Tuesday, October 18, 2011

KRISHNA JANMAASHTAMI


KRISHNA JANMAASHTAMI

(DISCOURSE BY N.R. SRINIVASAN, AUGUST 2011)

Six months before, we celebrated the dawn of Lingodbhava-moorti, incarnation of Siva. He was taking care of us all these days. Now he is handing over the responsibility to Lord Krishna who is worshipped as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu by all except Jayadeva who feels that being a Poorna avatar all the avataaras of Visnhu came from him only and so he considers instead Balarama as the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Strangely both avataaras of Lingodbhava-moorti and Lord Krishna manifested during midnight.
Lord Krishna appeared when the moon entered Vrishabha at the constellation of the star Rohini on Wednesday, the eighth day of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana (Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha). Though this day is celebrated as his birthday as the eighth child of Devaki, in fact he did not take any birth in the real sense of the term. Neither did he die after spending 120 years on earth. He appeared and disappeared through his Yoga Maayaa as he has said in Geetaa. This fact is known only to his devotees, Yogis and Rishis. He appeared on earth in 3227 B.C.E., as per Puranas which has been verified of late by planetary software. His ascension marks the end of Dwaaparayuga and the beginning of Kali era.
Janmaashthami Day is a sacred "tithi" in Hindu concept which is in the middle of Dakshinaayana, i.e. when the moon travels in Southern solistice. Sri Krishna was born when it was exactly midnight in the three worlds--Svarrgaloka, Pitrloka and Manushyaloka. Thus his birth was heralded in the three worlds. He is therefore Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe. Exactly after 180 days after Gokulaashthami comes Mahasivaraatri, the birth of Lingodhbhava Moorti.
According to Puranas, Vasudeva-Krishna was born of Vishnu's black hair, on a dark night, in the dark half of the lunar cycle when rainclouds rumbled across the sky and rains lashed the land of Vrajaa. As soon as he was born the gods cast a spell of sleep across Mathura, so that Sura Vasudeva, father of Lord Krishna could slip out of the city of Mathura with his son in his arms. Vasuki, the king of serpents, raised his mighty hood to shield escaping father and son in the dead of night. The river Yamuna parted and gave way helping them to reach Gokula safely. The baby was left in the care of the cowherd Nanda and his wife Yashoda.
Lord Krishna's birthday celebration takes place at night. Images of baby Krishna are placed in cradles and the tale of his descent as described in Srimad Bhagavata Purana is retold to delight the devotees. The next day is observed as Sri Jayanti. A day after that, as a part of Nanda Utsava, youths come together and form human pyramids to get the pots of curds and butter tied high up in community squares remembering Lord Krishna who enjoyed raiding the dairies of Vrindavana and teasing the Gopis. Thus the festivities last for three days. In Tamilnadu the last day is celebrated as "Uriyadi".
It is customary to do holy reading called Paaraayana of Srimad Bhagavata Purana during these three days similar to Ramayan Path or Paaraayana during Rama Navami and Navarathri festivals. If one is not able to read the whole of the Srimad Bhagavata during these three days, at least they should recite the four most important verses from the Bhagavata Puraana. The initial leading two verses and the closing verses which constitute the Prologue and Epilogue of this great epic convey the following meaning for the slokas recited in Sanskrit language:
"Hear from me the most secret knowledge coupled with the essential experience and its component parts. May you realize by my grace, the knowledge of myself and what form, qualities and actions I am endowed with"
"Before creation I alone existed. There was nothing, neither existence nor non-existence. I am that which remains after dissolution. Understand that to be Maaya or illusion which is devoid of any purpose, which is not to be found in the self and which is unreal like light and darkness. As the primary elements are amalgamated with one another and also separate from one another at the same time, so I pervade the whole universe and am also separate from it. The aspirant should, by the method of positive and negative, know that thing which exists always and everywhere. Experience this truth the highest super-conscious state so that you will not be disturbed even by illusory objects"
Some devotees read Chapter 11 of Geetaa which deals with the Vision of The Cosmic Form of Lord Krishna as narrated by him to Arjuna revealing His cosmic Form to him exclusively. Some even read the whole Bhagvadgeetaa during these three days, though it is customary to do Geetaa Paaraayana (sacred chanting of Geetaa) during Geeta Jayanti Day which falls on the Ekaadasi Day (11th Day) of the bright half of the month of Margasheersha. This was the day on which Sanjaya narrated the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna to King Dhritaraashtra. Sage Vedavysa left it as Bhagavadgeetaa behind as divine wisdom and gift for us after compiling and suitably editing.

