Janmashtami

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Janmashtami

The birthday of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is celebrated on the

eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Sravana (July-August) in

India. Men and women fast and pray on the occasion of Janmashtami. As it is the

worship of infant Krishna, who was fond of milk and butter, women prepare a

variety of delicacies with milk products as offerings. According to Hindu

mythology, Krishna was born to destroy Mathura's demon King Kamsa, brother of

his virtuous mother, Devaki. A celestial voice told Kamsa that he would be

killed by the eighth child of Devaki. Alarmed by the message, Kamsa imprisoned

Devaki and her husband Vasudeva. Taking no chances, Kamsa went on killing

Devaki's children soon after birth. Lord Krishna was born as the eighth child

of Vasudeva at midnight. But at Krishna's birth, under divine instructions,

Vasudeva left the prison unnoticed with the baby. He crossed the mighty river

Yamuna which was in spate due to heavy rains. Without any difficulty, he walked

across the river protected from rain by the mighty serpent Shesha, and reached

Gokul. In Gokul, on the same midnight, a girl named Yogamaya had been born to

Yasoda, wife of Nanda a herdsman. The babies were exchanged, and Vasudeva came

back to prison with the girl. When Kamsa was told that his sister had given

birth to a child, Kamsa attempted kill the child. But the baby who was Goddess

Maya, flew off to the heaven, warning Kamsa that Krishna, who would kill him,

had already been born and was alive. Eventually, Krishna killed Kamsa, and

released his parents from the prison, and brought peace and happiness to the

common people.

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