The Hindu Festival of Janmashtami

Rituals Associated with the Celebration of the Birth of Krishna

Aug 7, 2009 Harsh Nevatia

Janmashtami is celebrated by enacting the birth of Krishna and creating 'jhankis' of major events from his childhood in Vrindavan

‘Janma’ means birth and ‘ashtami’ means the eighth. Janmashtami refers to the birth of Krishna, which took place on the eighth day of the second fortnight in the month of Sravana.

Janmashtami is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals and it is celebrated with devotion and pomp in homes.

Preparing the Puja Room

Many of the more affluent homes of Hindus have a separate ‘puja’ or prayer room. Where this is the case, the Janmashtami rituals are carried out in the puja room. Otherwise a separate space in the home is earmarked for the celebrations.

The puja room or earmarked space is first thoroughly scrubbed clean. After all, a divine birth will be enacted there. The room or area has to be brightly lit. A string of small flashing electric bulbs is often used for festive effect. The puja room is filled with fragrance using ‘agarbattis’ or fresh flowers.

Many families that celebrate Janmashtami with fervor have Radha Krishna as the main deities in the puja room. The idols of Radha and Krishna are bathed with scented water and the ritual sandalwood paste is applied. Then the idols are dressed in a new set of apparel. They are adorned with suitable jewelry.

The Jhankis from the Childhood of Krishna

The word ‘jhanki’ literally translates as 'scene.' In order to add to the festivity scenes of the events in the life of Krishna are created. The infant Krishna in a cradle is a mandatory jhanki. [1]

Usually the Janmashtami cradle is a miniature cradle made of silver. Cradles made from sandalwood or other material are also used. On a soft mattress inside the cradle a reclining idol of Krishna is laid out. In some cases, worshipers use small toy dolls. The infant is tucked in a silken sheet.

During the old times, the cradles had long ropes tied to them. The mother kept the other end of the rope near at hand and while busy in the household chores tugged the ropes to rock the cradle from afar. The Janmashtami cradle has a similar chain attached to it so that devotees can rock the cradle while Krishna sleeps.

Another popular jhanki is that of Bal Gopal. Gopal is another name of Krishna. In this jhanki the centerpiece is an idol of Krishna on his hands and knees in a crawling position. Next to the idol are placed small silver or earthen containers with freshly made butter in them. This recreates Krishna’s habit of crawling to the butter pots and stealing butter. [2] For this reason he is also known as ‘makhan chor’ or butter thief. The butter is sweetened and colored with saffron.

Gopal translates as 'cow herd.' When Krishna grew older herding the cows was the task assigned to him. [3] This jhanki depicts an idol of Krishna standing with his legs crossed and playing a flute amidst statues of cows. The more creative devotees add grass and mango trees and the River Yamuna in the jhanki.

The Midnight Rituals

Krishna was born at midnight and the main Janmashtami ritual take place at that time. Just before the rituals begin the devotees bathe so as to cleanse themselves. The doors of the puja room are closed so that the birth can take place in privacy. If there are no doors then a curtain is drawn across the area.

Just before midnight the devotees gather outside the puja area and sing a hymn describing the birth of Krishna. A popular hymn is one that describes the birth of Rama in the Ramcharita Manas. This goes to consolidate the Hindu view that all the different deities worshiped are essentially one.

At the stroke of twelve the doors are opened. First an aarti is performed. Then the worshipers come up and gently rock the cradle one by one. So strong is their faith that the actually perceive divinity in the idol of Krishna and believe that they are rocking the cradle of God incarnate. The rituals end with the Janmashtami prasad of sweetened butter being distributed.

Sources:

• [1] Srimad Bhagavat Puran, Canto 10, Chapter 5, Accessed from Srimadbhagavatam.org
• [2] Srimad Bhagavat Puran, Canto 10, Chapter 8, Accessed from Srimadbhagavatam.org
• [3] Srimad Bhagavat Puran, Canto 10, Chapter 12, Accessed from Srimadbhagavatam.org
• [4] Ramcharita Manas (Tulasi Ramayan), Bala Kanda, p.189-90, Accessed from Astrojyoti.com

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Janmashtami Puja Room