Janmashtami 2009 is on August 14th

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of one of the most famous Gods of Hindu religion, Bhagwan Krishna, on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the month of Sravana or Savana. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star). It is generally celebrated in the month of August-September according to the Christian Calendar. Legend has it that Sri Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa.

Position of Stars at the time of Birth
It was only on the eighth day of the second fortnight, in the month of Sravana when, the moon entered the house of Vrishabha in Rohini Nakshatra (star) that Lord appeared. According to Barhapatyamana, the month of Sravana corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha. Lord was born in the year of Visvavasu, appx. 5,227 years ago.

Celebrated for over Two Days
Janmashtami is celebrated for over two days as “Rohini” nakshatra and Ashtami may not fall on the same day. The first day known as Krishnashtami, as the birth of Bhagwan Krishna falls on the eighth day after Raksha Bandhan, which generally falls in the month of August. The second day is known as Kalashtami.

Welcome the Lord at Midnight
It is only at midnight between the first and the second day that birth of Sri Krishna took place. The actual festivities begin during midnight in this 48 hour period. The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lot of hymns, arti taking place and blowing of the Conch (shankh), rocking the cradle of Lord. The idol of lord is bathed with Panchamrit (A mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal). The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with other sweets. While some Fast on the first day and break it at midnight for others the fasting continues for both days. The period coincides with rainy season.

Birth of Lord Krishna

Janmashtami is celebrated to welcome and enjoy Lord Krishna's birth. The birth of Lord Krishna took place when the various planets were in auspicious places. It is said that God chooses a particular time, as to when he will take birth as a human and the planetary systems are adjusted accordingly.

Auspicious Nakshatra (Constellation)
Around the time of Bhagwan Krishna's birth, Rohini Nakshatra was predominant as it is considered to be quite auspicious. This is so because it is under the supervision of Brahma, the creator of Universe. Sri Krishna was born in the month Of Sravana more than 5000 years ago.

Born in Dwapur Yug (Iron Age)
According to some scholars, Krishna was born on Wednesday,the eighth day of second fortnight in Sravana month in the year of Visvavasu around 3227 BC, also known as Dwapur Yug. July 19th 3228 BC to be more accurate. He lived for 125 years and disappeared on February 18th 3102 BC on the new moon night of Phalguna. His death was the onset of the current corrupt age known as Kaliyug.

Universal Happiness of all Forms of Life
From the time, Devki conceived Sri Krishna, she began to glow and exude divine light. The prison walls glowed with the aura of the new born infant. Atmosphere of peace and happiness prevailed all over, Forests were all green and full of trees with all kinds of beautiful flowers, rivers were all swollen due to joy, peacocks began to dance in sheer joy, people in all villages started being happy.

Objective of Krishna's Birth
The main objective of Lord Krishna's birth was to free Mother Earth from the wickedness of demons. Playing an important part in Mahabharata (legendary battle in Kurukshetra) and propagating the theory of bhakti and good karma were other important objectives.

Events Before The Birth of Sri Krishna
The people of Mathura were extremely unhappy with the wicked king Kansa who put his father, king Ugrasen in prison and declared himself the king of Mathura. It was to put an end to his evil ways and other demons that Lord Vishnu decided to take birth on Earth in human form. According to Akashvani (heavenly voice) at the wedding of his beloved sister Devki, Kansa got to know that the eighth child of his sister will take birth to kill him. So, in turn he rushed to kill his sister. Kansa gave up the idea of killing after being assured by Vasudev that he will handover all his children to him. He put them in Prison. Kansa killed all the six infants as soon as they were born. The seventh child (Balram) was saved due to divine intervention, when he was transferred from Devki's womb to that of Rohini's (other wife of Vasudev).

