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| Written by Administrator | ||||
| Thursday, 06 August 2009 10:59 | ||||
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“Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya A mantra taken from Bhagvat Gita where Shri Krishna while addressing Arjuna says “ Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O! Bharata and a rise of unrighteousness, then I will manifest myself”. And so did he. On the pious day of Ashtami, we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna who ascended on earth as the eighth avatar of Vishnu. We invite you to join in the celebrations of Janmashtami with us and fill your heart and soul with the blessings of Lord Krishna. “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami or Gokulashtami is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi eighth day (ashtami) of the second (dark) fortnight of the month of Shravana. The Gokula Ashtami festival is observed on two different days in different parts of India and Sri Lanka , this is due to the different calculations in the time of the birth of Krishna in various panchangam (Vaakiya kanidha and En Kanitha Panchangam). If the ashtami tithi and the Rohini nakshatram occur on the same day, then the observance is considered to be especially sacred; otherwise the observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight. Gokulashtami 2009 date is August 13 in South India. In South India and western parts of India, the festival is observed on the eighth day after full moon in the month of Shravan (August – September) ie on the 13 of August 2009. In North India, Gokulashtami is observed on the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Bhadrapada 14 August 2009 (August – September). The astrological influence of the nakshatram known as Rohini was also predominant because this nakshatram is considered to be very auspicious. Rohini is under the direct supervision of Brahma. The vratam mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna's pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavat Gita. The number eight is a reducing number (kshayaank). According to numerology the number eight is responsible for generating revolutionary thoughts. It would not be wrong to say that Sri Krishna’s entire life was an era of revolution. Krishna's birth was full of strange and mysterious happenings. It is said to have taken place just about this time of year. There was a terrible rainstorm that night, with lots of lightning and thunder. When the baby was born, his mother, Devaki, was in a dungeon a prison where she had been kept for many years, along with her husband Vasudevar. The reason is this: her evil brother, King Kamsan, had imprisoned them so that he could destroy this baby she was about to have. While Devaki and Vasudevar were passing along on the chariot, there were different kinds of musical instruments playing to indicate the auspicious moment. The wedding procession was passing very pleasingly Kamsan was driving the chariot, when suddenly there was a miraculous sound vibrated from the sky which especially announced to Kamsa: "Kamsa: you are such a fool. You are driving the chariot of your sister and your brother-in-law, but you do not know that the eighth child of your sister will kill you." Immediately after hearing the prophecy from the sky, he caught hold of Devaki's hair and was just about to kill her with his sword. Vasudevar addressed the shameless Kamsa in that way because he was so fearful. Vasudeva said to Kamsa, "My dear brother-in-law, please consider that you have no danger from your sister. You are awaiting some danger because you have heard a prophetic voice in the sky. But the danger is to come from the sons of your sister, who are not present now. And who knows? There may or may not be sons in the future. Considering all this, you are safe for the present. Nor is there cause of fear from your sister. If there are any sons born of her, I promise that I shall present all of them to you for necessary action." Kamsa knew the value of Vasudeva's word of honor, and he was convinced by his argument.Sri Krishna was born a brilliant light lit the whole cavern. Gladness and cheerfulness fell upon Devaki and Vasudevar as the Lord himself shone upon them with a beautiful smile. The divinity in this wee babe was effulgent, unmistakable. His love spread over them and their misery vanished. Now Krishna spoke, reassuring them: "Father and mother," he said, "weep no more. I have come to rescue you and in fact to rescue the whole world. The wicked shall rule no more. King Kamsan will die in the schemes he himself has made, and once again there will be peace on earth." "Your way will be made clear," came the answer. And sure enough, the guards fell asleep, the gates miraculously opened, and Vasudevar was on his way with baby Krishna, through the storm and swimming across the river to Gokulam, where Yashodai and Nandan were sleeping beside the newborn baby. What a surprise! Ordinary baby she was not! It was the Divine Mother Durga herself in this infant form. Slipping out of Kamsan's grasp, she rose up to the ceiling and, passing through it she appeared in all her true celestial beauty. Laughing loud at the king, she said, "Fool, do you think that you can prevent the divine will? Your enemy will flourish and bring your wicked rule to an end. Nandan and Yashodai shared with the whole village of Gokulam the joy over the birth of their newborn son. Of course it took quite some time for them to understand just who he was. Sri Krishna is Lord Vishnu's eighth avataram (incarnation) on earth. He is considered to be the Lord's most glorious incarnations. Even saying