Sreekrushnajanmashtamee  (JANMASHTAMI)

1. Importance of the tithi of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee

Bhagwan Sreekrushna is Absolute Incarnation (Purnavatar). He was born in 3185 B.C. on the midnight of Shravan Krushna Ashtamee, under Rohinee Nakshatra (constellation). As per the Vikram samvat this tithi falls on Bhadrapad Krushna Ashtamee. Hence Sreekrushnajanmashtamee is celebrated on this tithi in North Bharat. On this day, the principle is active a thousand times more than on other days.

Spiritual experience of getting the vision of the vast form of Sreekrushna in the sky through colours, on the day of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee: On the morning of Janmashtami, the first thought in my mind was ‘Today is Sreekrushna’s birth day’. Thereafter, I saw blue and pink colour resembling the colour of Sreekrushna and Hisupavastra respectively in the sky. At that time, I felt as if I had the vision of His vast form. - Mr. Dewang Gadoya, Canada

Spirituality is a science of experience. Sreekrushna principle is more active on the tithi ofSreekrushnajanmashtamee, is confirmed through Mr. Gadoya's spiritual experience.

2. The method of celebrating Sreekrushnajanmashtamee

Sreekrushnajanmashtamee is celebrated all over the world with much zeal. This is a religious festival, vrat and a celebration too.

2.1 Festival of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee

This religious festival is specially celebrated at Gokul, Mathura, Vrundavan, Dwaraka and Puri. In Vrundavan dolotsavis celebrated. In various other regions this religious festival is celebrated in the temples of Sreekrushnajee. Some people celebrate at home by making a model of Gokul Vrundavan. In the Vaishnav temples, religious programmes like worshipping the lamp, processions, krushnaleela, reciting the Bhagawat, keertan, bhajan, singing and dancing are observed from Shravan Krushna Pratipada to Shravan Krushna Ashtami.

2.2 Sreekrushnajanmashtamee vrat

This vrat is observed on Shravan Krushna Ashtamee and concluded on Shravan Krushna Navamee with parana. The fruits of this vrat are obliteration of the sins, enhancement in the happiness, children, wealth and attaining Vaikunth.

Sreekrushnajanmashtamee vrat resolve (sankalp): On the morning of Shravan Krushna Ashtamee after completing the ablutions in the morning the vrat resolve (sankalp) is made by sitting facing East or North and taking water, flower and sandalwood paste in hand.

ममाखिलपापप्रशमनपूर्वकसर्वाभीष्‍टसिध्दयेश्रीकृष्‍णजन्‍माष्‍टमीव्रतमहंकरिष्‍ये ।

Meaning: I observe this Sreekrushnajanmashtamee vrat for the obliteration of all my sins and so that everything becomes auspicious.

This way reciting the sankalp, the things taken in the hand are placed in the copper platter.

The fast of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee: On this day, a complete fast is observed. If observing a fast without consuming food (Nirahar) is not possible then one can observe the fast by having fruits (Falahar).

2.3 Ritualistic worship of Bhagwan Sreekrushna

Bhagwan Sreekrushna was born at midnight. That is why, special ritualistic worship is done by bathing at midnight on Sreekrushnajanmashtamee.

The preparation for ritualistic worship: Picture of Bhagwan Sreekrushna is placed on a short wooden stool.

The items required for ritualistic worship: Metal pot (Kalash), copper platter, small glass (fulpatra) and spoon, lamp, vick, oil, lamp with a stand, incense stick, camphor, karpurarti, small wooden stool, basil leaf (tulsi), flower, a garland of tulsi for the image of Sreekrushna if available, sandalwood, turmeric powder, vermillion, bell, lamp for arti, the platter used for regular worship, coconut, puffed rice as offering, curd, fruits like bananas if possible etc. A rangoli design of Sreekrushna principle is drawn around the short wooden stool

Actual ritual of worship:

• 1. A sip of water is taken (achaman).

• 2. Then some water is dropped in the copper platter saying "I perform this worship for the obliteration of all the sins", and a resolve is made.

• 3. Now, one meditates on Bhagwan Sreekrushna.

• 4. Turmeric and vermillion are applied on the picture of Sreekrushnajee. For this offering thumb and the index finger are used. Sandalwood scent is offered to Sreekrushna

• 5. The Krushnakamal is elliptically offered in the multiples of three and basil leaf with its stem towards to Sreekrushnajee.