 
"Vasudeva sutam devam kamsa-chaanoora-mardhanam |
Devakee paramaanandam Krishnam vande jagadgurum ||"

Oh, the divine son of Vaasudeva, the killer of Kamsa and Chanoora, the darling of Devaki, and the guru of the Universe, my obeisance to you!

 
APPENDIX I
Hindu-way of life is modeled after Lord Krishna
(Krishna Janmashtami message by N.R.Srinivasan, September  4, 2015)
  
We will be celebrating Krishna Janmashtami on Friday September 4 and 5.  Have you ever tried to compare Sri Rama at one end and Buddha on the other to Krishna in the middle as Avatars?   Both resorted to extremes unlike Lord Krishna.  One was a stricter on Ksahtriya Dharma who neglected his family and the other who ran away from the family as a recluse.    Krishna as perfect avatar was very much down to earth as Swami Chidananda  explains sharing and caring for family and friends and dealing with practicalities of life.    He showed the world how Karma is inevitable, born in prison, lived with foster parents and  being killed by an arrow.  Did he brood over them. He showed the way how to enjoy life whatever be the set backs. I am reminded of a story my mother used to tell me when I was a child.  He did not carry sudarsanachakra always with him like Rama ecver ready to fight with his Kodanda. He carried his flute all the time to cheer up the gloomy and broody.  It seems Tippu Sultan, the Muslim ruler of Mysore was attracted to Mahabharata story and so hired a scholar to tell him the whole story to which he keenly listened.   At the end of the narration Panditji asked him, who were the people that impressed the king most.  Sultan at once replied “Ek Buddha, Ek Chokra aur ek Chaalaakee”.  By this he meant Bhisma, Abhimanyu and Lord Krishna.
If you see the assembly of Gods during Krishna Avatar in one sanctum worshiped together you get three popular sets, unlike Rama which was always he and his brothers, Sita and Hanuman sometimes Lakshmana and Bharata being omitted. In Chennai in Parthasarathy Temple you will find Krishna, Balarama,  Rukmini, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Satyaki. Satyaki was a friend who fought Mahabharata war on the side of Pandavas leading one Aksahuheeni.  Arjuna or Kuchela are not seen in this assembly.  Satyaki belong to Vrishni Class and was a Yadava.  Here Krishna chose a friend and Vrishni clan member. Hindus always invite family and friends for any celebration and that too from their own clan mostly. This tradition comes from Lord Krishna. Let us see another famous assembly on Ratnavedi in Puri Jagannath. Here again we have Balarama and Subhadra. Here he did not choose Radha, Rukmini or Satyabhama. His concern was for his brothers and sisters. That is why Rakhi and Bhai Duj is very much focused in North Indian Tradition.  The third popular assembly in the north is Radha Krishna. Though Lord Krishna had 16008 wives he did not cheat on any one of them. He was open with his calf-love with Radha which did not materialize.  He did not cheat any of his legally wedded wives keeping his love for Radha a secret.  Narada once wanted to surprise Krishna to find out what he was doing with such a large number of wives.  He was astonished to find Lord Krishna was leading a normal life with every one of his wives equally enjoying life wherever he went. Lord Krishna  even appreciates the  popular worship of Radha Krishna and the celebration of this wedding in temples which never took place. Thus he was   very practical to human life, aspirations and realizations. The motivation for Father’s day Mother’s day, Brother’s day, Sister’s day and Grand-parent’s day all look for Krishna as role model.    He was very much attached to his foster parents even when he knew his real parents were different. He was equally attached and in love with them. He did not hate his real parents for abandoning him as a baby nor neglected his foster parents later. He was always with them sharing and caring.  He was very   much attached to Balarama and Subhadra, his cousins though they were not born to Devaki and Vasudeva and always sought there advice and love. Krishna thus guides the Hindu-way of life. It is no wonder we always end our worship with the words “sarvam Krishnaarppanamstu”.


