Janmashtami Festival falls on the 12th of August, this year. This festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna. The story dated back to our mythology books when Lord Krishna was born in Mathura which was considered to be the city of Demon King Kansa.
He was born in the prison as the eighth child of Devaki specifically on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada month.
When he was born, it was the midnight time and the moon was rising along with the Rohini Nakshatra. So, the birthday of Lord Krishna is marked each year as the Krishnashtami.
You can also check this out- Krishna Janmashtami Wishes And Quotes In 2020
Janmashtami Timings
Nishita Puja Time – 12:05 AM to 12:48 AM, Aug 12
Duration – 00 Hours 43 Mins
Dahi Handi on Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Parana as per Dharma Shastra
Parana Time – after 11:16 AM, Aug 12
On Parana Day Ashtami Tithi End Time – 11:16 AM
Janmashtami without Rohini Nakshatra
Alternate Parana as per Dharma Shastra
Parana Time – after 05:49 AM, Aug 12
It can be done on the next day sunrise after Deva Puja, Visarjan, etc.
Parana as per modern tradition in society
Time of Parana – after 12:48 AM, Aug 12
at many places in India, Parana is done after Nishita i.e. Hindu midnight
Mid Night Moment – 12:26 AM, Aug 12
Muhurat Of Krishna Janmashtami
- At the time, the Ashtami prevails specifically during midnight, one should keep vrat specifically on the following days.
- Again, one should keep fast on the 2nd day in case the Ashtami Tithi prevails through the midnight of the 2nd day only.
- In case the Ashtami prevails through the midnight of 2 days and the prevalence of Rohini Nakshatra occurs at both the night, people usually keep the fast of Krishna Janmashtami specifically on the 2nd
- The fast will be kept on the second day if the Ashtami Tithi does not prevail during the midnight or both of the days.
Note: It is important to note that the above Muhurat is given following the Smarthas. On the second day, Gokulashtami is celebrated by the Vaishnavas. But, both the Vaishnavas and Smarthas have completely diverse beliefs about celebrating this specific festival.
Following the Hindu religious texts, Vaishnavas are considered to be those people who are generally initiated by the Vaishnava community. A small rosary of holy beads is usually worn by these people.
They also put a Tilak on their forehead which symbolizes the feet of Lord Vishnu. Other than the Vaishnava people, all other people are specifically known as the Smarthas. In other words, it can be said that those people who have not got initiated by the Vaishnava community are called Smartas.
Fast And Puja Vidhi In The Festival Of Janmashtami
- The celebration of this particular festival is initiated with the fast and the Ashtami puja. Also, the Parana is performed on Navami.
- Those people who observe fast on this particular day must have some light Sattvic food specifically a day before i.e. Saptami. On this day, one should necessarily avoid physical intimacy with their life partner on a particular night. This will keep all the senses under control.
- On the day of fast, one should get ready early in the morning and pay respect to all the deities. After that, they should sit facing either in the North or East direction.
- The next thing which the people should do on this particular day is to take Sankalp of the fast while keeping fruit, holy water, and flowers in their hands.
- The next step is to sprinkle the water mixed with black sesame over yourself and therefore make a labor room for Devki Ji.
- After that, you should place a baby bed in this particular room and put on holy Kalash over it.
- Now, one should place a picture or idol of Devki Ji who is feeding milk to her baby Lord Krishna.
- The next thing which needs to be done is to perform the Puja by taking the names of Devaki, Vasudeva, Baladeva, Nand, Yashoda, and Lakshmi Ji respectively.
- One should necessarily open the fast at midnight. In this fast, grains should not be consumed. The things which can be consumed on this particular day are fruits, water chestnut Halwa, condensed milk sweets, and Kuttu flour fried balls.
The Legend Of Janmashtami Festival
It was the king Ugrasen who used to rule Mathura at the end of Dwapara Yuga. Kansa was the son of Ugrasen. For the throne, Kansa forced and put his father Ugrasen into the prison. After that, the marriage of Devaki who was the sister of Kansa was fixed with the Vasudeva of the Yadava community.
At the Bidaai muhurta of Devaki, Kansa heard an oracle from the sky which said that the eighth child of Devaki was the reason behind Kansa’s death. Listening to this, Kansa becomes fulfilled with fear and wanted to kill her. He thought that if Devaki would die, then, she would not be able to give birth to any child.
Vasudeva tried to persuade Kansa that he has no fear of Devaki but her eighth child. So, he will give her an eighth child to Kansa. Hearing this, Kansa agreed and locked both Devaki and Vasudeva into the prison.
History Behind the Festival
After that, Narada appeared and asked Kansa that how will he know which one is her eighth pregnancy. Accepting the viewpoint of Narada, Kansa killed all the children of Devaki cruelly.
Lord Krishna, considered as the eighth child of Devaki, took birth in the Bhadrapada month on the 8th day of the dark fortnight. This was the time when the Rohini constellation was prevailing.
The entire prison becomes filled with light at the time he arrived in the world. Both Devaki and Vasudeva saw mace. Chakra or wheel weapon, conch, and Lord with four arms with a lotus in a hand.
Lord Vishnu said that he will take birth on earth as their son. He also said Vasudeva to take immediately to the house of Nanda in Gokul and bring their newborn daughter to the Kanda. Vasudeva acted accordingly and offered the baby gift to the Kansa.
When Kansa tried to kill the girl, she slipped from his hands and flew into the sky. After that, she transformed into a Goddess and tell him, what will you get from killing me? Your enemy has already reached to the Gokul.
Kansa got panicked and completely shocked after hearing this. After that, he sent many of the demons to kill Lord Krishna, But, Krishna killed almost all of them with his godly power. At the time, he grew up, Kansa was killed by him.
Significance Of Janmashtami Festival
- Almost every temple in our country is beautifully decorated on this particular day.
- Many tableaus are also well decorated on the occasion of the birthday of Lord Krishna.
- After decorating Lord Krishna, he is placed on the cradle and it was swung by everyone.
On this day, worshippers keep fast till midnight. At the midnight, the news of the birth of Krishna is sent to almost everywhere with the holy sounds of bells and conches. Krishna Aarti is sung along with the distribution of holy food.
Final Words
So, it is evident that the Janmashtami festival is celebrated with great devotion by the Hindus across India and beyond.
