Krishna Jayanti

Capt Purushottam Sharma (Retd)
* Salutations to Thee before and to Thee behind Salutations to Theee on every side O Lord, Thou art everything Infinite in power and infinite in prowess, Thou pervadest all Therefore Thou art the all *
Lord Vishnu manifests in various incarnations from time to time to establish ‘dharma’ (righteousness). Acharyas have broadly classified the incarnations (1) mukhyalsvarupa (2) amsa (3) purna  and (4) avesa, that is primary, partial, complete and inspired. Lord Krishna was purna-avatara. We often speak of ten incarnations starting from Matasya to Kalki.
Krishna appeared on the 8th day of dark fortnight of auspicious month of Shrawan 5243 years ago. He had chosen Devki and Vasudeva as His parents.
At the time of His birth, His parents were held in heavily guarded confinement of Kamsa who was demon Kalnemi in his previous birth during Rama Avtar.
Kansa was the son of of Ugrasena, a king of Mathura. Kansa dethroned his father and became king himself for he was of very cruel disposition.
Once Vasudeva and Devki were travelling in a chariot driven by Kamsa.
A roaring voice from the skies addressed Kansa saying that the eighth child born to the young lady boarding the chariot will be his killer. Frighened Kansa immediately drew his sword to slay Devki but spared her on an assurance of Vasudeva  sitting next to her that he will deliver to him (Kansa) every infant that was born to her. Inspite of that Kansa put a round the clock guard over the premises where the couple was kept in confinement. Every new born infant was handed over to Kansa and slain.
The eighth child born to Devki was Lord Vishnu Himself whose conception was through the eyes of the couple. All arrangements were pre-planned for the safety and security of it. At their very moment, the guards fell asleep and the locked apartment flung open. Vasudeva wrapped the baby in a piece of cloth and carried it in a basket to Gokula.The large and deep River Jamuna on the way which was in spate then in the monsoon month of Shravan recorded to knee deep waters on the sheer touch of the Divine child’s foot and afforded all assistance to cross it. Nanda was a herdsman of Gokula. His wife Yashoda, too had given birth to a female child. Vasudeva left Devki’s child with Yashoda and rushed back with her child to the prison cell. No sooner Vasudeva re-entered the prison-cell, the doors closed and were locked automatically as if nothing  had happened. Immediately, the cry of the child was heard by the guards and news of birth of much-awaited eighth child was conveyed to King.
The king Kansa rushed into the room, held the child in his hand and dashed it against a stone. Instanteneously, the baby rose  into the sky like a flash, turned into mighty figure of eight arms with formidable weapons in its hands. Laughingly, it addressed Kamsa saying  that it was of no avail to kill er for his (Kamshis) killer had already been born. The voice also revealed that the same God had killed him in the previous birth too. This episode further frustrated Kansa who let lose the reign of terror over his subjects and put to death those who did not follow the belief he carried and to those who made offerings to Brahmins. He got killed all such young children as displayed unique signs of excellence and strength.
Vasudeva and Devki were released from the prison after the delivery of eighth child of Devki, Balarama, who was born to Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva, was also put in the care of Yashoda and nanda so that Rama and Lachmana were again together as Krishna and Balarama as per the Devine wish.
Sage Garga was the Kula Guru (preceptor of the Yadava clan). He was invited by Nanda and Yashoda to their house for the naming ceremony of their child. The child was black skinned, therefore, the sage named Him Krishna, Krishna means black. After some time, Garga visited nanda’s house again and prepared sweet pudding for himself. Before partaking of it, Sage offered the pudding to Lord Vishnu in the Pooja room praying the Lord with closed eyes.
Suddenly child Krishna dashed into the room and started eating the pudding kept in the vessel. Yashoda caught hold of Krishna and admonished Him but the Lord of the Universe revealed to her that the sage himself called me to eat the pudding.Garga realized that Krishna was none other than Vishnu himself, Garga felt happy to partake of the leftover of the pudding eaten by Krishna.