APPENDIX II
SWAMI CHIDANANDA’S MESSAGE FOR KRISHNA JANMASHTHAMI

Dear Divine Souls,

I hope that – by God’s grace – this finds you and all your loved ones in the best of health and happiness at this holy time of Janmasthami.
Krishna Janmasthami is the celebration of the day that Bhagwan Krishna incarnated in human form upon the Earth. It is celebrated at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).
The day is celebrated by worshipping Bhagwan Krishna, fasting and chanting devotional kirtan and bhajans until past midnight.
The Bhagavad Gita says that whenever there is darkness in the world, whenever strife and ignorance prevail, the Lord incarnates to shine His divine light on the darkness. He grabs hold of the faltering world, preventing it from drifting too far astray.
However, the Lord does not simply incarnate, give wisdom and depart. Rather, His divine light, His divine message and His divine grace continue to shine, on and on, upon all future generations. His wisdom is such that, once given, it is timeless and eternal, infinite and universal. Lord Krishna’s message in the Bhagavad Gita and the message of His entire life are not meant merely for those who lived 5000 years ago in the lands of Mathura, Vrindavan, Kurukshetra and Dwarka. Rather, the messages are as timeless as His presence and grace.
As we celebrate the divine anniversary of the date He came forth into this world in human form, we must ask ourselves, “Why did He incarnate?” What were the messages of Lord Krishna’s life? What darkness did He come to dispel? In what ocean of ignorance were we drowning, from which He came to save us?
Most Indians,   know  Krishna’s  verbal message to Arjun on the battlefield was “Stand up. Do your duty.”  However, there are many other important messages in the Gita and also invaluable lessons and divine teachings embedded in the very life He lived.  At this holy time of Janmasthami,  let us examine and take to heart these messages. We must remember that Bhagwan Krishna incarnated FOR US. He incarnated to remove our veil of ignorance and darkness. It is our duty to Him to take His message to heart and let it uplift, inspire and transform us.
Never Lose Your Song:
One of the most beautiful lessons of Bhagawan Krishna’s life is: never lose yourself due to external circumstances, never lose your smile, never lose your song… Bhagwan Krishna’s life was full of trials and tirbulations, beginning on the day when He took birth in a locked jail cell and ending in the jungle shot by a hunter’s arrow. However, throughout it all – through the innumerable challenges wrought upon Him – He always maintained His divine smile. He always played His divine flute. Even after His physical flute was left with Radhaji, the song of Krishna’s flute was always on, wherever He went. The song emanated from His very being. He never once said, “I’m in a bad mood today so I will not play my flute.” No. Regardless of what the external world brought and wrought, the Song was on. This is a beautiful message for our own lives.
So frequently we let small, small things upset us and ruin our day. However, to truly be Krishna devotees means that we should try, as much as possible, to follow His divine example. After all, it is for us that He incarnated on Earth and gave His beautiful, divine messages.
Therefore, whenever failure, frustration or fury stares us in the face and we are tempted to let it ruin our mood and our day, let us always remember the sound of Lord Krishna’s ever-present flute. Let us try to emulate His divine example and let our own song and our smile also be ever-present.

The Lord Unlocks All Locks in Our Life
Bhagawan Krishna came to Earth in the darkness of night, into the locked confines of a jail cell where His mother and father were being held prisoners, due to His evil uncle Kansa. However, at the moment of His appearance (in the form of a human infant) all the guards fell asleep, the chains were broken, and the barred doors gently opened. Thus Vasudeva (Krishna’s father) safely and easily carried baby Krishna across the flowing Yamuna to Gokul.
There is a beautiful message here, even from the first moment of the Lord’s life. We may be living in the darkness of midnight; we may be bound and chained by so many attachments, temptations, anger, grudges, pain  and by the binding force of Maya. We may feel ourselves locked into the prison of our own bodies, the prison of duality. However, as soon as we let the Lord live in our own hearts, all darkness fades, all chains are broken and all prison doors open freely. Wherever the Lord is, there are no locks.
Also, we can see that the door to the Lord – from any direction, inside or outside – is always open. The only lock is the lock of our own ignorance and our own illusions. As soon as that ignorance is dispelled, as soon as we see His glowing form, all the doors in this life and in all lives open to us.

