By Chaitram Aklu
On August 26, Hindus around the world celebrate Janmashtami, the 5251st birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar (descendant) of Vishnu. It is one of the most important annual festivals in the Hindu religion, celebrated by over nine hundred and twenty five million people worldwide – over two million in the United States alone.
According to the scriptures, Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura, India. At the time of Lord Krishna’s birth, Mathura was ruled by King Kansa his maternal uncle. King Kansa believed a prophecy that he would be destroyed by the child of his sister Devaki and by the time Krishna was born, had already killed six of them.
Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day, in the darkest fortnight in August–September (according to the western calendar) in Mathura India. It was opportune time as in the darkness, Vasudeva was able to switch his son undetected, with a female newborn in the nearby village of Vindravan, thereby fooling the King and saving his son’s life. When Vasudeva returned to Mathura with the female child and announced it as his newborn, the evil king tried to kill her. However, child was transformed into the Goddess Durga. Durga was a signal that King Kansa would soon be doomed.
Meanwhile Krishna grew up in the village of Vindravan and performed many heroic acts to restore order (dharma) to the world and later fulfilled the prophecy of killing King Kansa.
According to writings, Lord Krishna’s story is told in the Srimad Bhagavatam (The Story of the Fortunate One) an 18 000-word document written in poetic form arranged in 12 sections, the tenth of which is about Lord Krishna. It is believed to be written by the same author who penned the Bhagavad Gita.
For Hindus celebrating Janmashtami, Lord Krishna has great symbolism. He is an inspiration for them to be righteous (dharma), engage in good (karma) action and devotion (bhakti). Janmashtami is a time to devote oneself to spiritual renewal devotion, knowledge, and action dedicated to the Divine.
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