Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Why did Krishna choose Ashtami for his birth thithi? Before going into that story we'll first see what a 'thithi' is. Based on the phases of the moon (starting from new moon to full moon), the period of time is named appropriately. The counting starts from Amavasai (new moon) or Purnima (full moon) till the fourteenth day after new moon / full moon. They are named serially viz. 2,3,4 5, etc Dwithiyai (dwi = 2) is the second day after new/full moon. Trithiyai (tri=3) is the third day and so on... Ashtami (ashta = 8) is the eigth day after new/full moon. Normally while performing any auspicious functions/ rituals/ puja, people refer to the panchangam to see the good day/ time etc. None of the thithis are regarded inauspicious except for Asthami and Navami. Thus no one performed any kind of rituals / functions / pujas on Ashtami or Navami. According to the scriptures, this saddened the devathas (celestial beings ) of Ashtami and Navami, for all men feared the 2 Thithis. They were always neglected for any occasion. Feeling thus dejected , they cried to Lord Vishnu about their plight. Moved by their tears, Lord Vishnu consoled them and assured them that the day would soon be when people all over the world would eagerly anticipate Ashtami and Navami and would celebrate it with great joy and happiness. To please the two Thithis, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Rama in the Thithi 'Navami' which is celebrated as Rama Navami, and as Krishna when the moon in its 8th day 'Ashtami' was in confluence with the star 'Rohini'. When the moon is in its 8th day, Gokulashtami / Janmastami is celebrated. And when the star' Rohini' rises Krishna Jayanthi / Sri Jayanthi is celebrated. They normally come within a day of each other, and this year Gokulashtami falls today (30th Aug) and Sri Jayanthi falls tomorrow (31st aug). People look forward to Gokulashtami, and Sri Jayanthi, and back home in India, they draw small feet from the gate of their houses till their puja room signifying Krishna's Divine entry into their respective houses. People offer to the Lord all kinds of sweets, and they exchange sweets with one and all. Though out of love, many kinds of savouries are offered, one thing very important that must be offered is water. There is a small story behind this. Once during Krishna Jayanthi celebrations, everyone in the village prepared various kinds of sweets/ savouries and offered it to Krishna. Krishna had a nice time eating all those yummies, when suddenly he felt thirsty. Everyone were so busy with preparing the yummies, that all forgot to offer water. Krishna thus wandered hither and thither for water. In an old hut, there lived an elderly woman, all by herself, and was extremely poor. She had nothing to offer to the Lord, but out of her love she wanted to offer something. Knowing not what to offer, she offered a glass of water. As Krishna was searching desparately for water, he came upon this house where the lady had kept water. His thirst was finally quenched, and relieved he bestowed upon this devout lady all riches and prosperity. Thus one must not forget to offer water too, in addition to all the sweets and savouries. Happy Krishna Jayanthi to one and all Aum Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya ! Aum Sri Krishna Sharanam Mama ! Hari Aum !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste. Another blessed Vraja Rasik Saint who is visualising Lord Sri Krishna's appearance day in Vraja Dhama, giving the devotees a description of the Divine event of 'Gokulashtami' in this pada of 'Prema Rasa Madira'. "us, jasumati kE bhayE lAl rE," The Blessed Mother Yasoda has been gifted with a Divine Child, Baby Krishna. "lOg lugAyin, janu nidhi pAyin, nAcati sub dai tAl rE," For His appearance day, the whole population of Braj has crowded at the residence of Nanda Maharaj. The gathered men, women and children are playing loud musical instruments in a great joyful mood and dancing in ecstasy! They simply look very satisfied like the poor beggar who has found a precious treasure of touchstone! (The ancient touchstone, otherwise known as the Philosopher's stone is capable of turning any metal into gold!) "kaliyan kusuma bicyO naliyanahUm, galiyan udata gulAl rE," The whole courtyard and the streets are sprinkled with countless fragrant flower-petals and covered with delicate blossoms. Adding to this, there goes the red colored saffron like powder, 'Gulal', thrown by the jubiliant crowds, flying in the air! "kOvu kacu kahata na sunata, sabai sudhi bhUlE gwAlini gwAl rE," The devotees are so overwhelmed in the joy of celebration that they cannot hear anyone nor speak to anyone ! They have even forgotten their own families, their own kith and kin! "mOhana-mantra daryO janu braja maha, gayi sudhi tiya, pati, bAl rE," They seem to be spell-bound as if they are victimized by a powerful curse, through an incantation called 'Mohana-Mantra', laid upon them! "kahalaum kahiya 'kRpAlu' dEkh jOyi, yaha sukha, sOyi bEhAl rE" In the concluding verse, the Saint-Poet, Sri Kripaluji Maharaj says- "Even as I am visualizing the immensely Blessed, cheerful folks of the sacred Braja, celebrating the appearance day of my Baby Krishna, it is utterly impossiblle to stay alert and conscious, without drowning my soul in the ecstatic trance of Divine Love. So my words have come to an end now!" Boliye, Nand ke Anand bhaye, Jaya Kanhaiya Lal Ki!!! All Glories to the Blue Baby Boy, the Divine Joy of Nanda Maharaj!!! Jaya Sri Radhey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste. Here