Sri Krishna Ashthami (Jayanthi ) vrata

August 15, 2006

Hari Sarvothama, Vayu Jeevothama

Sri Gurubhyo namaha

Sri Krishnaashtami as per Eastern time (USA) coordinates---- chandramana calender- August 15th, 2006 (month of Kataka)

-- Shravana Krishna Ashthami is Sri Krishna Asthami)

Sri Krishna Jayanthi--September 13th, 2006

(Udupi mathas follow Suryomana calender, Month of SIMHA, August- September )

Also please check Jayanthi Nirnaya, MBTN & Sri Vishnu Theertha quotes/translation below in regard Sri Krishna Jayanthi. (Bhadrapada, Krishnapaksha, Ashthami, Rohini nakshatra, Simha Rasi (month of Simha or Leo) is Sri Krishna Jayanthi)

My query regarding Sri Krishna Jayanthi/Sri Krishna Asthami..

http://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2006-August/001895.html

Gokulaasthami Puje Paddithi in detail can be seen in these website below:http://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001018.htmlhttp://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001019.htmlhttp://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001020.htmlhttp://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001021.htmlhttp://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001022.htmlhttp://dvaita.info/pipermail/dvaita-list_dvaita.info/2005-August/001023.htmlhttp://www.dvaita.org/list/list_04/msg00032.html -----Sri Jayanthi nirnayaUsername & Password: dvaita

Source: Sadachar Vinodha by Sri Vyasanakare Prabhanjanacharya

rohiiNyaa madhyaraatre tu yadaa kR^ishhNaa(kaalaa)shhTamii bhavet.h |jaya.ntii naama saa proktaa sarvapaapapraNaashanii(naM) || 1||yasyaaM jaato hariH saakshaanni shete bhagavaanajaH |tasmaattaddinamatyarthaM puNyaM paapaharaM shubhaparaM || 2||

The eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shravana is Krishnaashtami. On that day, if the star Rohini is present at midnight, it is called Krishna Jayanthi. This is a most sacred vow that destroys sin completely. On that day, Lord Sri Krishna who has no births & deaths, who is full of auspicious qualities manifested on this earth. So this day is sacred, merit bestowing, sin destroying & auspicious.

Srimad Acharya, in Mahabharatha Tatparya Nirnaya (MBTN), Chapter 12, 120 th shloka,yasminnabde bhAdrapade sa mAse siMsthayorgururavyoH pareshaH |Meaning: That year in which, in the month of Bhadrapada, when Brihaspathi & Surya were in Simharasi, that Sarvottama Sri Krishna took avatara.

shrI viShNutIrthAH "saMnyAsapaddhatiH"

siMhamAse tu rohiNyAM pUjayennaMdanaMdanam.h |

yashodAsaMyutaM talpe shayAnaM tu chaturbhujam.h ||

yashodAsaMyutaM talpe shayAnaM tu chaturbhujam.h |

shaMkhachakragadApadmadharaM j~nAnasvarUpiNam.h ||

sumanobhistulasyAdidashabhirgadhasaMyutaiH |

archayitvA paredyushcha prAtarevAtha pUjayet.h ||

On the eighth day of the month of Simha when the star Rohini is present, one has to undertake a fast & worship. Sri Krishna with Yashodha. One should worship the four armed Krishna reclining on a bed holding the shankha, chakra, gada, Padma. Sri Krishna has to be worshipped with Tulasi, flowers & sandal paste. For neivedyam, one has to offer milk, payasam, honey, butter, apoopa etc... Puje has to be offered in the same way the next day morning also.

Fasting on Sri Krishna Jayanthi is compulsory:

tasmAtsarvairupoShyA sA jayantI nAma sA sadA |

dvijAtibhirvisheSheNa tadbhaktaishcha visheShataH ||

--------jayantInirNayaH

Everybody should fast on Jayanthi. The twice born & the Lord's devotees should offer special prayers & pujas.

vihitaH sarvajAtInAmupoShaNavidhiH paraH |

-------siva puraNa

A fast on Sri Krishna jayanthi is compulsory for people of all castes.

Fasting is compulsory for women also.---- bhaviShyottarapurANam.h

Krishnaashtami---Krishna Jayanthi

samprApte shravaNe mAsi kR^iShNapaxe yadA bhavet.h |kR^iShNajanmAShTamI j~neyA mahApAtakanAshanI ||rohiNIsahitA sA chet.h jayantI nAma sAtithi || ---sanatkumArasaMhitA (pa~nchasaMskArasaMgraha)The eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shravana is called Krishna Astami; this is very efficacious in destroying sin; if the star Rohini is seen on that day (at midnight), it is called Jayanthi.