Bliss All the Time
Beginning with His appearance in a jail and the immediate rush to whisk Him away to a new family, across Yamunaji in Gokul, the Lord was not given an “easy” childhood.
On the sixth day of the Lord’s life, Putna (the demoness) made Him drink poison from her breast. In His third month of life a bullock cart fell on Him. Then, when He was four, huge trees fell on Him.
Until the age of eleven, He was in Vrindavan and Govardhan.  The people of Govardhan worshipped Indra, singing his praises and making daily offerings to him. However, Bhagawan Krishna admonished them and said that they should worship Govardhan instead, since it was Govardhan who gave them land, water, grass for their cows. Yet, the people were afraid. Indra threatened to wreak havoc upon their lives if they ceased his worship.  As Indra pummeled the beautiful land of Govardhan with rain, hail, thunder and lightning, the Lord held up the mountain of Govardhan over the heads of the people, protecting them from the violent storm. However, as He held up this mountain on the tip of His finger, for days and days as Indra grew more and more furious, He never became angry, nor frustrated,  nor disheartened. No. He was always smiling, even in the midst of the torrential storm.
A few short years later, He was forced to kill His uncle, and He had to flee His home in Mathura, barefoot to Junagar, with nothing but a small pitambar. For years, then, this King of all Kings lived in a simple ashram, doing seva for the saints with no facilities, no amenities and no comfort. He had no coat for winter, no umbrella for the rains…
Yet, wherever He went, wherever He was, He was always blissful, always joyful, always shining His divine light upon others.
We, on the other hand, may get stuck in one traffic jam and our days are ruined. We have one business failure and we feel dejected and broken. We become afflicted with disease and we lose our faith in God.
So, what is the Lord teaching us? If He chose His birth and He chose the course of His life on Earth, why did He choose a life full of obstacles, turmoil, trials and tribulations? Why, if He could have lived His entire life as a king, did He spend so many years living in the jungle?
He did this to show us that the real palace is the palace of our heart. When our hearts are full of God, then we live constantly in the most beautiful Golden Palace, regardless of where our bodies may be. He chose this life to teach us that regardless of what insults are hurled at us or what obstacles we face, we must remain immersed in Divine Connection. Then we will not become depressed or frustrated. His life teaches us that we cannot change what happens – it happens for various reasons – but we CAN change our reaction to it. The message of His life is “adapt and adjust.” Move forward. We cannot stop the wind from blowing, but we can change the direction of our sails, so that instead of capsizing our boat, we use the wind to take us to our destination.
Seeing Bhagwan Krishna everywhere
A very important message from Bhagawan Krishna’s life is to see him everywhere, in everyone, all the time. He is embodied in every form and in all forms. In Lord Krishna’s childhood, he gave Mother Yasoda the darshan of the entire world in his mouth. Everything was shown to her in Lord Krishna’s mouth. When we sit in our puja, in our worship/meditation we look at God’s divine image and we see everything in Him. However, we must go further than just seeing everything in God. We must also see God in everything! When we look at a poor child, or when we look at an old widow, or when we look in the face of our enemy, we must see God. Then we will truly have learned the message of Bhagwan Krishna’s teachings.
Fearlessness
One of the most important messages that Bhagawan Krishna gives to Arjuna is Abhayam, be fearless. Arjuna was afraid of battle, afraid of killing his relatives and loved ones. In our lives also we are paralyzed by fear. Omnipresent fear is one of the most insidious obstacles to our peace, happiness and progress in life.
When I say fear, I don’t necessarily mean terror. But, rather I mean all that makes us anxious, nervous, tense and in need of controlling our surroundings. The root of fear is distrust. We have been betrayed, injured and abused. We decide that the world and those around us cannot be trusted. In this way, we lose that faith which is so crucial.
What is the answer? The answer to fear is to firmly root ourselves in God (by whatever name, whatever form you choose). When we realize that God is always with us, always for us, we will never be afraid regardless of the circumstances.
Sure, our family and friends may betray us. They may injure us. But, if we give ourselves to God, if we make our relationship with Him our first priority then we will never be broken inside; we will always be cared for.
