Bhubaneswar: Janmashtami – a popularly known as Krishna Janmashtami – is the birthday of Lord Krishna and is celebrated with great fervor and zeal across India. Going by the Hindu calendar, this day falls on the Ashtami or eighth day of the Krishna Paksh or dark fortnight of Bhadon month. No one actually knows when this festival originated – perhaps a thousand years back this festival found its foothold in our culture. One would actually come across various stories and myths related to the origin of Janmashtami.
Among them, the most widely accepted view is that Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnate of Lord Vishnu. According to Mahabharata, the birth of Lord Krishna happened to kill his maternal uncle, the demon Kansa. Whenever there is any imbalance in the universe vis-à-vis peace and prosperity, Lord Vishnu is said to save the humanity from the hands of demons.
Historians and scholars say that Lord Krishna took birth in a cellular jail in Dwapar Yug to Vasudeva and Devaki. But Vasudeva had to cross the Yamuna River on a stormy night to pass on his child to a friend save the child from the evil hands of Kansa. So, Maiya Yashodha and Nanda of Gokul region of Mathura were the foster parents of Lord Krishna.
People believed that this small boy named Krishna was among the commoners to save them from all evils. Slowly, people of Nandgaon started celebrating the birth of Krishna in a grand way as they believed this day to be a fortunate one.
It is believed that Janmashtami originated in Gokul and slowly spread across Mathura and later the entire Uttar Pradesh. And now, after 1000 years, the country celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna as he is the epitome of love, faith, friendship, and peace.
Why we celebrate Janmasthami
Mahabharata tells us about the life of Lord Krishna. During the Dharma Yuddha or righteous war between Pandavas and Kauravas, Lord Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. He was counselling Arjuna on various issues related to life like Dharma (righteous path), Karma (deeds), Theistic Devotion, Yogic ideals, salvation, knowledge, etc. because Arjuna was in emotional turmoil while killing his cousins and relatives in the Kurushetra war. His sermons to Arjuna are enshrined in the holy scriptures of Gita. Lord Krishna had stated that whenever there would be evil deeds in this universe, he would reincarnate in various avatars to show the path of right and peace to people. This day is celebrated to bring people together and strengthen the principles of unity and love.