Events During the Birth of Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna was born in a prison cell in the captivity of King Kansa. He took birth in divine form with lotus like eyes,his palms bearing the signs of a lotus and discus. He had a swastika sign on his sole. Wearing a yellow colored silk cloth, adorned with precious diamond earrings and a crown made of emeralds. Soon after the birth, a chain of events astonished Vasudev,when he saw the gates of the cell flow open and all the guards fast asleep. He immediately thought of Nand ,his close friend in Gokul and decided to handover his child to him in order to save him from the clutch of Kansa.

River Yamuna Bows To The Feet of Sri Krishna
The night of birth was witnessed by heavy rains which led to River Yamuna being in floods. As soon as the feet of Lord immersed in the river, the flow became normal and Yamuna made way for the Lord. Sheshnag, the serpent formed an umbrella to save the new born baby from rain.

Exchange of the Babies
Vasudev kept his child next to fast asleep Yashoda and took the baby girl lying with him back to Mathura. The baby girl is believed to be the sister of Lord Vishnu.

Disappearance of The Divine Child
On hearing the news of birth of the eighth child of Devki and Vasudev, Kansa rushed to the prison-cell and lifted the baby girl to kill her despite pleadings from Devki. However, instead of hitting the stone, the child flew up in the air and announced that the annihilator of Kansa was born and in safe hands.

Krishna later grew in Gokul and finally killed his maternal uncle, King Kansa.

Legend of King Kansa

Kansa was the king of Mathura city and maternal uncle of Sri Krishna. According to legend, Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth of Bhagwan Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu to slay the cruel king . Kansa was a self-proclaimed King of the city of Mathura (A City in Northern India). He overthrew his father, King Ugrasen and forcefully became the king. He was very wicked and evil in thinking. His subjects feared him, the cowherds of not only Mathura but also other neighbouring villages like Gokul, Barsana, Nandgaon were the victims of his wickedness. They had no option but to surrender to his tyrannical ways.

Army of Demons
King Kansa had an army of demons who helped him spread fear and accomplish his evil tasks. Putana, Bakasura, Aghasura were his close aides.

Loving Brother
Kansa loved his younger sister Devki and fulfilled all her wishes. He married her to Vasudev, one of his cousins and a high-ranking officer in the army with great pomp and show. However, during the wedding ceremony of his sister, Devki, the love for his sister turned to hatred when a heavenly prediction warned him, that the eighth child of Devki will be the annihilator Of Kansa. On being assured of getting all the new born children of Devki and Vasudev, Kansa decided to imprison them under close supervision and let them live.

Killing of Infants
Kansa managed to kill all the new born of his sister Devki and brother-In-Law, Vasudev. His elder brother Balram, seventh child of the couple, was saved by being transferred to Rohini's womb. Similarly Lord Krishna, the eighth child, born to kill evil Kansa was saved after being miraculously shifted to Gokul on the night of his birth and replaced with a female child. However, Kansa got to know that his destroyer had been born and was being brought up by an unknown family in a neighboring village.

Ongoing Efforts to Kill the Child
Soon, after getting to know that the eighth child of his sister was born and safely growing in another village, Kansa ordered his soldiers to kill all the one-day old male infants in and around Mathura. He made quite a few unsuccessful attempts to kill the child.

Episode of Putana-The Demoness
King Kansa, sent one of his reliable servants to kill on the infants in the village by feeding them poisonous milk. She killed many infants but in the end she was killed by baby Krishna who sucked her life while being fed poisonous milk.

Killing of Demon Trinivarta
On hearing the death of Putana, King Kansa, sent his another servant- demon Trinivarta to kill Sri Krishna. Trinivarta took the form of a whirlwind, and carried the young Krishna away with itself, in the hope of throwing him away. Lord Krishna increased his weight which made the demon unable to move any further. After some time, the weight of Lord Krishna became too heavy for the demon to handle, so he fell on Ground and died.

End of Bakasura
At the instigation of Kansa, his friend Bakasura, changed his form to that of a crane,and went to kill Young Krishna, He hit him with his beak but Lord caught hold of his beak and tore it apart, killing him instantly.