There is a story of a very powerful king. This king prided himself on being generous and caring for all his subjects. He would often boast that no one in his kingdom was hungry or cold or impoverished. Once, a holy man came to see the king. The king told the holy man how he provided for everyone in the kingdom so well. The holy man asked the king to come for a walk. While they walked in the forest, the saint picked up a large rock by the side of a stream. “Break the rock,” he ordered the king. The king looked surprised but immediately told his servant to smash the rock. As the rock broke open they saw a small frog, living peacefully in the nutrient-rich water which had gathered inside the rock. “Have you provided this as well?” the holy man asked the king. The king realized that he could not possibly provide something as perfect, as intricate as this food and shelter for the frog. He realized that it is really God who provides for all His subjects.
We must realize that if God can provide for even the smallest insects, He certainly will provide for us.
I heard a beautiful story of a young boy on a ship. The ship was trapped in a large storm and waves rocked the boat furiously. The passengers screamed and cried and held each other for dear life. In the midst of this terror sat a very young boy, calm, composed and angelic. When asked why he did not cry he answered, “My mother is here, so I know everything will be all right.” This feeling we must cultivate.  If  God is here, if God is with us all the time, then everything will always be all right.
We take out millions of dollars (or pounds or rupees…) of insurance to protect our homes, our property, our cars.  But, what about our lives?  Who will protect our lives? We must remember our Divine Insurance Company.  We must place all of our faith in Him. He will never betray us, and we will rest assured knowing that we are in the best of hands.
We must realize that we are God’s children. Just as a child is never afraid when his mother is near, so we must never fear. Fear immobilizes us. It freezes us. It prevents us from thinking clearly. Most of all, it serves no purpose. No tragedy has ever been prevented by fear. No catastrophe has ever been averted by anxiety. No. Calm, serene, wise understanding of the situation coupled with undying faith is what is needed.
Let us renew our faith in the Supreme. Let us give away our fears, our anxieties. Let us put all our insurance in the Divine Insurance Company. Let us realize that everything is just as it is supposed to be. We are in the lap of our Mother. How can anything go wrong?
Surrender to the Divine
The teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita are not applicable merely to life on a battlefield, when war is imminent. Rather the true battlefield is within us constantly, and war is being waged every day. Through His teaching to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra,  Bhagwan Shri Krishna gives us lessons for our lives. The Gita is a divine “Map of Life” for it shows us clearly both the destination and also the clearest and best path to reach there.  Just as the GPS system in our cars is always there to show us the path and to quickly tell us if we’ve gone astray, so the Bhagavad Gita is like the GPS system for our lives. Wherever we want to go, whatever we want to achieve, we simply need to turn to the Gita for the instructions of how to reach our goal.
However, in order for the GPS system in the car to start working, after we have entered the destination address, we must push the “accept” button. This button activates the guided instructions; without it the instructions will not begin and we will not be guided to our destination. Similarly in our lives, we must accept His message and surrender, constantly, over and over again, to His Divine Will. It is surrender and only surrender that allows divine grace to work in our lives. It is surrender, and only surrender, that brings Lord Krishna’s presence into our lives.
But, how to surrender?
There is a beautiful mantra we chant which is wonderful for cultivating a spirit of surrender: It is as follows:
Kaayena vaachaa manasendriyairvaa
buddhyaatmanaavaa prakriteh svabhaavaat
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
naaraayanaayeti samarpayaami
This means, “Oh Lord….whatever I have done, whatever actions I have performed through my speech, through my mind (anything I’ve thought), through my intellect (anything I’ve planned, achieved or understood), through my hands or body or through any of my senses, therefore anything at all I have performed, perceived or thought, it is all due to Your divine grace and I lay it all humbly at Your holy feet.”
By chanting this mantra, sincerely, deeply and devotionally every night, we remove any vestiges of ego or attachment which may still be lingering, clinging and preventing us from truly surrendering and therefore finding peace and divine connection.
On this beautiful and divine day of Janmasthami let us offer to Him not only our prayers, our puja and our aarti, but let us offer our lives at His holy feet. Let us surrender completely to His Divine Will. This will bring great peace, purity and divinity into our own lives.

