Every time, when goodness is suppressed by evil, when people are subjected to atrocities, the cry for help is answered by the Lord himself. Lord Vishnu takes incarnation in some form or the other and descends on Earth to relieve mortals from pain and misery and re-establish balance between good and evil so that righteousness (dharma) is maintained on Earth.
It was in Dwapara Yuga, when the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born to the King of Mathura, Kansa’s sister Devaki and her husband Vasudeva as Krishna. He took the form of mortal to end the atrocities of Kansa and free people from pain, misery and darkness.
And it was him, the one and only one who gave mankind the words of wisdom to lead a meaningful life and path to moksha (liberation) in the form of ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’.
Janmashtami is the celebration of Lord Krishna’s descent on Earth and it is celebrated across India and even outside India by the followers of Lord Krishna with enthusiasm and devotion. According to the Hindu calendar, he was born on Ashtami tithi of Krishna paksha (eighth day of dark fortnight) in the month of Bhadraba. The word ‘Ashtami’ means ‘eighth’ and the number eight has a great significance in Krishna’s life as he was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born on the eighth day, and the eight child of Devaki and Vasudev.
The word ‘Krishna’ is perhaps derived from the Sanskrit root word ‘ka’ which means ‘darkness’. The night when Krishna was born was very dark and stormy hence the name. The festival is known by several names- Shree Jayanti, Ashtami Rohini, Gokul Ashtami, Krishna Ashtami, Saatam Aatham to name a few.
However, in Odisha, this day is celebrated in its own unique way. ‘Jhakis’ are taken out depicting the life of Shree Krishna, Raas Leela and dahi handi event is also organised in many parts of Odisha. But the famous Jagannath temple, abode of Mahaprabhu himself has its own set of rituals to observe.
A day before Janmashtami; on the Saptami tithi (seventh day), soon after Sandhya dhoopa, the ‘Jaya Vijaya Dwara’ (entrance gate) is closed and some special rituals are conducted in the sanctum sanctorum. Mahaprabhu is adorned in a special besha consisting of six types of swarna alankaar (golden ornaments) and boirani cloth. The Mudirasta servitors perform the prasad lagi ritual after which a special type of bhoga is offered to Lord Jagannath by the Puja Panda servitors. This bhoga is known as Jeuta bhoga, also called Jeuda bhoga.
Mahaprabhu on this day takes the form of Devaki and gives birth to Krishna. In other words, he gives birth to himself, which is a unique ritual. The reason he is offered Jeuta Bhoga is to ease labour pain. After which, the three servitors – Mudirasta, Pati Mahapatra and Puja Panda perform bandapana niti and a separate bandapana is offered to Lord Jagannath which is known as ‘Garbhodaka Bandapana’. After the completion of all other rituals, pahuda niti takes place.
On the day of Janmashtami, the ‘Jaya Vijaya Dwara’ is closed after the sandhya dhoopa niti and preparation of ‘Krishna janma’ puja begins. The Sudha Suara servitors clean the space in front of the Bhandara ghara called ‘janma chakada’ following which the Puja Panda servitors draw a ‘sarbatobhadramandal’ with pancha varna muruja (five different natural colours). After this, the Mudirasta, Pati Mahapatra and Puja Panda servitors together read the Sankalp vakya and organise Varuna Puja. Two types of Krishna janma patti (paintings) are provided by the Chitrakara and the Bania servitors of the temple. The Bania servitors provide a golden patti whereas the Chitrakara servitors provide a chitra patti of Lord Krishna which are placed on the janma chakada and a secret ritual is performed to give birth to God.
Two Mahajan servitors who play the role of Devaki and Vasudev, bring Madanmohan from the Dakshini Ghara to the Ratnasinghasana to receive agyanmala (garland of consent) from Lord Jagannath. Madanmohan is presumed to be the child inside Devaki’s womb, and placed near the janma chakada where the two servitors conduct secret puja.
After the birth, Madanmohan is bathed with turmeric water, decorated with yellow dress and flowers, offered with milk, butter and gandusha powder. The Mahajan servitors carry Madanmohan in a silver plate and go to the Bhubaneswari temple where the Yamuna River episode is recreated.
