Krishna Janmashtami

with Sri Swami Vishwananda

Springen, Germany

Thursday, 21:00 – 1:00a.m.

Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. He was born as the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva 5100 years ago at midnight. Krishna’s birthday falls on the eighth night of the full moon in the month of Bhadrapada (August / September). Further names given for Krishna’s birthday are Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami. The term Ashtami means the eighth day of the fullmoon. Gokul is the place (near Vrindavan in the state of India called Uttar Pradesh) in which Krishna grew up.

In truth however the heart of each one of us is where the true birthplace of Krishna is! Whenever we awaken the Love and Devotion in our heart Krishna can be born again. On Krishna’s birthday we celebrate the 5000 years since his birth and the birth of Devotion and Love in our heart.

During Krishna Janmashtami the temples and houses are creatively decorated with flowers in order to receive God befittingly. In the temples Krishna murtis are honoured, while in many homes puppets of Krishna are decorated in cradles. Candy, butter and cream (Krishna’s favourite foods) are given to baby Krishna. The path between the entrance of the house and the meditation room is marked with a child’s footprints by using flour mixed in water.

Feelings emerge as if Krishna himself has left behind his footprints. Everyone is singing and praying and is reciting the Bhagavatam (the Sacred book telling the life story of Krishna). Already eight days before Krishna’s birthday one begins reciting the mantra Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya unceasingly. Many devotees fast until the midnight hour – the hour when Krishna was born.

In many places the Dahi-Handi ceremony is carried out where a milk pot is broken. In his childhood Krishna and his friends would take the butter or sweet cream from the high up stored places where they would fall and often break.

Such pots (Dahi-Hand) are being filled on His birthday with yoghurt, butter and fruits and fixed high above the street on poles. People are permanently calling out “Govinda Govinda” and the younger boys make a human pyramid in order to reach and smash the pot.

Pictures of Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations 2009 (flickr.com)

More information about Janmashtami (Divine Life Society)


Who is Krishna for you?