With love and blessings to you and all your loved ones,

In the service of God and humanity,
Swami Chidanand Saraswati
 


The Meaning of Krishna Jayanti
Posted by Hari Parshada Das | IndiaDivine.Org

Krishna has said in the Gītā (4.9) — janma karma ca me divyam — my birth and activities are transcendental.
Especially his birth is known by two popular names — Janmāṣṭamī and Kṛṣṇa-jayantī.
The term ‘jayantī’ has been used very liberally in modern Indian culture and birthdays of kings, political leaders as well as non-Vedic deities are also termed as jayantīs by many individuals. On a particular website, the birthday of Karl Marx is also termed as ‘Marx-jayantī’ (the communist who did so neither understands his own siddhāntas nor the siddhāntas of the Vedas).
The Haribhaktivilāsa (15.331) gives a precise definition of the term ‘jayantī’ as follows:
अष्टमी कृष्णपक्षस्य रोहिणीऋक्षसंयुता
भवेत् प्रौष्ठपदे मासि जयन्ती नाम सा स्मृता
aṣṭamī kṛṣṇa-pakṣasya rohiṇī-ṛkṣa-saṁyutā |
bhavet prauṣṭhapade māsi ‘jayantī’ nāma sā smṛtā ||
Translation: The name ‘jayantī’ is understood to be applicable exclusively to the eighth day of the dark-fortnight of the Bhādra Month aligned with the Rohiṇī constellation.
This verse is also found in the Kāla-mādhava of Mādhavācārya. Srila Jiva Goswami says in the Kṛṣṇa-sandarbha as follows:
naivam avatārāntarasya kasya vānyasya janma-dinaṁ jayanty-ākhyayātiprasiddham |
Translation: The appearance or birth of any other incarnation of Krishna or of any other person is thus not popularly known as ‘jayantī’.
By this it should be understood that the term ‘jayantī’ is applicable exclusively to the appearance day of Krishna and applying it to the birthdays of other personalities, especially those who are not born on the same day becomes an example of a misnomer.
Having said that, it is also necessary to end on a sweet note (mādhuryeṇa samāpayet). Whether it is kathā or prasāda, we try our best to end with something sweet. Therefore, I quote a verse from Srila Jiva Goswami’s Gopāla-campūḥ which describes the great celebration that took place at Nanda Maharaja’s palace after Krishna’s appearance. Srila Jiva Goswami says:
विबभूव विना सत्यं ध्यानं त्रेतां विना मखः
विना द्वापरमभ्यर्चा हरेर्नाम कलिं विना
vibabhūva vinā satyaṁ dhyānaṁ tretāṁ vinā makhaḥ |
vinā dvāparam abhyarcāṁ harer nāma kaliṁ vinā ||
[In that celebration named Nandotsava]:
“Even though it was not Satya-yuga, everyone meditated perfectly on Krishna. Even though it was not Tretā-yuga, the priests performed fire-sacrifices. Even though it was not Dvāpara-yuga*, the pujārīs worshipped the Viṣṇu-deities perfectly. And even though Kali-yuga had not yet arrived, the holy name of Krishna was resounding everywhere.” (Gopāla-campūḥ, Pūrva, 3rd Pūraṇa)
In this way, the simultaneous execution of the supreme perfection processes of the respective four ages was seen in the courtyard of Nanda Maharaja.
* — It was not exactly dvāpara-yuga because Dvāpara had almost reached its end and such a time is technically known as Yuga-sandhyā (the period between the two yugas when the former yuga has ended and the new yuga has not yet started).
When Krishna appeared on Janmāṣṭamī, the Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (10.3.4) says — vavau vāyuḥ sukha-sparśaḥ puṇya-gandhavahaḥ śuciḥ — Pleasing, pure and aromatic winds (vāyu) started blowing.
Why would the wind suddenly start blowing in a pleasing and aromatic way? The devotee poet Harisūri expresses a poetic possibility for the same as follows:
पुत्रेण प्राग्घनुमता कृतयाऽस्य भूयः सुश्रूषयाऽत्र भृशमस्मि कृतार्थ एव
साक्षात्तथाप्यहमिहापि समाचरेयं सेवामतः परिचचार तदा दासः
putreṇa prāg ghanumatā kṛtayā ‘sya bhūyaḥ suśrūṣayā ‘tra bhṛśam asmi kṛtārtha eva |
sākṣāt tathāpy aham ihāpi samācareyaṁ sevām ataḥ paricacāra tadā sa dāsaḥ ||
Translation: The wind god thought, “In the previous age (tretā), an immense amount of service was rendered for the Lord by my son (Hanumān) and simply by his service, I am blessed. Yet it is very much desirable that I should render direct service to the Lord through my body.”
Therefore that servant of the Lord named Vāyu rendered this service of blowing pleasing winds for the pleasure of the Lord.

