Happy Krishna Jayanthi

Krishna was the 8th son of Devaki and Vasudeva and incarnated 5000 years back, his birth is known as Janmashtami.

Mathura (in present day Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh) was the capital of the Yadavas, to which Krishna's parents Vasudeva and Devaki belonged. King Kansa, Devaki's brother, had ascended the throne by imprisoning his father, King Ugrasena. Afraid of a prophecy that predicted his death at the hands of Devaki's eighth son, Kansa had the couple locked into a prison cell. After Kansa killed the first six children, and Devaki's apparent miscarriage of the seventh (which was actually a secret transfer of the infant to Rohini as Balarama), Krishna was born.

After his birth Vishnu ordered Vasudeva to take Krishna to Gokul to Nanda and Yashoda where he can live safely,away from his evil Uncle Kansa.So Vasudeva took Krishna with him and crossed Yamuna to reach Gokul .There everyone was asleep,so he quietly kept him there and returned with Yashoda's daughter.Kansa,thinking her to be Devki's eight child,threw her on a stone.But she rose in air and transformed into Yogmaya(who is Vishnu's helper)and warned Kansa about his death.Then she disappeared.Krishna grew up in Gokul with his brother Balram.Then he returned to Mathura and killed Kansa with the help of his brother,Balram.


Celebrations

Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. Images of Krishna's infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. At midnight, devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. Some temples also conduct reading of the Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita.

HAPPY JANMASHTAMI