krishna jayanthi

Lord Krishna was born in a prison as his parents were imprisoned by King Kamsa, who came to know that his mother's 8th son (Krishna) will kill him. Lot of miracle incidents happened on the birthday of Lord Krishna to underline his divine power. People celebrate this day as Janmashtami in every year.

As per the Hindu religion, Lord Vishnu came to the earth nine times in different forms, to save the good people from the evil. Moreover, they expect 10th form, which will be the final one. Hindus calls these forms as Dashavatharam (Ten avatars). Lord Krishna was the ninth avatar. Lord Krishna was born on the midnight of the eight day after the full moon of Sravana month. The star of the day was Rohini. Therefore, it is known as Ashtami Rohini. Meaning of ashtami is 8th day after the full moon. This day is also known as Janmashtami, ashtami day of the birth.

The birth of Lord Krishna:

Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell as his maternal uncle imprisoned his father and mother, who came to know that his sister's sun would kill him. He imprisoned his sister and husband so that he can kill the each child immediately after the birth. However, the incidents happened in the birthday of Lord Krishna is underlining the fact that nobody can stop or change the plans of ultimate God. On the particular day, just before the birth of Lord Krishna all guards and soldiers of the prison, was fallen in deep sleep. Heavy rain and thunderstorm were going on outside, so that nobody will dare to come out side of their house. After the birth, Krishna's father Vasudevar got divine instruction to take the child to the house of Nandagopar in Gokulam (a place) and exchange with an infant girl born to the Nandagopar's wife at the same time. Immediately the chain used to tie Vasudever was broken and all the doors of prison, which was locked with heavy locks, opened in front of Vasudevar in a miracle. When he came outside with the Lord Krishna in his hands, the huge snake with five heads (known as Ananthan in Hindu mythology) appeared with its hood flattened like an umbrella, so that that the rain will not affect Vasudevar and the kid. The snake followed them to protect the kid from rain by his hood up to the Gokulam where he exchanged his kid with the girl child who was born to Yesodha, the wife of Nandhgopar. Everybody in that house also was in deep sleep so that nobody came to know about this exchange. Once Vasudevar came back to the prison with the girl child the doors of the prison was closed back, the chains used to arrest him was rejoined and the soldiers got awake. When they seen this kid, they immediately informed to King Kamsa. He came to kill the child and astonished to see a girl child. While he was trying to kill that child by hitting the head of the kid on the stone, the kid slipped from his hand and told him "Hey Kamsa I am not the kid who is supposed to kill you. The kid who is supposed to kill you is already in safe place. But remember the sin which you acquired by trying to kill an innocent girl infant immediately after the birth will always follow you and will lead to your death". And the child was vanished after that. People think, it was the Goddess who came to earth for saving Krishna from the hands of Kamsa.

Janmashtami Celebration:

People started celebrating this day as Krishna jayanthi to mark the divine incidents and miracles happened on that day. This day is called Janmashtami as it is the eighth day after the full moon of sravana month (Janma Means birthday, astami means eighth day). It is also called Asthami Rohini (Rohin star on the eigthday after the full moon).Every Krishna temple will have special prayers seeking the blessing of Lord Krishna. Other temple also will conduct special worships for Krishna. Hindu organizations in all over the world will conduct shobha yatra where the male kids will dress up as little Krishna and small female kids will be dressing likeGopikas (Female childhood friends of Lord Krishna).