Krishna Janmashtami, celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
The legend revolves around Kansa, a tyrannical king and Krishna’s uncle, who was destined to be killed by Krishna. To avoid this fate, Kansa imprisoned Krishna’s parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, and attempted to kill all their newborn children.
Krishna was miraculously saved by Vasudeva, who carried him across the Yamuna River to Gokula, where he was raised by Nanda and Yashoda. Janmashtami celebrates Krishna’s birth, his triumph over evil, and the restoration of dharma.
Birth of Lord Krishna
It is believed that Krishna was born in a dungeon of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on this day at the clock struck midnight. Krishna is the god of love, tenderness and compassion. Hindu mythology portrays him as a prankster, a gentle lover, a universal supreme being and child-like God.
The narrative and stories of Lord Krishna’s life are referred to as Krishna Leela. According to the tale, Krishna was born in the Yadava clan of Mathura to Queen Devaki and her husband, King Vasudeva.
Devaki had a brother, Kansa, a tyrant, who along with some other demon kings was terrorising Mother Earth. Kansa had usurped the throne of Mathura from his father, the benevolent King Ugrasen. Mother Earth took the form of a cow and went to Lord Brahma, the creator God of Hinduism, with her plight. Lord Brahma then summoned Lord Vishnu, who assured Mother Earth that he would take birth as Lord Krishna to end this tyranny.
Kansa agreed to let Devaki get married to Yadava prince Vasudeva in the hopes of taking over the Yadava clan too. When Devaki was getting married, Kansa was told by fortune tellers that one of the offsprings of Devaki would bring his end. In his paranoia, Kansa brandished his sword and decided to kill Devaki right there and then. But after Vasudeva begged for his wife’s life and promised to hand each child to Kansa as soon as it was born, Kansa let go of his sister, and instead imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, and made sure that none of Devaki’s children survived. As soon as a child was born to Devaki, Kansa would smash the child’s head against the walls of the prison.
However, on the night of Krishna’s birth, as soon as Krishna was born, a bright light filled the prison and Vasudeva was woken up by a divine voice that guided him to take Krishna across the Yamuna and leave him with his dear friend Nandraja, the head of the Gopa tribe. Nandraja and his wife Yashoda had also given birth to a baby girl that night, so Vasudeva secretly carried baby Krishna across the Yamuna river, which was no longer in its calm state, but instead was raging as if it were the ocean. Just then Lord Vishnu’s Shesh Naag, the giant multi-headed snake came and helped Vasudeva carry Krishna safely across the river. Vasudeva went to Nandraja’s house and exchanged the babies. His heart was filled with a deep sadness, as if he had left a part of his soul behind. He headed back to the prison with the exchanged baby, who gave a loud cry as soon as she lay next to Devaki. The guards informed Kansa that Devaki’s eight child was finally born.
Devaki begged Kansa not to kill the baby, she pleaded that the prophecy must have been wrong as her son was meant to bring the end of Kansa but to no avail. When Kansa tried to kill the exchanged baby, it transformed into Goddess Durga and warned him that his death had arrived in his kingdom, and would come back to punish Kansa for his sins. That Kansa would find no peace and keep thinking about his end, she said that she could kill him then and there, but Kansa’s end had to be timely, and then the goddess vanished.
However, Kansa was certain that the prophecy may not be entirely true given that if his slayer was born inside the prison, he would have surely killed him. With a slight relief, Kansa finally freed Vasudeva and Devaki, and let them live in a separate palace. After some days, Vasudeva shared what happened on the night of Krishna’s birth, and though Devaki was sad, she was relieved to hear her son was safe.
Days later, news of Nandraja and Yashoda’s son’s birth reached the kingdom, people were gushing about the unique twinkle in the child’s eyes, about how he was always happy and how his mere presence spread joy and cheer all around. Krishna grew up unaware of his destiny, far away from all the chaos of Mathura, in Gokul, with Nanda Baba and his wife Yashoda, as his foster parents.
