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Five thousand years on from Krishna’s birth, the ancient festival of Janmashtmi is still as alive, and still as relevant, in the digital age. Lord Krishna Janmashtami is a holy festival of the Hindus. Janmashtami also known as Gokulashtmi. This Hindu festival is celebrating the birth anniversary of Krishna all over India. Lord Krishna took birth at midnight in the ‘Rohini’ nakshatram on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravana to king Vasudeva and Devaki devi in the Mathura. Sri Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa. This auspicious day is called Janmashtami.
On this auspicious day, temples and homes are beautifully decorated and illuminated. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lot of hymns, arti taking place and blowing of the shankh (Conch), rocking the cradle of Lord. The idol of lord is bathed with Panchamrit , a mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal. The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with Panjari and other sweets. The raas or dance is also done with devotees taking part with spiritual fervor. Sri Krishna, who manifests all levels of joy, is also the source of spiritual joy, which overrides mental or emotional joy.
Kansa was the most tyrannical monarch of the period; the bare mention of whose name was sufficient to send fear through the hearts of all good and peace loving people. His sister’s name was Devaki upon whom his brother Kansa showered brotherly love. On the day of Devaki’s marriage to Vasudeva, as the wedding ceremony came to an end, an unseen voice was heard from the sky which said: “OH FOOLISH ONE, WHOM ARE YOU DRIVING SO MERRILY? WOULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE EIGHTH ISSUE OF HER WOMB SHALL BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR DEATH?”
Kansa being the superstitious type would take no chances. He wanted to strike down Devaki that very moment. Vasudeva intervened, he begged Kansa not to slay Devaki. He further promised him that he would hand over any child born to them, if he would let Devaki live. Now Kansa not wanting to have the blood of his sister and instead placed them under house arrest.
Each time Devaki gave birth to a child in the prison, Kansa arrived personally and killed the child. When Devaki became pregnant for the eighth time, king Vasudeva’s friend, King Nanda’s wife Yashoda was also pregnant. The eight child, lord Krishna, was born to queen Devaki at midnight in the prison. As soon as the child was born, Lord Vishnu appeared in divine form and the prison was filled with a dazzling light. Both Devaki and Vasudeva prayed to Lord Vishnu. At the same time as Lord Krishna was born in the prison, the divine energy of Lord Vishnu was born in Gokul, as a baby girl to queen Yashoda.It was raining heavily and the skies thundered as if the Gods where trying to pay homage to the new born child. Then the miracle happened, Vasudeva’s chains fell off and the prison door opened by itself. Vasudeva found the guards to be asleep. A divine message came to Vasudeva soon after the birth of Lord Krishna, “Take this child across the Yamuna River to Gokul and exchange him with Yashoda’s daughter. You will return to the prison before anyone comes to know about the birth of this child. Vasudeva immediately followed the advice. Vasudeva reached Gokul and entered the palace of king Nanda and put the baby Krishna in the place of Yashoda’s baby girl. Then Vasudeva returned to the prison with the baby girl.
Hearing the news, Kansa rushed to execute the child in the prison and picked up the child and was about to dash it to the ground. Vasudeva begged Kansa not to kill the child as it was only a girl and a girl could do him no harm. However, Kansa ignored him, snatched the child, and hurled the child against the prison wall. The child did not fall down; as the baby was about to hit the floor, it suddenly flew up and told Kansa that, “Kansa, you cannot kill me; the one who will destroy you is elsewhere.” Then the Goddness disappeared. Kansa was furious, but there was nothing he could do. 'You will rot in prison forever,' he roared at Devaki and Vasudeva. 'I will find your eighth child and kill him, no matter what it takes!'
But Krishna was safe in Gokul, with Nanda and Yashodha, who accepted him as their son. Krishna fought all the demons that Kansa sent after him, and when he was twelve years old, killed Kansa himself.
Moral: Whenever evil in the world like Kansa’s wicked rule becomes unbearable, God Himself comes to save us in the form of an Incarnation like Lord Krishna. Against God, not even the mightiest evil can do anything.
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