Those who do not observe Krishna Jayanthi stand to lose the merit of performing other vratas. A quote from bhaviShyottarapurANam.h

Why a fast on only Krishna Jayanthi

sarvAsAM tu jayaMtInAM shreShThA kR^iShNAShTamI matA |

yasmAtsannihitA .atyaMtaM tatraivopavasennara H ||

sarvAsvapi jayantIShu pUjA kAryA visheShataH |

sannidhya eva kartavyaH upavAso na dUragaH ||

-----bhAradvAjasaMhitA

Krishna Jayanthi is prime amongst all the other Jayanthis of the Lord (even though there are no differences amongst the various manifestations of the Lord) (So, it goes without sayign that the Jayanthis of other deities like Rudra are inferior to Krishna Jayanthi). From the point of view of time, Sri Krishna Jayanthi is the nearest to us so a fast is undertaken only on Krishna Jayanthi. Special worship should be offered to the corresponding forms of the Lord on the other Jayanthi. But a fast is undertaken only on Krishna Jayanthi as it is the nearest manifestation of the Lord fromt he point of view of time. (Though Buddhavatara is nearer than Krishnaavatara, this manifestation was only for a very short time & as it was for the purpose of deluding the wicked people a fast is appropriate only for Krishna Jayanthi.

Sri Krishna janmastami vrata has to be observed every year.

prAjApatyarxasaMyuktA shrAvaNasya sitAShTamI |

varShe varShe tu kartavyA tuShTyarthaM chakrapANinaH ||

-----padmapurANam.h

Sri Krishna ashtami (Jayanthi) has to be observed every year, the observance of this vrata bestows the special grace of Lord Sri Hari who holds the Chakra in His hand.

Sri Krishna ashtami is superior to the vow of Ekadashi

ekAdashInAM viMshatyaH koTyo yAH parikIrtitAH |

tAbhiH kR^iShNAShTamI tulyA.................................brahavaivartapurANaM

The vow of Krishnaashtami is equal to many Ekadashis. (Both Ekadashi & Krishna Ashtami are the Lord's day Haridina. So, just because one observes Ekadashi, one cannot give up observving Krishna Ashtami. Those who do not observe Ekadashi cannot get the full merit of observing Krishna Ashtami.

THE GREATNESS OF SRI KRISHNA JAYANTHI

saptajanmakR^itaM pApaM ........... SthitastasyAM subhAvitaH ||

upavAsashcha tatrokto...........nAtra saMshayaH ||

The Lord Govinda who is pleasedwith the observances of Krishna Jayanthi removes three types of sin committed in seven lives. The proper observances of this vow destroys the five cardinal sins.

shrAvaNe bahule sA tu sarvapApapraNAshanI |

jayaM puNyaM cha kurute jayantItyeva tAM viduH ||

------ bhAradvAjasaMhitA, skandapurANAm.h

The eighth day of the dark half of the month of Shravana destroys all sin. As it bestows victory & merit, it is called Jayanthi.

Sri Krishna says: By fasting on the day of my birth, the sins of seven lives get destroyed. Let there be no doubt about this.

bhaviShyottarapurANam.h quotes: (meaning only given below)

A meal nourishment should not be taken on Krishnaastami. The puranas declare over & over again that no food (nourishment) should be taken.

Those who observe Sri Krishna Janmashtami vrata do not experience poverty or widowhood; there will be no strife or discord at home; progeny does not get destroyed; there will no occasion to visit the world of Yama; all our heart's desires arising in as many as seven lives get fulfilled. The Lord Mahavishnu is pleased with the men & women who observe this vow in strict accordance of all rules. They attain the world of Vishnu. Even those who observe this vrata by mere chance reap the benefits of this vow according to their capacity.

Even merely remembering this vrata & praising its glory brings merit & destroys sin; the sins committed in seven lives are reduced to ashes. What then need be said of the actual observance of this vow according to all rules ! (so it means that a fast has to be undertaken).