Lord Krishna’s childhood
Among the countless tales of Indian spirituality, few glow with as much tenderness, mischief, and cosmic wonder as the childhood of Lord Krishna. The eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, Krishna is revered not only as the divine protector and philosopher of the Bhagavad Gita but also as the Makhan Chor (butter thief), the playful cowherd, and the darling of Gokul. His childhood stories-Bal Leelas-come primarily from sacred texts such as the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Harivamsa Purana, where divine play (lila) becomes a window to profound spiritual truths.
Birth in Adversity: A Child Against a Tyrant
Krishna’s childhood is rooted in a tale of cosmic confrontation. His parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, were imprisoned by Devaki’s brother, King Kansa, after a divine prophecy foretold that Devaki’s eighth son would bring Kansa’s downfall. To thwart this destiny, Kansa cruelly slew each of Devaki’s first six infants, while the seventh-Balarama-was mystically transferred to the womb of Rohini by divine intervention.
On the night of Krishna’s birth, described vividly in Bhagavata Purana (10.3), the Yamuna River parted and prison doors unlocked miraculously as Vasudeva carried the newborn across to Gokul, placing him in the care of Nanda and Yashoda. The child was exchanged with Yashoda’s newborn daughter, who, when Kansa tried to kill her, transformed into Goddess Yogamaya and vanished into the sky, warning the tyrant of his imminent doom.
The Enchanting Child of Gokul
Raised as a humble cowherd’s son, Krishna grew up in idyllic Vrindavan, surrounded by love. Yashoda’s tender care and Nanda’s affection made him the darling of every household. Yet, this child was no ordinary infant-his divine aura shone even through his innocent mischief.
The Butter Thief (Makhan Chor): Krishna’s insatiable love for butter became the heart of Gokul’s laughter. He would crawl into kitchens, break pots, and share stolen butter with monkeys and friends. In Bhagavata Purana (10.9), Yashoda ties Krishna with a rope (Damodara Lila) when she catches him in the act. Astonishingly, no rope is long enough to bind him until she prays humbly, showing that only love, not force, can hold the Divine.
The Universal Vision to Mother Yashoda: Once, when Krishna mischievously ate mud, Yashoda scolded him. But when she asked him to open his mouth, she saw the entire universe-stars, planets, and cosmic deities-within him (Bhagavata Purana 10.8). This vision revealed the paradox of Krishna’s childhood: the Infinite dwelling in a child’s form.
Protecting Gokul from Peril
Kansa’s repeated attempts to eliminate Krishna through demonic emissaries only deepened his legend. Each episode was both thrilling and symbolic:
– Putana Vadh: The demoness Putana tried to poison Krishna by nursing him with her venomous milk. But the infant sucked out her life instead, purifying her soul. This story shows Krishna’s grace: even enemies are liberated by contact with him.
– Shakatasura and Trinavarta: As a toddler, Krishna kicked over a cart demon (Shakatasura) and vanquished a whirlwind demon (Trinavarta) who tried to carry him away-symbolizing his power over inert obstacles and delusive forces.
– Yamala-Arjuna Trees: Tied by Yashoda to a wooden mortar for mischief, Krishna dragged it between two trees, uprooting them and freeing the cursed demigods trapped within (Bhagavata Purana 10.10).
Govardhan Lifting and Early Boyhood
As Krishna grew, his playful charm deepened into heroic acts:
– Vanquishing Kaliya: The venomous serpent Kaliya poisoned the Yamuna River. Krishna leapt onto its heads, subduing it with a dance that symbolized the triumph of divine harmony over destructive forces.
– Govardhan Hill: When Indra, the rain god, angrily sent torrential storms, Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan Hill on his little finger, sheltering the villagers. This Govardhan Lila redefined worship-not appeasing gods out of fear, but serving nature and community with devotion.
Symbolism of Krishna’s Childhood
Krishna’s Bal Leelas are more than charming folktales:
– Butter theft represents the Lord’s love for the pure heart (makhan = churned essence of devotion).