One of the Puja Panda servitors acts as Ugrasen and stops the Mahajan servitors and allows to proceed further only when Madanmohan reveals his actual form. The Behura Khuntia servitors hold an idol of Ananta Sarpa over Madanmohan. After this, he is taken to Nabhikata Mandap, where the amical cord of Madanmohan is cut by the Puja panda servitors. The Puja Panda servitors utters the name Krishna in Madanmohan’s ear marking the naming of God, followed by the rituals of Annaprasanna and sacred thread ceremony. He is then made to swing in a cradle and sitala bhoga is offered. Subsequently, all other rituals are conducted and then Krishna janma niti comes to an end.
On the Navami tithi, the day after Janmashtami, Nanda Utsav is celebrated and rituals related to Krishna Leela are performed. For the next few days, the deity is adorned in beautiful beshas. The three deities are adorned in Banabhoji besha on Dasami tithi, Kaliyadalana besha on Ekadashi tithi, Pralambhasura badha besha on Dwadashi tithi and Krishna Balaram besha on Trayodashi tithi.
Devotees celebrate this auspicious day by paying obeisance to Lord Krishna and observing fast throughout the day till the completion of birth rituals at midnight. The streets and homes are decorated with flowers and colourful lights. The essence of zeal and devotion is seen throughout the celebration.
108 names of Lord Krishna are chanted by the devotees besides singing prayers, hymns, songs in praise of Lord Krishna. At some places Krishna Gayatri mantra is also chanted throughout the day.
Many devotees also organise bhajan and kirtan at home. Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavad Purana are also read. The idol of baby Krishna, popularly called Bal Gopal or Ladoo Gopal is placed in a cradle and made to swing slowly signifying the birth of the deity.
Lord Krishna was born to free mother Earth from the torment caused by the demons and protect dharma. He was born to save the people of Mathura from the atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa. Lord Krishna belonged to Yadava clan and was born to Kansa’s sister Devaki and Vasudeva. After Devaki’s marriage to Vasudev, a fortune teller told Kansa that Devaki’s child will be responsible for his death. Kansa was terrified by this news and wanted to kill his sister. Vasudev pleaded Kansa not to kill her and promised to offer all their children to him to kill them. Kansa imprisoned both, Devaki and Vasudev, and as soon as a child was born to them, he took the child and killed it with absolute cruelty. In this way, he killed all the six children. During the birth of the seventh child, Balaram, the foetus was mysteriously transferred to the womb of Rukmini, Vasudev’s second wife. When the eighth child, Lord Vishnu himself was born in human form, he helped Vasudev to escape from the prison, cross the Yamuna River and exchange the child with his friend, Nanda’s daughter in Gokul. When he returned with the girl child and Kansa tried to kill her, she transformed into Goddess Durga, and warned him that his end has already arrived.
Krishna was brought up in Gokul by his foster parents- Nanda and Yashoda. He became the centre of attraction for everyone in Gokul. He and his elder brother Balaram (incarnation of Sheshnaag) met each other in Gokul. His relationship with his mother Yashoda, his playful ways of stealing makhan (butter), playing flute with his friends, his pranks with the gopi’s (women in the village) and many more divine acts of his where he took everyone by surprise and gave glimpse of him being a special child came to be known as Krishna Leela.
Krishna also met Radha who was older than him in Gokul. Their love and devotion for each other is till today worshipped. For the world, they were two different entities, but they were one. There is no Krishna without Radha.
Little Krishna was called by several adorable names- Yashoda Nandan, Kanha, Gopal, Kanhaiya and Makhanchor by everyone in the village. Eventually, when he grew up, he had to leave Gokul along with his elder brother Balaram for Mathura to fulfil his duty.
Lord Krishna is depicted as the central figure in the scriptures- Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavad Purana. He played an important role in Mahabharata by supporting the Pandavas to win the battle against the Kauravas, representing the victory of the good over evil.
Bow down to the Lord of love, sympathy, compassion, protection and righteousness.
Hare rāmā hare rāmā rāmā rāmā hare hare |
Hare kṛṣṇā hare kṛṣṇā kṛṣṇā kṛṣṇā hare hare ||