Krishna was examplary in humbleness and was devoted disciple of Sage Sandeepani and in His Guru Dakshina (offering to the preceptor). He had revived His Guru’s dead son. In one  yawn, he had shown the glimpse of the Universe (14 Lokas) to Yashoda. Virastswaroopa to Arjuna, raised Govardhana on His little finger to protect Gokula from the heavy downpours caused by anoyance of Indra, provided inexhaustable cloth to Droupadi when being humiliated in the court of Duryodhana. The sweet sound of His flute was soul-stirring and allured men, women, children, animals, birds and even inanimate objects. He was great musician who imparted lessons in playing Veena to Sage Narada, As a Gopala (care taker of cows), he performed many miracles and brought joys and happiness to his companion cow herd boys and animals. He often loosened the tethered calves to have their mother’s milk to their full which caused anger to Yashoda and the Gopikas. He was Navneet chor (butter stealer) and pot-breaker of handis (earthen pots containing curd, buttermilk, butter)
Several attempts were made by Kansa to kill the child Krishna but all fell in vain. In turn, Kansa was himself killed at the hands of Krishna whom the king had invited to witness a wrestling game. To kill malignant Kansa, Krishna pulled him down from the dais and tore into pieces thus emancipated the subjects from the cruelties of their wicked king.
Narration of Krishna-Leelas (Divine plays) over 84 square miles of Vrindavan and other places around Mathura and Gokula  will  occupy sumptuous volumes. Krishna was a great statesman, a great warrior, a great teacher philosopher who was ideal in every field.
On this Day of Krishna Janmashtami, devotees observe fast, houses, home and community shrines are tastefully decorated. The child Krishna’s image is given bath, is dressed wih new clothes and put in a cradle. Elaborate pooja (worship)  is held, learned persons deliver discourses highlighting His precious teachings, Divine plays and philosophical choices He has revealed to us for Realizing Him. These choices are bhakti (Devotion), sankhya (Divine knowledge) and Karamyoga. Divine Love between Radha and Krishna, Meera and Krishna, Suradasa and Krishna, Krishna and Gopikas, Krishana and His ardent devotees is really blissful and soul-enriching. How skillfully and prudently he worked charioteer of His friend Arjuna is indeed an amazing Divine Grace. And then unbounded grace on His Pandava devotees whom He protected and guided in every situation.
Vishnu, Brahm, Agni, Padma, Brahm-Vaivarat and Bhagwat Puranas are full of Shri Krishna’s life, plays and of worship to Him. Of all the works of Sage Vyasa, Srimad Bhagwata is the most magnificent and had brought equanimity and solace to the stirring amind of the sage. An eternal guide of Righteousness, the sacred book is the most esteemed for that sings the glores of the Beloeved Lord of the Universe, enlightens and inspires Devotion, Discrimination, Dispassion and  Discipline for the fulfillment of ultimate aim of  Realization of the Self. Glories to our Lord, the Dispeller of Darkness.
Deeply in Divine Love. His devotees call their all-permeating Lord Antaryamin, Bansiwala, Chitchora, Bankevehari, Dwarka-dheesha, Dwarkanatha, Devki-nandana, Girdhara, Gopala, Janardhana, Kanha, Keshava, Mohana,  Madhava, Madhusoodana, Murlidhara, Makhanchor, Murari Chakra-dhari, Nand-lala, Yadhu-nandana, Yogeshwara and by many other names they wish to derive ecstasy and Bliss. He calls upon us all :
“Manmana bhava madbhakto madyaji mam namaskuru
namevaisyasi yuktvaivamatmanam matparayanah”
(Sri Bhagwati Gita 34/IX)
‘Fix your mind on Me, be devoteto Me, worship Me and make obeisance to Me; thus linking your self with Me and entirely depending on Me, you shall come to Me’.
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