Slaying of King Kansa
King Kansa, tired of the killing of all his servants, invited both his nephews, Balram and Krishna for a wrestling match in Mathura. He made use of elephant Kuvalyapeeda to kill Krishna at the entrance of the arena, Krishna killed him followed by killings of Charuna and Toshalaka- chosen atheletes of Kansa. Krishna went to Kansa, took him by hair and threw him on the ground; finally killing him. The slaying Of Kansa ended his tyrannical rule and people rejoiced and celebrated his death.

Different Names of Sri Krishna

Lord Krishna, one of the most revered Gods of Hindu religion is known by many names. It is believed that Acharya Garga, the family priest of Yadavs named the Lord. He was named Lord Sri Krishna because of his dark complexion.

Names According to Special Characteristics and Feats

During days of childhood, Sri Krishna was known as Bal Gopal meaning young Krishna. He is known as Madhav meaning the Husband of Goddess of fortune, Sri Lakshmi. Bhagwan Krishna is also known as Giridhari-The lifter of Govardhan hill. Also known as Banvari - the one living in the groves of Vrindavan.

Popular Names of Lord Krishna with their Meanings

NAME	MEANING
Krishna	One in the transport of joy
Jagannath	Lord of the whole World
Parampurush	The supreme one
Dwarkadhish	King of Dwarka City
Vasudev	Son of Vasudev
Devki Nandan	Mother Devki's son
Govinda	Lord Of Cows
Gopal	Protector of Cows
Parthasarthi	Chariot driver of Arjuna
Muralidhar	One with a flute
Mathura Naresh	King of Birth city Mathura
Damodar	One tied with a grinding Stone
Niranjan	One who is honorable
Sanatan	The eternal one
Anant	The infinite
Ajay	All victorious God
Murari	Enemy of demon Mura
KamalNath	Kamla (Goddess Lakshmi's) Husband
Punya	Meritorious
Lila-Manush-Vigraha	Assuming human form to perform pastimes
Shrivastav Kausthuba-Dharya	Wearing Shri Vatsa and Kausthubha Gem
Yashoda-Vatsalya	Mother Yashoda's darling child
Hari	Shri Hari
Chaturbuja-Chakra-gada-Shankhadhyay	Four armed one carrying weapons of Disc, Club and Conch
Shrisay	Abode of Shri (Lakshmi)
Nandgopa Priyatmaj	Nanda Gopa's darling child
Yamuna Vega Samhar	Destroyer of speed of River yamuna
Balbhadra Pariyanuj	Balram's younger brother
Putana Jivit haraya	Destroyer of demoness Putana
Shakatsura Bhanjanaya	Destroyer of demon Shakatasur
Nandvraja jana nandin	One bringing joy to Nand and people of Braj
Sachidanand Vigraha	Embodiment of existence, Awareness and bliss
Navanit Viliptanga	Lord whose body is smeared with butter
Ananghaya	The sinless one
Navanit navaharaya	Inventor of new form of food- Butter
Muchukunda Prasadkaya	Lord who blessed king Muchukund
Shodasha sthri sahasreshaya	Lord of 16,000 wives
Tribhanji lalitakritaye	Lord who poses bent in 3 places
Sukavag Amritabhdhindave	Ocean of nectar according to Sukadev
Yogi Pataye	Lord of yogis
Avyaktaya	One who is difficult to comprehend
Punya-Shlokaya	Lord whose praise bestows meritorious
Tirthapadaya	One whose feet are holy
Vedvedayaya	Souce of Vedas
Yagnabhoktre	One who consumes sacrificial offerings
Paratpataya	One who is highest of the highest
Gopa Gopishvaraya	Lord of gopas and gopis
Yogine	Greatest Yogi
Koti surya samaprabha	One who is as lustrous as a million suns
Ilapataye	Lord of Earth
Vanamaline	One wearing a sylven garland
Parasmai jyotish	One with a supreme light
Yadavendraye	Lord of Yadavs
Yadudvataya	Leader of Yadus
