Loading...
Loading...
Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna was born at midnight in a prison cell in Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva. The tyrant king Kamsa had imprisoned them after a prophecy that Devaki's eighth child would kill him. At Krishna's birth, all guards fell asleep, chains broke, and Vasudeva carried the divine baby across the flooding Yamuna river to safety in Gokul.
Birth of the Supreme Being who spoke the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna embodies divine love (Prema), cosmic wisdom (Jnana), and righteous action (Karma Yoga). The midnight birth symbolizes light emerging in the darkest hour.
Fast all day until midnight (when Krishna was born). Perform puja at midnight with songs and bhajans. Prepare 56 dishes (Chhappan Bhog) as offering. Swing a cradle with baby Krishna's idol. Break fast after midnight puja with prasad.
Strict fast until midnight. Break with prasad after midnight puja and Abhishek.
Nishita Kaal (midnight period) is the most auspicious time — Lord Krishna was born at the exact midnight hour on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami (Rohini Nakshatra)
On this sacred Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami, the divine birthday of Lord Krishna, I undertake this vrat and puja for the attainment of devotion, liberation from worldly bonds, and the supreme grace of Bhagavan Shri Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
Observe a complete fast from sunrise. Strict devotees keep nirjala (without water), while others may take phalahar (fruits, milk, nuts). The fast continues until after the midnight puja.
Decorate the cradle/swing with flowers, mango leaves, and colorful cloth. Place a small mattress and pillow inside. This will be the bed for baby Krishna at midnight.
Set up the puja area with Krishna idol, peacock feather, flute, and offerings. Place the jhula near the altar. Arrange Panchamrit ingredients, makhan-mishri, and fruits.
At sunset, light the lamps and begin the evening worship. Offer dhupa (incense) and deepa (lamp) to Krishna. Commence recitation of Bhagavad Gita or Krishna Leela stories.
Stay awake through the night (jagran) singing Krishna bhajans and kirtans. Popular songs include "Hare Krishna Mahamantra", "Govind Bolo Hari Gopal Bolo", and narration of Krishna's childhood leelas.
Hare Krishna Mahamantra
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे॥
At the exact Nishita Kaal (midnight), bathe the baby Krishna idol with Panchamrit — first milk, then curd, then ghee, then honey, then sugar water — followed by clean water. Blow the conch, ring bells, and exclaim "Nand Gher Anand Bhayo, Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki!"
After the abhishek, dress baby Krishna in new clothes, apply chandan tilak, place the peacock feather on his crown, and the flute in his hand. Gently place him in the decorated jhula (cradle).
Swing the cradle gently while singing devotional songs — lullabies for baby Krishna such as "So Ja Rajkumari" or "Jai Jai Radha Raman." Each family member should take turns swinging.
Offer fresh makhan (butter) mixed with mishri (rock sugar) to baby Krishna — his most beloved food. Also offer milk, curd, fruits, Panchamrit, and tulsi leaves. Sprinkle water around offerings.
Perform the aarti of baby Krishna with camphor and ghee lamp. Sing "Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki" — the most celebrated aarti of Lord Krishna. Ring bells and blow the conch throughout.
After the midnight puja, aarti, and naivedya, break the fast by first taking Panchamrit prasad, then makhan-mishri, then fruits and other sattvic food.
Next day, celebrate Dahi Handi — hang a pot of curd, butter, and fruits high up, and break it in teams, reenacting young Krishna's mischievous butter-stealing leelas in Gokul.
Krishna Beej Mantra
ॐ क्लीं कृष्णाय नमः
oṃ klīṃ kṛṣṇāya namaḥ
Salutations to Lord Krishna — Kleem is the beej (seed) mantra of attraction and divine love (Kamabija)
108x Japa CountKrishna Gayatri Mantra
ॐ देवकीनन्दनाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि तन्नो कृष्णः प्रचोदयात्
oṃ devakīnandanāya vidmahe vāsudevāya dhīmahi tanno kṛṣṇaḥ pracodayāt
We meditate upon the son of Devaki, we contemplate Vasudeva. May that Krishna inspire and illuminate us.
Gopala Mantra (Dvadasakshari)
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Salutations to the divine Lord Vasudeva (Krishna) — the twelve-syllable liberation mantra (Dvadasakshari Mukti Mantra)
108x Japa CountHare Krishna Mahamantra
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे॥
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare | hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare ||
O Lord Hari (Krishna), O energy of the Lord (Hare/Radha) — this 16-word Mahamantra from Kali Santarana Upanishad is the supreme means of deliverance in Kali Yuga
Bhagavad Gita — Chapter 4 (Jnana Yoga)
Chapter 4 contains the famous verse "Yada yada hi dharmasya..." where Krishna declares he incarnates whenever dharma declines — most relevant for Janmashtami.
Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha (10th Canto — Krishna Birth)
The 10th Canto of Bhagavatam describes Krishna's birth in Mathura, Vasudeva carrying him across the Yamuna, and his childhood leelas in Gokul-Vrindavan.
आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ गले में बैजन्ती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला। श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नन्द के आनन्द नन्दलाला। गगन सम अंग कान्ति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली। लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ कानन में कुण्डल, मोर मुकुट पर मंद हँसे। तन छवि श्यामल, अंग विश्व में चन्दन लेपे। कस्तूरी तिलक ललार पर, सोहत आनन्द केसरी के। विजयी ब्रज में आनन्दकन्द के॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ छप्पनभोग धरत नित जूठन तो ग्वालन सँग खात। अमर हों वे चरन छुवत हरि के, हस्तकमल से ग्रास उठात। उदर भरत हरि आप निछावर, गोपियन हित साँझ नचात। चरनामृत पीवत सब ही, मज्जन करत ब्रज के घात॥ आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ जहाँ ते प्रकट भई गंगा, सकल मल हरणी अंगा। स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी मेरे हृदय में रंगा। श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की। आरती कुंज बिहारी की श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ ॥ इति श्री कृष्ण आरती सम्पूर्णम् ॥
āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || gale meṃ baijantī mālā, bajāve muralī madhura bālā | śravaṇa meṃ kuṇḍala jhalakālā, nanda ke ānanda nandalālā | gagana sama aṃga kānti kālī, rādhikā camaka rahī ālī | latana meṃ ṭhāḍhe banamālī || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || kānana meṃ kuṇḍala, mora mukuṭa para manda haṃse | tana chavi śyāmala, aṃga viśva meṃ candana lepe | kastūrī tilaka lalāra para, sohata ānanda kesarī ke | vijayī braja meṃ ānandakanda ke || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || chappanabhoga dharata nita jūṭhana to gvālana saṃga khāta | amara hoṃ ve carana chuvata hari ke, hastakamala se grāsa uṭhāta | udara bharata hari āpa nichāvara, gopīyana hita sāṃjha nacāta | caraṇāmṛta pīvata saba hī, majjana karata braja ke ghāta || āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || jahāṃ te prakaṭa bhaī gaṃgā, sakala mala haraṇī aṃgā | smaraṇa te hota moha bhaṃgā, basī mere hṛdaya meṃ raṃgā | śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī | āratī kuñja bihārī kī śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī || || iti śrī kṛṣṇa āratī sampūrṇam ||
Makhan-mishri (fresh butter with rock sugar) — Krishna's most beloved offering — along with Panchamrit, fresh fruits, milk, curd, and tulsi leaves
Supreme devotion (Prema Bhakti) to Lord Krishna, liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Moksha), destruction of all sins accumulated over lifetimes, attainment of Goloka (Krishna's eternal abode), and the divine grace of Bhagavan Shri Krishna — the Purna Avatar