 


APPENDIX  III
|| śrīkṛṣṇa sevā vidhāna- śrīvyāsa kta- śrīgarga sahitā ||

Sri Krishna Seva Vidhanam By Sage Vyasa Sri Garga Samhita

The following is a rare prescription to perform Puja on Lord Krishna taken from Garga Samhita, Vigyana Khanda and Chapter 9 titled Krishna Seva Vidhanam. This prescription was given to King Agrasena by Sage Vyasa. At the end of Puja, one should perform Ahuti as wellas Namaskara with the given names of Lord Vishnu followed by prayers to various parts of His body, his weapons, etc. EditAfter this, prayer should be performed to Lord Vishvaksena, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga, Lord Vinayaka, Dig Palakas and Navagrahas. Finally Arti to Lord Krishna should be shown with the given mantras and prostration on the ground. This should be followed by Hari Sankirtana with instruments and finally Lord Krishna should be laid to sleep. The brief Phalashruti mentions that one who performs such a worship, which is rare even by Yogis, is revered by the dwellers of heaven and attains Goloka at the end of his sojourn in this world while giving four Purusharthas in this abode.

śrīvyāsa uvāca -
upacārasya mantrāṇi vedoktāni śubhāni ca |
tubhyavakyāmi rājendra śṛṇuvaikāgra-mānasa|| 1 ||

|| āvāhanam ||
goloka-dhāmādhipate ramāpate govinda dāmodara dīnavatsala |
rādhāpate mādhava sātvatāṁ-pate sihāsane'smin mama samukho bhava || 2 ||

|| āsanam ||
śrīpadmarāga sphurad ūrdhva-pṛṣṭhamahārhavaidūryakhacit padābjam |
vaikuṇṭha vaikuṇṭhapate ghāṇa pītataiddhāṭaka-kumbha-khaṇḍam || 3 ||

|| pādyam ||
parasthitanirmala raukma-pātre samāhtabindusarovarāddhi |
yogeśa vedeśa jagannivāsa ghāṇa pādyapraamāmi pādau || 4 ||

|| arghyam ||
jalaja campaka pupa samanvitavimalaarghyaanarghadara-sthitam |
pratighāṇa ramā-ramaa prabho yadupate yadunātha yadūttama || 5 ||

|| snānam ||
kāśmīra pāṭīra vimiśritena sumallikośīravatā jalena |
snānakuru tvayadunātha deva govinda gopālaka tīrthapāda || 6 ||

|| madhuparka snānam |
madhyāhna candrārka bhavamalāpahasitāṅga samparka manoharaparam |
ghāṇa viṣṇo madhuparkamenasadṛśya pītāmbara sātvatāṁ pate || 7 ||

