Krishna Janmashtami
Why is it called as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami?
The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha (or second half) of Sravana month. The word ‘Janma’ means birth and ‘Ashtami’ translates to eighth day, hence this festival is known as ‘Janmashtami’. It is also called as ‘Gokulashtami’ since Lord Krishna spent his childhood in the town of Gokula.
Significance
Krishna was born in an era of chaos, persecution was rampant, freedoms were denied, evil was everywhere, and when there was a threat to his life by his uncle King Kansa. Immediately following the birth, his father Vasudeva took Krishna across Yamuna, to foster parents in Gokul, named Nanda and Yashoda.
This legend is celebrated on Janmashtami by people keeping fast, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna, and keeping a vigil into the night. After Krishna’s midnight hour birth, statues of baby Krishna are washed and clothed, then placed in a cradle. This excerpt is taken from here.
दिने दिने नवं नवं नमामि नन्दसंभवम्।
Transliteration:
dine dine navaṃ navaṃ namāmi nandasaṃbhavam।
English translation:
Every day in new ways, I worship Nandkumar.
Hindi translation:
प्रतिदिन नये रूप में, नंदकुमार को मेरा प्रणाम।
ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः।
अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः सर्वेकारणकारणम् ॥
Transliteration:
īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ saccidānandavigrahaḥ।
anādirādirgovindaḥ sarvekāraṇakāraṇam॥
English translation:
Lord Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He
has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of
all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all
causes.
Hindi translation:
भगवान् तो कृष्ण हैं, जो सच्चिदानन्द स्वरुप हैं। उनका कोई आदि नहीं है, क्योंकि वे प्रत्येक वस्तु के आदि हैं।
भगवान गोविंद समस्त कारणों के कारण हैं।
मन्दं हसन्तं प्रभया लसन्तं जनस्य चित्तं सततं हरन्तम् ।
वेणुं नितान्तं मधु वादयन्तं बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥
Transliteration:
mandaṃ hasantaṃ prabhayā lasantaṃ janasya cittaṃ satataṃ harantam ।
veṇuṃ nitāntaṃ madhu vādayantaṃ bālaṃ mukundaṃ manasā smarāmi ॥
English translation:
Whose laughters is subtle, who glows with luster, who always attract people’s mind and the one who plays the melodious flute, I bow down to Lord Krishna.
Hindi translation:
मृदु हास्य करनेवाले; तेज से चमकनेवाले, हमेशा लोगों का चित्त आकर्षित करनेवाले;
अत्यंत मधुर बासुरी बजानेवाले बालकृष्ण का मै मन से स्मरण करता हुँ।
वसुदेव सुतं देवं कंस चाणूर मर्दनम्।
देवकी परमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्॥
Transliteration:
vasudeva sutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsa cāṇūra mardanam।
devakī paramānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum॥
English translation:
I offer my obeisance’s to Lord Krishna, the beloved son of Vasudeva, who killed the great demons Kamsa and Canura,
who is the source of great joy to Mother Devaki; and who is indeed a world teacher and spiritual master of the universe.
Hindi translation:
मैं वसुदेव पुत्र, देवकी के परमानन्द, कंस और चाणूर जैसे दैत्यों का वध करने वाले,
समस्त संसार के गुरू भगवान कृष्ण को वन्दन करता हूँ।