and remembering His name brings joy because Sri Krishna himself was a manifestation of joy at all levels and in all walks of life. No other God in the Hindu pantheon, or for that matter in any other religion, is associated with so many romantic tales and so fully radiating with all the divine attributes as Sri Krishna. The life and message of Sri Krishna is the most stirring saga of one of the greatest saviours and propounders of Dharma. Born in the dungeons of Kamsan who was out to kill him at the very moment of his birth, Sri Krishna's life is replete with many such mortal dangers which he successfully triumphs over. He was the unchallenged hero of his times both in terms of his bodily prowess and his intellectual brilliance. A striking feature of his character was his supreme detachment to power. Though he had personally destroyed many an evil ruler, he never coveted those kingdoms for himself. He installed the next of king as the rightful heirs in those places. And he himself remained utterly simple and unassuming till the very last. After the killing of Kamsan, he chose for himself a menial task like the receptionist at the court of Ugrasenan whom he himself had installed as the king of Mathura. Himself a king and known all over the land as the mightiest and the wisest on the face of the earth, he however mixed freely with one and all. He embraced his old, poor friend Sudaama and ate with extreme relish the dry beaten rice offered by him and left him endowed with rich presents. This was indeed a wonderfully rare, inborn trait with him. He mingled freely with the cowherd boys and girls in the Nanda gokulam and they loved him more than their life for his charming manners and heroic exploits. he subdued Kaalingan, the dreaded headed King Cobra. Once he protected the Nanda gokulam against the wrath of Indran himself. Indran, growing jealous of Krishna's superiority, had brought down rains in torrents and the entire area was threatened by deluge. Sri Krishna called his cowherd playmates and asked them to apply their little fingers to the adjoining Govardhanam mountain and raise it up - he himself taking the major burden. The mountain went up and acted as an umbrella over the Nanda gokulam. Indran conceded defeat and Krishna's unchallenged superiority was established. How beautifully the story depicts Krishna as a born organizer of men who could inspire even boys with a high purpose and for superhuman efforts! The towering genius of Sri Krishna lies in a particularly mysterious aspect of his personality. This relates to some of his apparently outrageous violations of the prescribed code of conduct. A strange tale in his life helps us to unravel this puzzle. When all the children of Paandavar were killed by Ashwatthaaman and even the child in the womb of Uttara, the wife Abhimanyu, was killed by him, Sri Krishna came forward to save the children of Paadavaar by breathing life back into that still born child. Sri Krishna's utterance at that moment makes strange reading: "May this child come to life, if I have observed brahmacharya, if I have stuck to truth and if my wealth of virtues has never diminished." And of course, the child came to life and became the future king of Bharatavarsha, Parikshita. Sri Krishna had indeed uttered falsehoods so many times, had broken his pledges, had wives and even `married' 16,108 ladies! But still none of these actions violated the truth of his statement. The inference is that he did all these actions in a spirit of supreme detachment, motivated only with the highest goal of safeguarding Dharma. Sri Krishna himself often affirms this role of his while he explains to Arjunan the details of the highest spiritual philosophy. At one place he says that he was engaged continually in worldly actions only for the welfare and sustenance of society, though he himself had no need or desire to be satisfied by the society. On another occasion he assures that he would take birth whenever Dharma declines and Adharmam rises its ugly head. He declares his role as the protector of the good and the holy and the destroyer of the unholy and the wicked, and as the establisher of righteousness. Great indeed are his many Leelai and the way in which he charms one and all. Several sages and seers have paid homage to him. Naradar, Sri Kulashekara Azhwar, Andal, Tirumangai Azhawar, Nammazhwar have sung glorious verses in praise of Lord Krishna who embodies Shudda Satvam. The Bhagavad Gita coming from the Lord is the absolute truth which has withstood the test of time and has formed the basis and inspiration for many Acharyas and Azhwars Not only is His principle (tattva) most active on Krishna Jayanti, but in present times His energy is 100% manifest, and He rushes to the aid of the devotee who surrenders unto Him. The best solution to the above dilemmas is to repeat Lord Krishna’s Name as follows: “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.”. Pachai maa malai poll mayni, Pavazha vaai kamala senkann Sri Krishna Ashtakam 1. Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chaanoora Mardhanam | 2. Adhasee Pushpa Sankaasam Haara Noopura Sobhitham | 3. Kutilaalaka Samyuktham Poorna Chandra Nibhaananam | 4. Mandhara Gandha Samyuktham Chaaru-haasam Chathur-bhujam; | 5. Uthpulla Padma Patraksham Nilajimutha Sannibham. | 6. Rukmini Ke'li Samyuktham, Peethambara Su Sobitham; | 7. Gopikaanaam Kusathvanthva Kunkumaangitha Vakshasam | 8. Srivatsaankam, Mahoraskam, Vana Maala Virayitham; | 9. Krishnaashtakam itham Punyam Praatha Ruththaaya Ya:pade'th| Hare Krishna Mantra Shri Krishna Astottara Shatanamava A.Sri Kanes Kingdom of Bahrain |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 August 2009 11:33 ) |