Pita vasase	One wearing yellow robes
Parijatapa Harakaya	One who removes Parijath Flower
Govardhanchalo Dhartreya	Lifter of Govardhan Hill
Sarva palakaya	Protector of all beings
Niranjan	The untainted one
Kama janakaye	One generating desires in worldly mind
Kancha lochanaya	One with beautiful eyes
Madhughne	Killer of demon Madhu
Mathuranath	King of birth city Mathura
Brindavane sancarine	One roaming in Brindavan city
Dwarkanayak	Lord of Dwarka
Baline	All powerful Lord
Syamantake maner hartre	One who stole Syamantaka Gem
Nara Narayanatmakaya	One who has twin form of nar and Narayan
Kubja Krishtambharadharya	One who applied ointment by Kubja the hunchbacked woman
Mayine	Lord of maya
Mushtikasura Chanura mallayudha-visharadaya	One who is an expert wrestler, killed two demons Mushtikasura and Chanura
Sansara vaitine	One who is enemy of sansara
Kamsaraye	Enemy of king Kansa
Narakantakaya	Destroyer of demon Naraka
Anadi Brahmacharine	Beginning less absolute
Krishna Vyasana Karshakaya	Remover of Draupadi's distress
Shishupala Shirascratte	Remover of Shishupal's head
Duryodhana Kulantakaya	Destroyer of Duryodhana's dynasty
Vidurakrura Varadaya	Giver of boon to Vidur and Akrur
Vishwarupa Pradarshakaya	Revealer of Vishwasrup (Universal form)
Satyavacha	Speaker of truth
Satya sankalp	Lord of true resolve
Satyabhama Rataya	Lover of Satyabhama
Jayine	The ever victorious Lord
Subhadra purvajaya	Brother of Subhadra
Vishnava	To Lord Vishnu
Bhishma mukti Pradayakaya	One who bestowed salvation to Bhishma
Jagadguruve venunada visharad	One expert in playing of flute music
Vrishabhasura vidhvamsine	Destoyer of demon Vrishbasura
Yudhishthira pratishthatre	One who established Yudhisthira as a king
Sarvagraha Rupine	To all-formed one
Dayanidhaye	One who is treasure of compassion
Sarvabhutat makaya	Soul of elements
Jalakrida samashaka gopi vastra pararakaya	Lord who hid gopi's clothes while they were playing in river Yamuna
Parabrahmane	A supreme brahman
Barhi Barhavatamsakaye	One who adorns peacock feathers
Pannagashana vahanaya	Having serpent Adishesha as his seat
Danavendra Vinashak	Destroyer of Lord of Asuras
Gitamrita Mahodadhaye	An ocean containing nectar of Bhagwad Gita
Kaliyaphani Manikya ranjita shri Padambhujaya	Lord whose lotus feet adorn gems from hood of Kaliya serpent

Sri Krishna's Lifetime Chart

Age of Lord Krishna	Description
Birth	In the month of Sravana, around July 19th 3227 BC in a prison cell in Mathura city to Vasudev and Devki.
0 to 3 years	Lived in the neighboring town of Gokul with Nand and Yashoda, performed bal leela, including killing of demoness Putana, Trinivatra etc.
3 to 7 years	Started living in Vrindavan, Killing of Demons Bakasura, Aghasura and Dhanuka.
7-10 years	Lifting of Govardhan hill, played rasleelas with Gopis, Invited for a wrestling match by Kansa which results in his killing.
10 – 28 years	Lived in Mathura and protected it from many Demons. Took the lessons in all the sixty four arts from Muni Sandeepani and perfected all the arts.
29 – 125 years	Established kingdom in the city of Dwarka with Brother Balram. Married Rukmini and 16000 other princesses. Helped Pandavas win the battle of Mahabharata, explains teachings to Arjuna later written down by Rishi Vyas as Bhagwad Gita.
125th Year	Fall of Yaduvanshi dynasty due to fraternal killing. Disappearance of Lord Krishna on 18th February 3102 BC.

