Lord Krishna Birthday: Janamashtami !

Today across India people are celebrating Lord Krishna Janamashtami. Janamashtami legends relates to the different interesting stories of Lord Krishna. Beginning from his birth till the days of his later years, people know Lord Krishna as a Protector of human beings. They still remember and commemorate his birth to honor him for what He did for humankind. On the day of Janamashtami, people pray to him to destroy all the evil from this earth and make it the best place to live in. they ask forgiveness for their misdeeds and also thank him for His benevolence. They know that he will always be there for their help.
Celebrated on the eighth day of Savana month, Janamashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The festival is celebrated across the length and breadth of India, by people following Hinduism. In fact, it is an important day for Hindus. The celebration goes on for two days. On the first day, the Raslila (dance drama) is performed, which depicts the important phases of Lord Krishna's life. The merrymaking reaches it peak at midnight stroke, when aarti is performed and bhajans are sung to praise the Lord. Small children are dresses as the young Krishna and his playmate Radha. Then there are folklores and stories which are recited on the occasion, they are generally connected to the history of Janamashtami, which can be traced back to the ancient era.
Historians calculate that the birth of Lord Krishna goes back to the Dwapar Yug. It is in the year of Visvavasu around 3227 BC when Lord Krishna was born. He was born on a dark, stormy night on the day eight day of the second fortnight of the month of Shravana which now corresponds to the month of August-September in the Gregorian calendar. Born in the prison of Demon Kansa, from Kansa’s sister Devaki and Vasudeva, Krishna was declared to be the savior of mankind and the end of Kansa even before his birth. Krishna, right from the day of birth exhibited that he was a special child and there was extraordinary powers with him. Throughout his childhood and adolescence in Gokul, he did many things which made people believe that he was a form of God. Since then, the people of Nandgaon celebrated the birth of Krishna as a day of fortune.
Janamashtami is the day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Every year in India, people celebrate Janamashtami with lot of fervor and enthusiasm. There is lot of enjoyment and merrymaking with lots of Janamashtami activities. One of the most popular is the breaking of ‘dahi handi’ or the butter pot. This year because of swine flu Maharashrastra Government ban on dahi handi .We all know about Janamashtami celebrations, so let us know about the Janamashtami history and we will find below coded legends-
• Janamashtami history dates back to thousand years. People have come to know about the different legends of Janamashtami through scholars and other elderly people. It is believed that Lord Krishna was born for killing Kansa and other demons, to free the earth from all sources of evil, to spread the message of brotherhood and to aid Arjun (one of the Pandavas) during the epic battle of Kurukshetra.
• As per another Janamashtami legends. It is said that Lord Krishna lifted the Mount Govardhan in order to save the people of Gokul from the thundershowers and storm sent by Lord Indra—God of thunder. Known as a cowherd boy or Govinda and Gopala, Lord Krishna is one of the most revered Gods. There are numerous tales regarding his divine magic and help extended to people.
• Some Janamashtami legendary tales regarding Lord Krishna when he was a child. These are known as Bal Leela. These activities of Lord Krishna were also to save the people of Mathura (his birth place) and Gokul. Killing of She-demon Putana and other devil Trinivarta is worth mentioning. It was while killing demo ness Putana that the fair complexioned Lord Krishna turned dark. He had actually sucked the poisoned milk from her breast. Lord Krishna also tamed a huge snake called Kalia, who live in the River Yamuna and who had terrorized the people of Gokul.
• Some scholars and historians tell us that it was due to the extreme tyranny of King Kansa and other demons that Lord Vishnu decided to take birth on the earth in human form. Hence, Lord Krishna was born. Legends have it that people of Mathura were suffering under the rule of Kansa. He had put his father King Ugrasen in prison and declared himself to be the King. However, he was very cruel. One day, the heavenly voice declared that he would be killed by one of the children of his sister Devaki.Since then, Kansa became insecure and planned to kill all the children of Devaki and Vasudeva. Lord Krishna was that child who was born to Devaki but was brought up by Yashoda and Nand at Gokul.All his efforts failed and ultimately King Kansa was killed.
On the day of Janamashtami, people bathe the baby Krishna and perform elaborate and grand Janamashtami pooja. On this day, Lord Vishnu is invoked to bestow us with good luck and prosperity; to fulfill all our wishes. Besides, the historical background of Janamashtami tells us that Lord Krishna loved milk and milk products. Hence, people prepare delicious delicacies on this day especially from milk, butter and curd. Even thousands of years after his heavenly abode, people observe this day as a day of fortune and commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna by fasting and feasting. People believe Krishna to be the ultimate savior of the world. One who unlike other gods, can be regarded, as a lover, friend, divine guru or one’s own child. People mesmerised with Krishna’s persona and deeds can be seen singing and dancing in the name of Krishna to eternity on the day of Janamashtami. It is the deep faith and devotion of people towards him that the festival is still celebrated with a great honor, joy as well as elation as it was celebrated thousands of years back.
In his preaching to Arjuna in the Holy Bhagvad Gita he says ‘Whenever the balance of the universe is disturbed by external interference from any of its parts, then I reveal myself as the Power of eternal balancing. For the protection of those who are in harmony, and the rectification of everything disharmonious, I incarnate myself at every juncture of time.’ So, it is assumed that the form of God will return back on earth for the establishment of peace, religion and prosperity in society once again when required. The celebration of Janamashtami is also a way to commemorate his holy deeds on earth for the mankind.
In Today environment mankind badly feel need of birth of lord as all around us lot of negative energy exits through crime, corruption, terrorism, adulteration, diseases’, disbelief which as per I believe it’s not possible by any human to get rid on other then Lord, So hopefully on his birthday Lord Krishna will shower his blessings on to every India.