Performing anhika on Sri Krishna Jayanthi:

saptamyAM laghubhuk.h kuryAddaM......svastho jitendriyaH ||

-------brahmavaivartapurANaM

A little quantity of food should be taken on Sapthami (i.e. on the previous to the day of fasting)

kr^itvA shaucahM ......yogAyetyAdimantrataH ||

nityAhnikaM prakurvIta.....sAyaMkAle tvatandritaH ||

snAyIta pUrvamantreNa shraddhAbhaktiyutaH pumAn.h ||

.......jayanti nirNaya

As on other days, one should get up during dawn on Sri Krishnaashtami (Jayanthi) & complete the morning shoucha (cleansing, answering nature's call) in the shastraic way & with no feeling of indolence take a bath chanting the mantra 'yogAya'. After this, one should perform sandhya & other dailly rituals. With the same mantra & with devotion, one should have a bath in the afternoon & in the evening.

SNANA MANTRA:

yogAya yogapataye yogeshvarAya yogasambhavAya shrIgovindAya namo namaH ||

yogAya yogapataye yogine yogashambhave |

yogeShvarAya devAya govindAya namo namaH ||

(One should chant the dailly mantras while having a bath & then specially chant the above mantra also).

The sankalpa mantra for Sri Krishnaashtami vrata

adya sthitvA nirAhAraH shvobhUte parameshvara |

moxyAmi puMDarIkAxa ! asmin.h janmAShTamIvrate || (bhaviShyottarapurANaM)

Lord Pundarikaksha ! You are Lord of all worlds & you are worshipped by Lakshmi , Brahma & others. Today, I will be on a fast & I will break the fast tomorrow (at the appropriate time). (It is clear from this that after offering arghya in the night, the custom of taking 'phalahara' is not approved by the shastras).

Aupasana, Brahma Yajna on Krishnaashtami are forbidden.-----brahmavaivartapurANam.h

The deities to be worshipped

kR^iShNaM cha balabhadraM cha vasudevaM cha devakIm.h |

naMdagopaM dashodAM cha subhadraM tatra pUjayet.h ||

Sri Krishna, Balarama, Vasudeva, Devaki, Nandagopa, Yashodha & Subhadra have to be worshipped on KrishnAshtami.

PUJA MANTRA:

xIrodasnApanaM kR^itvA chaMdanena vimepitam.h |

gItaM vAdyaM tathA nR^ittaM kArayed.h yadi shaktimAn.h ||

shAMtipAThaM shAstrapAThaM gItApAThaM tR^itIyakam.h |

sahasranAmapaThanaM stavaM pApavimoxaNAm.h ||

evameva vidhAnena archayitvA tato harim.h |

.....bhaviShyottarapurANam.h

One should bath Sri KRishna in milk & apply sandal paste. If one is capable, one should offer music & dance as a form of worship. One should recite shanti mantra, Gita, Vishnusahasranama & other worthy shastras. These are all means to get rid of sin. Thus special pujas have to be offered to Sri Krishna

Sri Krishna Arghya Mantra:

jAtaH kaMsavadhArthAya bhU bhArottAraNAya cha |

kauravANAM vinAshAya daityAnAM nidhanAya cha ||

pAMDavAnAM hitArthAya dharmasaMsthApanAya cha |

gR^ihANArdhyaM mayA dattaM devakyA sahito hare ||

.............jayaMtInirNayaH

Oh ! Lord Krishna, you have manifested in this world in order to kill kamsa, to reduce the burden of this earth, to destroy the kauravas, to annihilate the demons, to protect the pandavas & to uphold Dharma; alongwith Devaki, please accept this offering (arghya) of mine.

TIME FOR SRI KRISHNA ARGHYA

arghyaM datvA samabhyarchyAbhyudite shashimaMDale || jayaMtInirNayaH

After the moon rises one should offer the arghya to Sri Krishna repeating the above mantra. (After this, arghya for Chandra has to be offered).

xIrodhArNavasaMbhUta ! atriyo (ne) trasamudbhava|

gR^ihANArdhyaM mayA dattaM rohiNyA sahitaH shashin.h || jayaMtInirNayaH

Oh Chandra, born of the ocean & belonging to Atri gotra, alongwith Rohini, accept this arghya of mine.

chaMdrodaye vinirgatya sthaMDile samalaMkR^ite |

shaMkhe toyaM samAdAya sapuShpaphalachaMchanam.h ||

jAnubhyamavaniM gatvA chaMdrAyAryaM nivedayet.h | bhaviShyottarapurANaM

The arghya for Chandra should be offered kneeling down using flowers, fruits, sandal paste & with the shankha filled with water.

