JANMASHTAMI

Rituals  ❘   Celebration

108 Names  ❘   August Festivals

Information

Janmashtami is one of the most popular festivals of Hindus, which celebrates the birth of the beloved God, Shri Krishna. Janmashtami ie Krishna Janma festival falls in the month between August and September.

The most common ritual observed all over during Janmashtami is fasting by devotees on the day of the festival (Saptami, seventh day). Devotees fast for the entire day and break it after the birth of Lord Krishna at midnight.

People prefer only milk and milk products as they were the favourite of Lord Krishna. Some devotees of Lord Krishna go to the extent of keeping 'Nirjal' fast, that is fasting without having a single drop of water.

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Janmashtami Rituals

At midnight, the idol of the child, Bal Krishna is bathed, adorned in new clothes and ornaments, placed in a cradle and worshiped by singing lullaby (Lories). In many families fast is observed, however, one meal is allowed.

This is known as phalhar, which consists of fruits, singhare ki puri, mithai, curd etc. Generally the devotees prepare those food items which are considered to be the favorite of Lord Krishna.

At the midnight all these scrumptious items are placed in front of Lord Krishna and this called as the ritual of "bhog" Later all these scrumptious items are distributed amongst his devotees as "Prasada".

Devotees chant all day long the mantras and shlokas to please the lord, creating the religious atmosphere. Chanting of 108 names of Lord Krishna is another ritual that takes place in various temples.

Chanting of names is accompanied by showering of flowers on the idol of Lord Krishna and after the Aarti, the fast is over. At dawn, children's footprints, walking towards the house are drawn with "Rangoli".

This indicates the divine entry of God Shree Krishna in the house.

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Janmahtami celebration in Mathura

Mathura, about 150 kms from Delhi, is the birth place of Lord Krishna, where Janmashtami is celebrated in a bigget way. Lord Krishna is said to have been born around 5000 years back to finish the evils of demons.

The city of Mathura is full in festive look and the devotional mood reaches its pinnacle. The main celebration takes place at 'Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir', which is the actual place of birth.

Krihna's idol is placed in a room, known as the 'Garbha Griha. Devotees observe a full day fast and end it at midnight after the birth time of Bhagwan Krishna.

However, through out the day, the devotees remain engrossed in chanting of Shlokas and name of the Lord. Bhajans are sung in the glory of Shri Krishna.

The Birth of Lord Krishna at midnight is followed by performance of pooja and other ceremonies. The idol of Lord Krishna is given a divine bath with milk and curd and then rocked in the cradle.

It is strongly believed that any wish made while rocking the cradle is fulfilled on this day. The entire Mathura echoes with the sound of the conch (shankh) and ringing of bells.

Devotees pray and welcome the lord with slogans of 'Jai Shri Krishna'. After the pooja is complete, a mixture of honey, gangajal, curd, ghee, called "Panchamrut", is distributed to the devotees.


Shri. Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura

The Lord is offered the customary prasad of "Chhapan Bhog" (Fifty six dishes). Devotees break their fast with 'Prasad' of the Lord.Kheer, Laddoo, Butter, Shrikhand and Singhare ki Poori are some of the main dishes prepared on the day.

Ras-leelas, a kind of dance is performed at various places in Mathura city. The person acting as Krishna dreses himself as Lord Krishna for devotees, who touch his feet in reverence.

Jhankis (Tableau), cribs or scenes depicting the various stages of Life of Lord Krishna are exhibited all over Mathura city.Jhankis depict various important activities of Lord Krishna right from the childhood.

It is like - Janmlila, Shankarlila, Putanalila and Naglila. Jhulanotsav and Ghatas Another important feature of celebrations, which are specially held only in Mathura City.

During Jhulanotsav, swings decorated with flowers are put in courtyards of temples and houses to welcome Lord Krishna's birth, which symbolizes cradling of Lord Krishna.

A month prior to Janmashtami, as per a theme, all the temples of Mathura City are decorated with the same colour and the idol of Lord Krishna is adorned with the clothes of same colour.

