Krishnashtami Celebrations,August 24, 2008(Procession of Gopalas, Flute Orchestra and Music programme)

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Krishnashtami Celebrations

Procession of Gopalas, Flute Orchestra and Music programme

August 24, 2008

Enchanting

Little Krishna has been the most endearing Divine form for millions and

billions of hearts over past many millennia, cutting across borders and

barriers set by religion, caste and nationality…And His song celestial

Bhagavad Gita has been the right recipe for the human minds to reach

their final destination. His legacy continuous even after five

thousand years of His Divine Advent, as this Divine Being, fondled and

nurtured by Mother Yasoda - epitome of Motherly love and compassion,

continues to be the stealer of hearts, as is often sung in Prasanthi

Nilayam, Chitha Chora Yasoda Ke Bal... Navaneeta Chora Gopal…

 

The

land known for its rich cultural and mythical heritage, land that has

given birth to umpteen number of saints and sages, the land that has

spread the glory of Lord to the entire world was the only fortunate

land that was blessed by Incarnations. Lord Rama in Treta Yuga,

Bhagawan Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga and now Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai

Baba in Kali Yuga…Bharat is the chosen land of God.

Krishna

Janmashtami marks the birth of Bhagawan Sri Krishna. Bhagawan Krishna

was born in the Dwapara Yuga, over five thousand years ago, in Mathura,

India on the eight day (Rohini star on Ashtami day) of the dark half

(new moon fortnight) of Shravana.

 

"I am the conscience in the heart

of all creatures

I am their beginning, their being,

their end

I am the mind of the senses,

I am the radiant sun among lights

I am the song in sacred lore,

I am the king of deities

I am the priest of great seers…"

 

In India, traditionally Krishnashtami is celebrated with much pomp and

splendour by devotees. Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all

Krishna temples, especially the ones in Vrindavan, Mathura (Uttar

Pradesh), Dwaraka (Gujarat), and other regionally famous temples.

 

Janmashtami

is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at midnight. If

the ashtami tithi and the Rohini nakshatra occur on the same day, then

the observance is considered to be most auspicious; otherwise the

observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at

midnight. The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole

night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna's

pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata, offering arghya to

Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial breaking of the fast. The

next day is celebrated as Krishna Jayanti.

 

 

 

On

this auspicious Krishnashtami morning, Prasanthi Nilayam was filled to

capacity, as over three thousand devotees from Vizag have been camping

as part of their Parthi Yaatra followed by a huge contingent of over

4000 devotees from Tamil Nadu was slowly pouring in. It was a long

wait, for the brimming devotees, who have been waiting from the early

hours. The red rays of the early morning sun turned golden and began to

filter and beam into the Kulwant hall as if to catch a glimpse of the

Lord. But, He being the one beyond time knew when to make it and the

thus the waiting continued…

Vishnu Stuthi, the compendium in praise of Lord Vishnu has a line describing the Lord thus:

I salute that God of all Gods

Who wears yellow coloured silk…

…and

Bhagawan does recreate the scene invariably in Prasanthi Nilayam,

reliving the nostalgic memoirs of Dwapara, by wearing an yellow robe…In

Resplendent Yellow, came the Lord with His hallowed Divine Aura, at the

stroke of 9:20 to the hall that had been waiting for the moment from

the early hours…And there was a special contingent of ‘devotees’, a

group of animals specially brought in a procession from Bhagawan’s

Sathya Sai Gokulam waiting to receive the Lord. Heading the procession

was the little princess, Sathya Geeta who received Bhagawan raising her

trunk, reminding one of the elegant, gorgeous and devoted Sai Geeta,

who would do the same most majestically during her heydays. Cows and

little calves, peacock, doves all were there to receive His blessings

and Bhagawan moved around them feeding, blessing them spending quality

time near the block leading from the central entrance. Symbolising

Peace and Unity, Bhagawan released two doves before returning to the

main dais…As the doves soared skywards, the decibel levels in the hall

also soared as people joyously clapped at the happy sight. A bouquet of

songs specially composed rendered the air giving twists and turns to

the spiritual dimension already prevailing, raising the spiritual

ambience in the hall, that was already at its zenith with the Lord

sitting right in the middle…after couple of songs, first one being

“Pandurangaashtakam†followed by “Govardhana Giridhara†the stage was

set for a group of flute boys to take over who have been getting

trained in the art for past more than two years…a rare opportunity to

perform in the Divine Presence…Melodious rendition of some of the

famous bhajans was followed by yet another song before Bhagawan called

for Managa Arathi…

Boys

from all institutions were waiting on their knees for their turn with

colour greeting cards to take their chance with the Lord…and they took

the centre stage…Lord was completely covered with these boys who went

in a disciplined turn…one after one…touching His feet, interacting with

Him…reminding one of the days of yore, wherein Sri Krishna moved freely

with His devotees…

It

was indeed a most memorable occasion when the Lord graciously bestowed

upon the devotees a great boon to celebrate the advent of Lord in

Dwapara in His immediate presence, whose advent was attributed to the

fmed Bhagavad Gita verse:

"Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavathi Bharatha

Abhyukthanam adharmasya Thadathmanam Srujamyaham.â€

“Parithranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya cha Dhushkrutham

Dharma samsthapanarthaya Sambhavami Yuge Yuge"

(Whenever

there is a decline in Righteousness and rise of evil, the Lord

incarnates from time to time to uphold Righteousness, to protect the

Virtuous and to uproot the evil).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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