#12 Sri Krishna Janmashtami!

               

Sri Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, SaatamAatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanti or sometimes merely as Janmashtami, is an annual commemoration of the  birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.

The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (ashtami) of the krishna paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of bhadrapada (August–September). 

Sri Krishna is considered as the one of the most powerful human incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. He was born around 5,200 years ago in Mathura. The sole objective of Sri Krishna’s birth was to free the Earth from the evilness of demons. He played an important role in Mahabharata and propagated the theory of bhakti and good karma which are narrated deeply in the Bhagawat Geeta.

Sri Krishna was born in a prison in the custody of Kansa. Vasudev, His father immediately thought of his friend Nand and decided to hand over his child to him to save Krishna from the clutch of Kansa. Krishna grew up in Gokul and finally killed his uncle, King Kansa.

The actual celebration of Janmashtami takes place during the midnight as Sri Krishna is believed to be borned on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and violence of his uncle, Kansa. All over India this day is celebrated with devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna.

The Janmashtami celebration of Mathura and Brindavan, the places where Sri Krishna had spent his life, are very special. On this day temples and homes are wonderfully decorated and illuminated. Night long prayers are offered and religious mantras are sung in the temples.

  Today is SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI, my best wishes and greetings to everyone.

A simple pencil sketch of Lord Sri Krishna which I had drawn some years back …

“THE SOUL IS NEVER BORN NOR DIES AT ANY TIME. SOUL HAS NOT COME INTO BEING, DOES NOT COME INTO BEING, AND WILL NOT COME INTO BEING. SOUL IS UNBORN, ETERNAL, EVER-EXISTING AND PRIMEVAL. SOUL IS NOT SLAIN WHEN THE BODY IS SLAIN.” ~ Sri Krishna