Lakhs of devotees are engrossed heart and soul, in decorating the temples and their house to welcome the birth of Lord Krishna.

Govinda Dahi - Handi

Dances like Garba, Dandiya, Raas-Leela or dramatic enactments based on the life of Shri. Krishna are performed in so many regions of India. Rasa-Leela is the rememberance of Krishna's youthful days.

Govinda Pathaks celebrate Krishna's playful and mischievous side of entering the houses of Gopis and breaking the buttermilk Pots (Matki) and eating the "Maakhan" (buttermilk).

Janmaashtami, popularly known in Mumbai and Pune as Dahi Handi is celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm. The "Handi" or " Matki" is a clay pot filled with buttermilk and coconut, that is roped at a convenient height.

Govinda Groups from different areas come and form human pyramids and try to break the Handi by hitting it with Head or coconut placed inside it.

After breaking it, the buttermilk is spilled over the group people, who then sing and dance to celebrate the victory. Many Handis bear prescious rewards in cash to the tune of Rupees 25 laks.

Some popular Handis are tied at very high altitudes with highest rewards. Nowdays the Handis are accompanied with Musical shows, in presence of the celebrities from political front, TV programmes and films.

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krishna ashtottara shatanama stotram

Devnagari Script

श्रीक्रुष्णाय नम: |
कमलानाथाय नम: |
वासुदेवाय नम: |
सनातनाय नम: |
वसुदेवात्मजाय नम: |
पुण्याय नम: |
लीलामानुषविग्रहाय नम: |
श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधराय नम: |
यशोदावत्सलाय नम: |
हरये नम: || 10 ||

चतुर्भुजात्तचक्रासिगदाशंखाद्युदायुधाय नम: |
देवकीनन्दनाय नम: |
श्रीशाय नम: |
नन्दगोपप्रियात्मजाय नम: |
यमुनावेगसंहारीने नम: |
बलभद्रप्रियानुजाय नम: |
पूतनाजीवितहराय नम: |
शकटासुरभञ्जनाय नम: |
नन्दव्रजजनानन्दीने नम: |
सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहाय नम: || 20 ||

नवनीतविलिप्ताङ्गाय नम: |
नवनीतनटोऽनघाय नम: |
अनघाय नम: नवनीतनवाहाराय नम: |
मुचुकुंदप्रसादकाय नम: |
षोडशस्त्रीसहस्रेशाय नम: |
त्रिभंगीललिताकृ्तये नम: |
शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दवे नम: |
गोविन्दाय नम: |
गोविदां पतये नम: || 30 ||

वत्सवाटचराय नम: |
अनन्ताय नम: |
धेनुकासुरमर्द्दनाय नम: |
तृणीकृततृणावर्तोय नम: |
यमलार्जुनभञ्जनाय नम: |
उत्तालतालभेत्रे नम: |
तमालश्यामलाकृ्तये नम: |
गोपगोपीश्वराय नम: |
योगीने नम: |
कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभाय नम: || 40 ||

इलापतये नम: |
परंज्योतिसे नम: |
यादवेन्द्राय नम: |
यदूद्वहाय नम: |
वनमालीने नम: |
पीतवासासे नम: |
पारिजातापहारकाय नम: |
गोवर्धनाचलोद्धरत्रे नम: |
गोपालाय नम: |
गोपालस्सर्वपालकाय नम: || 50 ||

अजाय नम: |
निरञ्जनाय नम: |
कामजनकाय नम: |
कञ्जलोचनाय नम: |
मधुघ्ने नम: |
मथुरानाथाय नम: |
द्वारकानायकाय नम: |
बलने नम: |
वृन्दावनांतसञ्चारीने नम: |
तुलसीदामभूषणाय नम: || 60 ||