Chandropasthana Mantra:

shashine chaMdradevAya somadevAya cheMdave |

mR^igiNe shI tabiMbAya lokadIpAya dIpine ||

shItadIdhitibiMbAya tArakApataye namaH ||

Sri Krishna Prarthana Mantra:

anaghaM vAmanaM shairi goviMdaM puruShottamam.h |

vAsudevaM hR^iShIkeshaM mAdhavaM madhusUdanam.h ||

dAmodaraM padmanAbhaM keshavaM garuDadhvajam.h |

goviMdamachyutaM kR^iShNamanaMtamaparAjitam.h ||

adhoxajaM jagadbIjaM sargasthityaMtakAriNam.h |

anAdinidhanaM viShNuM devadevaM trivikramam.h ||

nArAyaNaM chaturbhAhuM shaMkhachakragadAdharam.h |

pItAMbaradharaM saumyaM vanamAlAdibhUShitam.h ||

shrIvatsavaxasaM shrIshaM shrIdharaM shrIpatiM harim.h |

upendraM devakIsunuM praNamAmi prajApatiM ||

nAmAnyetAni saMkIrtya prItyarthaM prArthayedbudhaH |

puShkarAxa ! nimagno.ahaM mahatyaj~nAnasagare ||

trAhi mAM devadevesha ! mahAsaMsArasAgarAt.h ||

SIPPING OF TIRTHA:

yathA proktaM tIrthapAnamekAdashyAM purA mayA |

tadvattIrthaM pibed.h bhaktyA ekavAraM na saMshayaH || pa~ncharAram.h

viShNupAdodakaM tIrthaM triH pibetsatataM naraH |

ekAdashyAmekavAraM tIrthaM tu tulasIM vinA ||

upavAsavrate chaiva tathA dhAraNapAreNe |

jayaMtyAM triH pibedvipraH tathA vai viShNupaMchake |

gaMdhodamishritaM tIrthaM sarvapApaharaM smR^itamiti ||

As on Ekadashi, on Sri Krishna Janmastami thirtha should be sipped only once where as on Sri Krishna Jayanthi, thirtha should be sipped thrice.

HOW TO BREAK THE FAST:

tato nityAhnikaM kR^itvA shaktito dIyatAM dhanam.h |

sarvAyeti cha maMtreNa tataH pAraNamAcharet.h || jayanthi nirNaya

The next day as usual, one should perform the dailly rituals (nityanhika) & give as gifts whatever one can afford. One has to break the fast reciting the mantra 'sarvaya'.

PAARANE MANTRA:

sarvAya sarvapaye sarshvarAya sarvasambhavAya shrI govinAya (bAlakR^iShNAya) namo namaH ||

TIME OF BREAKING THE FAST:

If it is Krishnaashtami, one has to break the fast the next day after the Ashtami thithi has passed. If it is Sri Krishna Jayanthi when Ashtami thithi & Rohini star combined), the fast has to be broken next day when both star & thithi have passed.

viShvoyeti cha maMtreNa tataH svApaM samAcharet.h || jayantInirNaya

Later reciting the vishvAya mantra, one can retire to bed. (So it is clear from this that taking 'phalahara' after offering arghya for Sri Krishna is not correct.

SHAYANA MANTRA:

vishvAya vishvapataye vishveshvarAya vishvasaMbhavAya shrIgoviMdAya namo namaH ||

One can stay awake listening to discourses on Gita, Harivamsha & other holy works upto dawn & next day. Listening to holy works like Bhagavatha & giving discourses wipes out the sins of crores lives.

COMPLETION OF THE VRATA:

After breaking the fast, one should complete the vrata by reciting the mantra 'dharmaya' & offer everthing to the Lord. By observing the vrata in this manner, all sins get destroyed.

SAMAPANA MANTRA:

dharmAya dharmapataye dharmashvarAya dharmasambhavAya shrI govindAya namo namaH |

dhardharmAya dharmapataye dharmANAM sambhavAya cha |

dharmeshvarAya devAya govindAya namo namaH ||

BENEFITS

Sri Krishna Jayanthi vrata is one of the foremost means of achieving the four purushArthas - dharma, artha, kama, moksha. : the one who possesses the book containing the greatness of this vrata, his sins (committed knowingly & unknowingly) get destroye; his progeny will be happy; agriculture will flourish; cattle will multiply undoubtedly one will attain moksha in the end. (It means that the observance of vrata purifies the mind & becomes a means of attaining knowledgewhich in turn bestows liberation.

bhAratIramaNa mukhyaprANAntargata shrii kR^iShNArpanamasthu