– Yashoda’s rope shows that divine love is bound only by selfless surrender.
– Demon-slaying episodes signify the removal of ego, greed, and delusion from human life.
– Govardhan lifting teaches ecological reverence and courage to challenge hollow ritualism.
Cultural Celebrations
Across India, Krishna’s childhood is celebrated with unparalleled joy:
– Janmashtami: Marking Krishna’s birth, devotees fast, sing bhajans, and enact Raslilas and Dahi Handi-a symbolic breaking of butter pots.
– Vrindavan and Mathura: These sacred towns recreate every episode of Krishna’s youth through vibrant festivals.
– Puri and Dwarka: Temples emphasize his divine kingship but never forget his innocent days as Gopal, the cowherd boy.
Krishna’s victory over Kansa
The sun shone bright over Mathura as the grand wrestling arena filled with cheering crowds. King Kansa sat on his jeweled throne, masking his fear with forced arrogance. For years, he had tried to kill his sister Devaki’s eighth son, the child foretold to end his life. Yet here Krishna stood-no longer a child, but a radiant youth, calm and smiling beside his brother Balarama.
The trumpets blared. Two monstrous wrestlers, Chanura and Mushtika, stepped forward, their muscles rippling like coiled serpents.
“Fight them!” Kansa roared. “Show Mathura that prophecy means nothing!”
Krishna met Chanura’s gaze, unafraid. The bout began, shaking the ground with every blow. Balarama grappled Mushtika with the strength of a thousand elephants, while Krishna moved like lightning, dodging, striking, and finally lifting Chanura high into the air before hurling him to the ground. Within moments, both wrestlers lay lifeless.
The arena gasped. Citizens whispered, “This is no ordinary boy… this is divine!”
Seeing his plan fail, Kansa sprang from his throne in rage. “Guards! Seize these cowherd boys!” But before his soldiers could move, Krishna leapt onto the royal platform in a single bound. Grabbing the tyrant by his hair, he dragged him down, throwing him onto the ground. The earth trembled as Krishna placed his foot upon Kansa’s chest. With one decisive strike, the king’s reign of terror ended.
A strange peace spread through Kansa’s face in death, as though his soul recognized the divine hand that freed it from fear. The arena erupted with joy. Krishna walked calmly to the prison, breaking open the chains of Vasudeva and Devaki, bowing to them as his true parents. Then, instead of claiming the throne, he placed Kansa’s father, Ugrasena, back on it, restoring justice to Mathura. The prophecy was fulfilled, and the people knew: dharma had triumphed over adharma-righteousness over tyranny.
Celebrations
Janmashtami is celebrated all over India and abroad with great enthusiasm. The celebrations start from early morning and go past midnight, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. The temples are decorated with flowers and lights. The idols of Krishna and other deities in the temple are bathed with a variety of auspicious liquids including yogurt, honey, ghee in a kind of ablution ceremony called abhisheka. After that they are decorated with new clothes and jewellery. Images and idols of Krishna’s infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. Before midnight, devotees gather around in the temples and sing devotional songs and dance in the praise of Lord Krishna. At midnight devotees welcome the birth of Lord Krishna and exchange sweets and gifts. Children also enjoy dressing up as Radha, Krishna and their associates, and re-enacting Krishna’s pastimes and childhood events.
Dahi Handi Celebration
In Maharashtra and some other parts of India, young men form human pyramids to reach and break earthen pots filled with buttermilk, which is tied at a height. This event, known as “Dahi Handi,” reenacts Krishna’s playful nature as a child who loved stealing butter and curd.
Krishna Janmashtami is not only a religious celebration but also a cultural event that fosters a sense of unity and devotion among people. It is a time when families and communities come together to share joy and celebrate the divine presence of Lord Krishna. The festival also teaches important moral lessons from the life and teachings of Lord Krishna, such as righteousness, love, and the path of devotion.