स्यमन्तकमणेर्हर्ताय नम: |
नरनारायणात्मकाय नम: |
कुब्जाकृष्टांबरधाय नम: |
मायीने नम: |
परमपूरुषाय नम: |
मुष्टिकासुरचाणूरमल्लयुद्धविशारदाय नम: |
संसारवैरिने नम: |
कंसारये नम: |
मुरारये नम: |
नरकान्तकाय नम: || 70 ||

अनादिब्रह्मचारीने नम: |
कृष्णाव्यसनकर्शकाय नम: |
शिशुपालशिरच्छेत्ताय नम: |
दुर्योधनकुलान्तकाय नम: |
विदुराक्रूरवरदाय नम: |
विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकाय नम: |
सत्यवाक्सत्यसंकल्पाय नम: |
सत्यभामारताय नम: |
सत्यवाक्सत्यसंकल्पाय नम: |
जयीने नम: || 80 ||

सुभद्रापूर्वजाय नम: |
विष्णवे नम: |
भीष्ममुक्तिप्रदायाय नम: |
जगद्गुरुर्जगन्नाथाय नम: |
जगन्नाथाय नम: |
वेणुनादविशारदाय नम: |
वृषभासुरविध्वंसी बाणासुरबलांतकाय नम: |
युधिष्ठिरप्रतिष्ठाताय नम: |
बर्हिबर्हावतंसकाय नम: || 90 ||

पार्थसारथये नम: |
अव्यक्ताय नम: |
गीतामृतमहोदधये नम: |
कालीयफणिमाणिक्यरञ्जितश्रीपदांबुजाय नम: |
दामोदराय नम: |
यज्ञभोकत्रे नम: |
दानवेन्द्रविनाशकाय नम: |
नारायणाय नम: |
परंब्रह्माय नम: |
पन्नगाशनवाहनाय नम: || 100 ||

जलक्रीडासमासक्तगोपीवस्त्रापहारकाय नम: |
पुण्यश्लोकाय नम: |
तीर्थपादाय नम: |
वेदवेदाय नम: |
दयानिधये नम: |
सर्वभूतात्मकाय नम: |
सर्वग्रहरूपीने नम: |
परात्पराय नम: || 108 ||

एवं कृष्णस्य देवस्य नाम्नामष्टोत्तरं शतं, ॥
कृष्णनामामृतं नाम परमानन्दकारक
अत्युपद्रवदोषघ्नं परमायुष्यवर्धनम् !

English Script

Aum Sri-Krsnaya namah   ❘
Aum Kamala-nathaya namah   ❘
Aum Vasudevaya namah   ❘
Aum Sanatanaya namah   ❘
Aum Vasudevatmajaya namah   ❘
Aum Punyaya namah   ❘
Aum Lila-manusa-vigrahaya namah   ❘
Aum Srivatsa-kaustubha-dharaya namah   ❘
Aum Yasoda-vatsalaya namah   ❘
Aum Haraye namah   || 10 ||

Aum Caturbhujatta-cakrasi-gada-sankhambujayudhaya namah   ❘
Aum Devaki-nandanaya namah   ❘
Aum Srisaya namah   ❘
Aum Nanda-gopa-priyatmajaya namah   ❘
Aum Yamuna-vega-samharine namah   ❘
Aum Balabhadra-priyanujaya namah   ❘
Aum Putana-jivita-haraya namah   ❘
Aum Sakatasura-bhanjanaya namah   ❘
Aum Nanda-vraja-jananandine namah   ❘
Aum Sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaya namah   || 20 ||

Aum Navanita-viliptangaya namah   ❘
Aum Navanita-nataya namah   ❘
Aum Anaghaya namah   ❘
Aum Navanita-navaharaya namah   ❘
Aum Mucukunda-prasadakaya namah   ❘
Aum Sodasa-stri-sahasresaya namah   ❘
Aum tribhangi-madhurakrtaye namah   ❘
Aum Suka-vag-amrtabdhindave namah   ❘
Aum Govindaya namah   ❘
Aum Yoginam pataye namah   || 30 ||