• 6. Two lighted incense sticks are waved thrice in clockwise direction.

• 7. Lamp is waved.

• 8. Naivedya is offered.

• 9. Betelnut and money (dakshina) are offered.

• 10. Arti of Sreekrushnajee is performed. If possible, after ritualistic worship, minimum three or in multiples of three parikramas of Bhagwan Sreekrushna is done.

• 11. Prayer is offered after paying obeisance with the spiritual emotion of surrender.

• 12. At the end prasad partaken with everybody.

The important point to note is that the ritual of worship may differ to some extent as per sect, region and tradition.

2.4 Spiritual experiences during ritualistic worship

Getting the vision of a huge figure of Sreekrushnajee and getting the answer that He is a form of Sreevishnu: On 15^th August 2006, Sreekrushnajanmashtamee was celebrated in the hermitage of Sanatan Sanstha at 12 o’ clock midnight. At 11.45 p.m. when the ritualistic worship of the picture of Sreekrushna started, I saw the huge body of Sreekrushna from neck to chest at the place of worship. The colour of His body was bluish. I felt, “Sreekrushna is yet to be born then how is He so huge?” At that time the answer came from within, that this form is not of Sreekrushna, but of Sreevishnujee, He will now be born in the form of a baby as Sreekrushna. - Mr. Abhijit Naik, Sanatan hermitage, Ramnathi, Goa

The associated deity principle reaches the place of worship where the deity is worshipped as per spiritual science.

Experiencing bliss and coolness around the body: On 26^th August 2005, throughout the ritualistic worship onSreekrushnajanmashtamee, I was experiencing lightness in my body. I felt immense bliss and was experiencing coolness around my body. - Mr. Omkar Homkar, Maharashtra

During celebration of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee, having tears of bliss, getting a vision of the deity and experiencing the presence of Sreekrushna at the time of the consecration (abhishek): On 4^th September 2007, on the day of Sreekrushnajanmashtamee we went to have a darshan of Swami Vishwanandjee in Europe. There, I experienced bliss after looking at the picture of Sreekrushna. Tears of bhav started flowing from my eyes. I was in that state for 15 minutes. When I looked around, I saw deities in place of the people present there. At the time of the abhishek on Sreekrushna, I was experiencing His presence. My bhav towards Him was enhanced. - Mrs. Dragana, Europe

To get a spiritual experience of Bhagwan Sreekrushna neither place nor religion is a barrier. Due to pure spiritual emotion Bhagwan comes close to the devotee. Janmashtamee is celebrated by staying awake all night with programmes like katha, kirtan, dance, singing etc.

3. The achars of the day after Sreekrushnajanmashtamee

On Shravan Krushna Navamee, panchopachar worship of Bhagwan Sreekrushnajee is performed in the morning. The fast is concluded by partaking the prasad of daheekala. If the idol of Bhagwan Sreekrushna is earthen, it is immersed in water; metal idol is placed in the home temple or donated to the priest.

4. Daheekala

On Shravan Krushna Navamee, daheekala is prepared by mixing various food items, curd, milk, butter etc. BhagwanSreekrushna used to prepare and eat daheekala along with His fellow gops and gopees. He would also go to the houses of gopees and by breaking the vessels of curd hung at a height eat the curd and butter therein. As a symbol of this, the tradition of preparing daheekala and breaking of daheehandee on the day after janmashtami has started. From the spiritual perspective, daheekala is associated with nirgun Chaitanya and is indicative of the function of Krushna.

4.1 Main components of daheekala and their implied meaning

• 1. Puffed rice (pohe): Symbol of the objective devotion of the gop.

• 2. Curd (dahee): Symbol of the punishing maternal devotion as per the situation with the spiritual emotion of motherhood.

• 3. Milk : Symbol of the simple, sagun madhurabhakti of the gopees. Madhurabhakti is the devotion of God in the form of a lover.

• 4. Buttermilk : This is the symbol of the virodhbhakti of the gopis. Virodhbhakti is the devotion consisting of the behavior resulting from expectation of love from Bhagwan Sreekrushna like sulking, expressing displeasure etc.

• 5. Butter : This is the symbol of the nirgun devotion towards Sreekrushna.

On this day, the high speed flowing frequencies in the form of the Absolute Water Element (Aptattva) of the Krushna principle arrive in the universe. The components of daheekala are able to receive these frequencies.