
How long did Lord Krishna Live?
As per the same astrological readings and comparison, it is believed that Lord Krishna lived on this Earth for 125 years, 08 months, and 07 days. He died in 3103 BCE and is considered the start of Kalyuga. Krishna was 89 years old when he spoke to Arjuna in Kurukshetra during the Mahabharat war, which started on Mrigshirsh Shukl Ekadashi, BCE 3139.
Things associated with Lord Krishna.
FLUTE is his musical instrument. Sudarshan Chakra as a weapon. Garura is his mount or vehicle. Ras Leela – as his dance form. Panchajanya is his shank. Peacock feather adore his headgear.
As a kid, Lord Krishna raised Govardhan Parvat (Mountain) on his small finger to protect Golkul residents from the anger of Lord Indra. He tamed Kalki, the serpent of the Yamuna river, to get his ball from the river. He killed King Kansa, his mother’s brother. Krishna saved Draupadi from being disrobed by Kauravas after Pandavas ( her husband- the five Pandavs) lost her in gambling.
Names of Lord Krishna?
Lord Krishna is also known as Achla, Adbhutah, Aditya, Ajaya, Amrut, Ananta, Anaya, Aparajeeta, Achutya, Adidev, Ajanma, Akshara, Anandsagar, Aniruddha, Avyukta, Bihari, Balakrishna, Balgopala, Chatturbhuja, Dayalu, Devadideva, Debesha, Dravinm, Danavendra, Dayanidhi, Devakinandana, Dharmadhyaksha, Dvarkapati, Gopala ( by deeds), Gokula ( by place of stay), Govinda, ( by action), Giridhara, Goplpriya, Gyaneshwar, Hari, Hrushikesha, Hiranyagarbha, Jagadguru, Jayanta, Jagadisha, Jyotiraaditya, Kamalanayan, Kanjalochana, Kamsantaka, Keshava, Kanha, Krishna, Lokadhyaksha, Madhava, Mahendra, Mohnish, Murlidhar, Madana, Madhusudhan, Mayura, Murli, Murlimanohar, Mohan ( enchanting), Nandkumar, Narayana, Navneet, Natvar, Nirguna, Padamanabha, Paramatma, Parthsarthi, Punyah, Manohar,( cute), Padmahasta, Parabrhama, Parampurusha, Prajapati, Purushottama, Ravilochana, Sahasrakasah, Sakshi, Sarvajana, Sarveshwar, Satyavrata, Shreshhta, Shyam,( by color), Sudharshana, Saharajita, Sanatana, Sarvapalaka, Shantah, Shyamasundra, Sumedha, Svargapati, Trivikrana, Valkunthanatha, Vasudevputra, Vishwadakshinah, Vishwamurti, Vishwatma, Yadavendra, Yoginampati, Upendra, Vishnu, Vishwakarma, Vishwarupa, Vrishaparvaa, Yogi and more.
WIVES OF LORD KRISHNA.
Lord Krishna had eight wives. Rukmini (incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi) was his first & most beloved wife. His other wives were Satyabhama (Incarnation of Goddess Earth), Jambuvanti (Daughter of Jambuvant), Kalindi (Incarnation of Yamuna), Laxmana, Mitravrinda, Nagnajiti and Bhadra. Shri Krishna had 80 sons, ten from each queen.
There is a mention of Krishna having 16108 other wives, which is a wrong perception. These were the widows of the soldiers killed in wars. Krishna protected them by giving them his name.
FORMS LORD KRISHNA IS WORSHIPPED IN.
Shri Krishna is worshipped as different names and forms across India.
The major ones are Jagannath:- In Odisha, Vithoba:- In Maharashtra, Srinathji:- In Rajasthan, Dwarakadhish:- In Gujarat, Ranchhod:- In Gujarat, Venkatesh:- In Andhra Pradesh, Srinivasa:- In Andhra Pradesh and Tirupati Balaji– In Andhra Pradesh. Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam – “Bhoolo ka Vaikuntam“.
CELEBRATING JANMASHTAMI.
The actual celebration of Krishna Janmashtami takes place at midnight. Temples are decorated. Processions depicting episodes from Lord Krishna’s life are taken out. People sing devotional songs. Many people keep fast that day.
Janmashtami celebration at Mathura and Vrindavan is extraordinary and is part of the tourist circuit. Here, the idol of Krishna is bathed in water and milk at Midnight, symbolising birth and then is dressed in new clothes and worshipped.
CELEBRATING DAHI HANDI- JANMASHTAMI.
Certain parts of India (Maharashtra in particular) arrange Dahi Handi competitions. In this, an earthen pot full of curd (Dahi Handi) is hung at a height. A set of people as a team tries to create a human pyramid to reach the handi and break it. The boy at the top of the pyramid is called Govind, and the group as Mandal.
It is a representation of Lord Krishna’s childhood act of stealing butter, which gave him the name Makkan Chor..
SONGS- BOLLYWOOD.
Here are some of the songs around newborn lord Krishna and Dahi Handi.
Start with a song from the film- featuring Shammi Kapoor in Govinda Ala Re. It is a song that is played in various mixed versions during Dahi Handi.
Don’t forget the beautiful song- Mach Gaya shoor—
And then my favourite GO GO GOVINDA
Tu Man Ki Ati Bhori is About Makkanchor and GO GO GOVIND SONG – celebrating Dahi Handi.
You can hear ACHYUTAM KESHAVAM KRISHNA DAMODARAM, And other Bhajans here.
NAND KE ANAND BHAYO, a song celebrating the arrival of Lord Krishna in Nand Baba home is another special song.
And here is how to forget DUM MARO DUM. Not to do anything with Janmashtami, but then Hare Krishna hare Ram.
ADVERTISING
Somehow, Janmashtami and Dahi Handi have not found too much favour with advertising- but here are two ads.
TRIVIA ON DAHI HANDI- Janmashtami.
( source Wikipedia)
In 2012, Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak Mandal from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, made an entry into the Guinness World Record by forming a human pyramid of 9 tiers 43.79 feet (13.35 m) at the Dahi Handi event held in Thane. The previous record was held by Spain in 1981.
#IgnorantHindu
Some of the festivals and episodes covered are Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Antim Sanskar, Yama- the lord of death, Baishakhi and Bihu, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Assthmangal Prasanam- the way of predicting future, Rahu-Ketu– the shadow planets, the 12 houses of the horoscope, Maa Narmada Parikrama, Mahashivratri, Bhai Dooj, Navratri, Diwali, Dhanteras, Karva Chauth, Dussehra or Vijyadashmi, Ram Navami, Adhik Mass– the Hindu leap year and Shradh And Pitra Shrad has been covered under #IgnorantHindu Project.
BLOG/58/2020/Ignorant Hindu/ 003/festivals UPDATED 2023 September
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