Aum Vatsa-palana-sancarine namah   ❘
Aum Anantaya namah   ❘
Aum Dhenukasura-mardanaya namah   ❘
Aum Trni-krta-trnavartaya namah   ❘
Aum Yamalarjuna-bhajanaya namah   ❘
Aum Uttala-tala-bhetre namah   ❘
Aum Tamala-syamalakrtaye namah   ❘
Aum Gopa-gopisvaraya namah   ❘
Aum Yogine namah   ❘
Aum Koti-surya-sama-prabhaya namah   || 40 ||

Aum Ilapataye namah   ❘
Aum Parasmai jyotise namah   ❘
Aum Yadavendraya namah   ❘
Aum Yadu-dvahaya namah   ❘
Aum Vanamaline namah   ❘
Aum Pita-vasase namah   ❘
Aum Parijatapaharakaya namah   ❘
Aum Govardhanacaloddhartre namah   ❘
Aum Gopalaya namah   ❘
Aum Sarva-palakaya namah   &|| 50 ||

Aum Ajaya namah   ❘
Aum Niranjanaya namah   ❘
Aum Kama-janakaya namah   ❘
Aum Kanja-locanaya namah   ❘
Aum Madhughne namah   ❘
Aum Mathura-nathaya namah   ❘
Aum Dvaraka-nayakaya namah   ❘
Aum Baline namah   ❘
Aum Vrndavananta-sancarine namah   ❘
Aum Tulasi-dama-bhusanaya namah   || 60 ||

Aum Syamantaka-maner hartre namah   ❘
Aum Nara-narayanatmakaya namah   ❘
Aum Kubjakrstambara-dharaya namah   ❘
Aum Mayine namah   ❘
Aum Parama-purusaya namah   ❘
Aum Mustikasura-canura-malla-yuddha-visaradaya namah   ❘
Aum Samsara-vairine namah   ❘
Aum Kamsaraye namah   ❘
Aum Muraraye namah   ❘
Aum Narakantakaya namah   || 70 ||

Aum Anadi-brahmacarine namah   ❘
Aum Krsnavyasana-karsakaya namah   ❘
Aum Sisupala-siras-chetre namah   ❘
Aum Duryodhana-kulantakaya namah   ❘
Aum Vidurakrura-varadaya namah   ❘
Aum Visvarupa-pradarsakaya namah   ❘
Aum Satya-vace namah   ❘
Aum Satya-sankalpaya namah   ❘
Aum Satyabhama-rataya namah   ❘
Aum Jayine namah   || 80 ||

Aum Subhadra-purvajaya namah   ❘
Aum Visnave namah   ❘
Aum Bhisma-mukti-pradayakaya namah   ❘
Aum Jagad-gurave namah   ❘
Aum Jagannathaya namah   ❘
Aum Venu-nada-saradaya namah   ❘
Aum Vrsabhasura-vidhvamsine namah   ❘
Aum Banasura-karantakaya namah   ❘
Aum Yudhisthira-pratisthatre namah   ❘
Aum Barhi-varhavatamsakaya namah   || 90 ||

Aum Parthasarathaye namah   ❘
Aum Avyaktaya namah   ❘
Aum Gitamrta-mahodadhaye namah   ❘
Aum Kaliya-phani-manikya-ranjita-sri-padambujaya namah   ❘
Aum Damodaraya namah   ❘
Aum Yajna-bhoktre namah   ❘
Aum Danavendra-vinasakaya namah   ❘
Aum Narayanaya namah   ❘
Aum Para-brahmane namah   ❘
Aum Pannagasana-vahanaya namah   || 100 ||

Aum Jala-kridasamasakta-gopi-vastrapaharakaya namah   ❘
Aum Punya-slokaya namah   ❘
Aum Tirtha-karaya namah   ❘
Aum Veda-vedyaya namah   ❘
Aum Daya-nidhaye namah   ❘
Aum Sarva-bhutatmakaya namah   ❘
Aum Sarva-graha-rupine namah   ❘
Aum Parat-paraya namah   || 108 ||

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August Festivals