Watch out beautiful explanation of Janmashtami by Pandit Amarchand (Shree Devi Temple, Hisar).
Janmashtami or the birthday of Lord Krishna has a huge spiritual significance in Hinduism. It is believed that lord Vishnu reincarnated in the form of lord Krishna on the auspicious day of Janmashtami. Lord Krishna was born in the darkness of night, inside a cell of a jail where His parents were locked up by Cruel King Kansa. It is said that at the moment of his birth, all the guards slept off, the chains broke and the barred doors gently flew open.
Krishna Janmashtmi or Gokulashtami is a popular festival of India and celebrated among Hindus with a great passion. Krishna Janmashtmi, Krishna Ashtami or Gokulashtami is a popular festival of India and celebrated among Hindus with a great zeal.
Janamashtmi has a story behind its origin and celebration. There was a king of Mathura named Kansa who was a wicked king. He had sister Devaki whose husband was Vasudeva. There was a prediction that Sri Krishna will born from Devaki and he would kill Kansa. But the way this prediction was made, there will be the eighth avatar of lord vishnu who would kill Kansa. So, being an eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, he was born in the middle of the night. Finally, Sri Krishna killed the wicked king, Kansa.
Krishna Janamashtmi is the day, when prayers and bhajans are sung by the people. Holy mantras are chanted out by the people on this day. People offer their prayers to Sri Krishna.
The temples of Lord Krishna are decorated, and bhajans and kirtans are sung or played on Janmashtami’s night. At midnight, devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. The idol of the Baal Gopal or Little Krishna is placed in a cradle as a symbol of his birth. Some clothe and decorate the deity of Krishna while others string enormous flower garlands and other decorations for the temple. At midnight, the statue of infant Krishna is bathed and placed in a cradle, which is rocked, amidst the blowing of conch shells and the ringing of bells.
The main significance of this festival lies in encouraging the goodwill and discouraging the bad will. We are bound with so many shackles of anger, greed, temptations, attachments and pain. But as the Lord takes birth, every bit of the darkness fades away and we are released from all the chains of the worldly pleasures.