Lord Krishna’s Disappearance

Lord Krishna, the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took birth on earth with a purpose. The main objective of taking human form by the divine being was to rid mother Earth from the cruelties and increasing power of the demons.

Life Span of Lord Krishna
It is believed that Bhagwan Krishna lived on Earth with brother Balram for 125 years. The first ten years of his life were spent in the towns of Gokul and Vrindavan, in Northern India. The following years beginning in the 11th year of Lord's life till the age of 28 were spent in Mathura. Sri Krishna later established Dwarka, a city in Gujarat and lived the rest of his life there with his wife Rukmini and sons.

Legends of Lord Krishna's Disappearance
According to researchers, Lord Krishna disappeared on 18th February 3102 BC. The period after his disappearance marks the beginning of Kaliyug. It is said Bhagwan Krishna had predicted that exactly seven days after the disappearance of the Lord, the Golden city of Dwarka in Gujarat will drown in the sea. Indeed Dwarka city is said to have been merged in sea owing to torrential rain. There are quite a few reasons assigned to Lord Krishna's leaving his spirit for the heaven. They are as follows:

Fulfillment of Sri Krishna's Birth Objective
Lord Krishna alighted on mother Earth with the primary objective of reducing the growing power of the demons and relieving people from their cruelties. The secondary objective was fighting the historical battle in Kurukshetra in order to deliver justice to Pandavas. Having accomplished his missions and establishing peace , it was time for Lord to end his life journey on Earth.

Curse of Mother Gandhari
Mahabharata, the historical battle fought in Kurukshetra resulted in the death of all the hundred sons of King Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Lord Krishna is said to have visited Mother Gandhari to offer his condolence. In a fit of rage and sorrow, Mata Gandhari cursed Bhagwan Krishna that just as the Kaurava dynasty had ended fighting with each other, similarly the Yaduvanshi dynasty would end fighting and killing each other. Mother Gandhari felt that Sri Krishna didn't play a fair role in putting an end to the war. Lord Krishna happily accepted the curse.

Curse of Sages Vishwamitra and Narada
According to a folklore, Sage Vishwamitra and Sage Narada once visited the city of Dwarka to meet Lord Krishna. A few children of Lord Krishna dressed up Samba (Son of Sri Krishna and Jambavati) as a pregnant woman and asked the visiting sages to foretell what kind of a child Samba will bear. Feeling insulted, the sages cursed that Samba will give birth to an Iron rod which in turn will be instrumental in the fall of the Yaduvanshi Dynasty. The very next day, Samba gave birth to an iron rod. Lord Krishna's sons crushed it into powder and threw the bottle in the sea. However, one day the bottle was washed up the shore and the powdered iron took form of an arrow. Lord Krishna could foresee everything and as a last resort to save his Dynasty, prohibited liquor in the city of Dwarka. Eventually, the Yadavas became drunk and killed each other with iron rods. None of them survived. Lord Krishna was shattered to see the Dynasty perish.

Death of Balram
On seeing the end of Yaduvanshi clan, Lord Balram the elder brother of Sri Krishna sat under a tree and ended his life by breathing out life from his mouth in the form of a white serpent.

Disappearance of Sri Krishna
Lord Krishna was disillusioned with the fraternal killing among the Yaduvanshis. He went to a forest near Somnath in Bhalka Tirth to meditate. Jara, a hunter mistook the lord's feet to be a deer and accidentally shot him with the arrow. Lord Krishna's spirit left for heaven. Bhagwan Krishna's disappearance marks the beginning of the current debauched age, also known as Kaliyug.

The great sage Vyas then wrote the famous 'Bhagawad Puran' to save the heritage and miracles of Lord Krishna. The story of Lord Krishna has since been passed from generation to generation.