is a song of the Braja Rasik Saint Suradasji, glorifying the spontaneous Love and attachment to Lord Krishna. Shyam is SOLELY the PATRON OF THE POOR. Our Lord is THE ONE WHO FENDS FOR THE WRETCHED, WHO ANSWERS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHOSE LOVE IS TRUE. Take Vidur: what high-caste status was his? Or the hunchback (Kubja); YET HARI WAS DRAWN TO HER CHARMS. What sort of splendor graced the Pandava house that HE should VOLUNTEER AS ARJUNA'S CHARIOTEER? And what storehouse of wealth did SUDAMA possess? NO, HARI SEEKS GENUINE AFFECTION INSTEAD. SING THEN, says SUR, A SONG TO HIM, THE LORD WHO BURNS AWAY THE TRIALS OF THE LOW. (from the translation of John S. Hawley) Jaya Sri Radhey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 > Thus no one performed any kind of rituals / functions / pujas on > Ashtami or Navami. I am ignorant about most rituals, therefore forgive this question. Ashtami and Navami are in fact the most important days in Shakti puja during Navaratri, which comes several times a year. So I don't understand this part of the story. Thanks for your patience.... Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals in India, and is celebrated in so many ways in different parts of the country. We hear about the celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan; I wish our members would share some of the activities that are specific to their regions. Thanks again! _/\_ Uma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2002 Report Share Posted August 30, 2002 Festivals : Sri Krishna Janmaashtami http://www.hindunet.com/festivals/janmashtami/index.htm Janmashtami Animation http://www.hindunet.com/multimedia/digiprayers/krishna_astami/index.ht ml , "tatwamasi" <tatwamasi> wrote: > > Thus no one performed any kind of rituals / functions / pujas on > > Ashtami or Navami. > > I am ignorant about most rituals, therefore forgive this question. > Ashtami and Navami are in fact the most important days in Shakti > puja during Navaratri, which comes several times a year. So I don't > understand this part of the story. > > Thanks for your patience.... > > Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals in India, and is > celebrated in so many ways in different parts of the country. We hear > about the celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan; I wish our members > would share some of the activities that are specific to their > regions. > > Thanks again! > > > _/\_ > > Uma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2002 Report Share Posted August 31, 2002 It is true that Navami that corresponds to Saraswathi Puja / Ayudha puja is considered very important. But most functions / rituals like grihapravesam (house warming cermony) , naming ceremony, marriage, betrothal, ear-piercing ceremony, thread ceremony (upanayanam), baby showers etc etc etc are performed only on auspicious days, and 'Ashtami' and 'Navami' are avoided even today. When people are starting a new business, or when the bride leaves for hher husband's house for the first time, or when the child eats rice for the first time, or when a new art (classical singing / dancing) is to be learnt, people avoid 'Asthami' and 'Navami'. Even today many people observe these injunctions strictly, lest misfortune befalls them. Hope this answers your question. Hari Aum !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2002 Report Share Posted September 1, 2002 Dear Tatwamasi, Kindly note down the following basics for future reference if you do not know as how to use Hindu Calander and the rituals assosiated with them:- 1.Indian calander obeseves moon for counting a month, while sun to earmark an year.Thus it is a sun as well as a luner calander 2 each month has two "Pakhshas"(parts), first a "krishna"(dark) and second "shukla"(moonlit) days. each Parksha are named in sanskrit numeric system and called as Pariva(first) "Dwitiya(second) tritiya9third..and so on. Thus Ashtami/ navmai are counted. 3.In India the when the calander day( known as tithi) assosiated with some immortant eventis celeberated, the rituals are performed as suitable to specific event. Janmastami, Dushahara, Shiva Ratri are example of such "tithis"(dates). But sometimes the "dates" or "tithis" are commomerated as such, like Holi (the new year day), Deepawali(harvest day). 4. Thus, it is clear that Janmastami is celebrated as birthday of lord krishna, and devotees celeberate it like birth rituals of any Hindu kid.Birth rites begin from the day, the child is born, then sixth day(shasti", then 12th day(Barahi) and so on. Navaratra are assosiated with Mother worship of varrious cults including tantrics Hope this information is understood by a large memebrs. love Satish , "tatwamasi" <tatwamasi> wrote: > > Thus no one performed any kind of rituals / functions / pujas on > > Ashtami or Navami. > > I am ignorant about most rituals, therefore forgive this question. > Ashtami and Navami are in fact the most important days in Shakti > puja during Navaratri, which comes several times a year. So I don't > understand this part of the story. > > Thanks for your patience.... > > Janmashtami is one of the most important festivals in India, and is > celebrated in so many ways in different parts of the country. We hear > about the celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan; I wish our members > would share some of the activities that are specific to their > regions. > > Thanks again! > > > _/\_ > > Uma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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