Sri Krishna Jayanti, Janmashtami, and Gokulashtami (which may fall on two different days) mark Bhagavan Krishna’s birth.  This festival is in the month of Sravana, which occurs during August or early September.  

Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu and is known as the Lord of Dharma.  There are many stories about the Supreme Being’s incarnation as Krishna on this earth. Once, Mother Earth became overly weighed down with the misdeeds of sinners, and her burden became unbearable. She approached Brahma, the creator, and appealed to him that she was suffering from extreme Adharma –the evil deeds of demons. She requested his intervention.  Brahma, in turn, prayed to Vishnu, who accepted Brahma’s prayers and assured him that he would take birth on the earth and rid her of evildoers. 

Krishna was born in Mathura (in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) to Devaki and Vasudeva.   

At that time, King Ugrasena was the ruler of the kingdom of Mathura.  He had a son, Kamsa.  Ugrasena’s sister Devaka had a daughter Devaki.  Kamsa and Devaki grow up as brother and sister, very affectionate of each other.  Kamsa, became a tyrant, dethroned and threw his father in the palace dungeon.   At the recommendation of his ministers, he agreed to get Devaki married to Vasudeva, the son of King Shura of the Yadava clan.  After the wedding, Kamsa was preparing to take Devaki to Vasudeva’s palace in a royal chariot when a divine voice from the sky declared as follows.  “Hey fool!  You are taking this woman to her husband’s place.  The eighth child born to her will kill you”. 

Kamsa was deeply shaken and immediately moved to kill Devaki.  Vasudeva pleaded with Kamsa to spare his wife’s life and promised to bring all their children as soon as they were born to Kamsa so that the prophecy would not come true.  Kamsa reluctantly agreed but locked Devaki and her husband Vasudeva in the dungeon.  Over time, Kamsa killed seven of their children.  As their eighth child was about to be born, the parents were distressed.   

On the night of Krishna’s birth, precisely at midnight, heavy rains and strong winds came crashing down on the whole of Mathura.  The holy river Yamuna was raging like an ocean.  As the Divine baby was born, the dungeon was filled with bright light, which awakened Vasudeva.  He saw Devaki was in a deep sleep, and besides her lay a baby.  A divine voice spoke to him as follows. “Vasudeva, this is your newborn son. Take him to Gokula, where your friend Nanda, the chief of the cowherds, lives.  Leave your baby there.  He will be safe”.  The divine voice continued, “Yashoda, wife of Nanda, has given birth to a baby girl. Bring her back with you”. 

Vasudeva wondered how he could do all this since the dungeon doors were locked and guards stood at every doorway. Anyway, he put the baby Krishna in a basket and carried the basket on his head towards the door. Miraculously, the door got unlocked, and the guards were fast asleep.  When he stepped out, the divine multi-headed snake Adisesha appeared and accompanied him, serving as a dry carpet on the ground and an umbrella overhead.  They reached the river. When Vasudeva stepped in, the waters parted, allowing them to cross easily to the other side. Soon they arrived at Nanda’s palce at Gokula. 

Following the divine command, Vasudeva placed baby Krishna next to mother Yashoda. He brought Yashoda’s baby girl back to his dungeon and put her next to his wife, Devaki.  The baby started crying and woke everyone up.  Kamsa hurried to the jail to kill the baby.  Devaki pleaded with him not to do that since the baby was a girl. But Kamsa threw the baby up and drew his sword, but she flew right into the sky. This child was Divine Devi Durga.  She declared to him that the eighth child was born already and was safe elsewhere on this earth.  

Sri Krishna proclaimed whenever there was the dominance of evil, he would reincarnate in various forms to destroy it, show the path of righteousness, and teach.  We celebrate Krishna’s birth as the victory of good over evil. This festival also brings people together to show the principles of righteousness. 

How to celebrate 

Items required for Puja 

Purchase these items before the puja day. 

On the puja day, clean the stoop and draw Rangoli. Tie a string of mango leaves across the front entrance door of the house.  Take a bath, put on clean clothes and follow the steps of the Puja: 

• Picture or other icons of Krishna in the Pooja room 
• Swing for Krishna 
• A dupatta or sari to offer to the Deity 
• Plain water in Kalasha (a pitcher) 
• Milk, sugar, curds (yogurt), honey, and ghee 
• Fresh, washed mango leaves 
• Fresh tulsi 
• Sandalwood 
• One coconut 
• Kumkum 
• Turmeric 
• Red sacred thread 
• Rice 
• Betel leaves and betel nuts 
• Flowers and Fruits 

Puja in Sanskrit means worship. Puja at home requires pictures, icons, dolls (Murtis/deities), and prayers (mantras).  Usually, the icons are kept in a revered place called a puja room or space.  Welcome the Deities into your home as loved and revered guests.  Take the following steps for Puja: 

• Sit on a small carpet, a low stool, or a raised wooden plank facing North or East. 
• Create an altar for Krishna.  
• Clean the place and the Divine images by sprinkling a few drops of water. Use a separate cloth to wipe the Deity, and later, apply Haldi (turmeric) & Kumkum to the Deity. 
• Light the lamps and place them in front of the altar. 
• Keep betel leaves, tulsi leaves, nuts, flowers, and fruits on a plate in front of the altar. 
• Begin with Ganesha or Vishwaksena puja or Prarthana. 
• Bathe the Krishna Icon in panchamrita. 
• Water, Milk, Yogurt, Honey, Ghee  
• Chant Slokas or mantras according to your family traditions or as suggested by your priest. 
• Now, decorate Krishna with clothes, jewelry, flowers, garlands, and a flute. 
• Offer Tulsi Leaves to Krishna. 
• Apply Chandan on Krishna’s forehead and chant ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ 
• Place the Prasadam and sweets in front of Krishna. 
• Light aarti deya (lamp) and perform aarti. 
• Conclude with Pradakshina (walk around the deities in a clockwise direction) and Namaskara.  
• Give everyone a present and Prasada which you offered to Krishna during the Puja. 

Suggested Chants 

• Krishna Ashtakam 
• Parts of Bhagavad Gita 
• Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram 

 Activity for Children 

• Before starting the pooja, draw small footprints, Krishna‘s impressions, as if he is entering the house.  You can draw the footprints with colorful paints or rice flour. 
• As a kid, Krishna was named Makhanchor, or one who steals butter.  This event can be done at home by keeping milk, dry fruits, a little butter in a mud pot.  Hang this pot outside the house, have the kids break this pot, similar to the piñata.  Kids will have a lot of fun and teach them teamwork.