|| Vastram ||
vibho sarvataprasphurat projjvalaca sphurad raśmi ramyaparadurlabhaca |
svato nirmitapadma kiñjlaka-varaghāṇāmbaradeva pītāmbarākhyam || 8 ||

|| yajñopavītam ||
suvarṇābhaṁ āpīta-varasumantraiparaprokitavedavin nirmitaca |
śubhapañcakāryeu naimittikeu prabho yajña yajñopavītaghāṇa || 9 ||

|| bhūṣaam ||
kanaka-ratna-mayamaya-nirmitamadanarukkadanasadanarucām |
uasi pūṣa-suvara vibhūṣaasakala-loka-vibhūṣaa ghyatām || 10 ||

|| gandham ||
sandhyendu-śobhabahu-magalaṁ śrīkāśmīra-pāṭīraka paka-yuiktam |
svamaṇḍanagandhacayaghāṇa samasta-bhūmaṇḍala-bhāra-hārin || 11 ||

|| akatān ||
brahmāvarte brahmaṇā pūrvamuptān brāhmais toyaisiñcitān viṣṇunā ca |
rudreṇārād rakitān rākasebhyasākṣād bhūman akatāṁs tvaghāṇa || 12 ||


|| pupāṇi ||
mandāra santānaka pārijāta kalpadruma śrīhari candanānām |
ghāṇa pupāṇi hare tulasyā miśrāṇi sākṣān navamañjarībhi|| 13 ||

|| dhūpam ||

lavaga pāṭīraja cūra miśramanuya devā'sura saukhyadaca |
sadyasugandhī-kta harmyadeśadvārāvatī-bhūpa ghāṇa dhūpam || 14 ||

|| dīpam ||
tamo-hāriaānamūrtimanojñalasad varti karpūra pūragavājyam |
jagannātha deva prabho viśvadīpa sphuraj jyotiadīpa-mukhyaghāṇa || 15 ||

|| naivedyam ||
rasaiḥ śarair bheda vidhi vyavasthitarasai rasāḍhyaca yaśomatī-ktam |
ghāṇa naivedyaidasurocakagavyāmtasundara nanda-nandana || 16 ||

|| jalam ||
gagottarī vega balāt samuddhtasuvara-pātrea himāṁśu śītalam |
sunirmalābhahyamtopamajalaghāṇa rādhāvara bhaktavatsala || 17 ||

|| ācamanam ||
rādhāpate śrīvirajāpate prabho śriya-pate sarvapate ca bhūpate |
kakola jātīphala pupa vāsitaparaghāṇācamanadayānidhe || 18 ||

jātīphalailāsu lavaga nāgavallī-dalaipūgaphalaiśca sayutam |
muktā sudhā khādirasāra-yuktaghāṇa tāmbūlaidarameśa || 19 ||

|| dakiṇā ||
nākapāla vasupāla maulibhir vanditāṅghri yugala prabho hare |
dakiṇāṁ parighāṇa mādhava lokadaka varadakiṇāya te || 20 ||

|| nīrājanam ||
prasphurat paramadīpti magalago-ghtākta-nava-pañca-vartikam |
ārtikaparighāṇa cārtihan puya-kīrti viśadīktāvane || 21 ||

|| namaskāra||

namo'stvanatāya sahasramūrtaye sahasra-pādāki-śirorubāhave |
sahasra-nāmne puruṣāya śāśvate sahasra-koi-yuga-dhārie nama|| 22 ||

|| pradakiam ||
samasta tīrtha yajña dāna pūrtakādijaphalam |
labhate parasya śāśvatakaroti yapradakiam || 23 ||

|| prārthanā ||
hare mat samapātakī nāsti bhūmau tathā tvat samo nāsti pāpāpahārī |
iti tvaca matvā jagannātha deva yathecchā bhavet te tathā māṁ kuru tvam || 24 ||

|| stuti||
saānamātrasadasatparamahac chaśvat praśāntavibhavasamamahat |
tvāṁ brahma vande hi sudurgamaparasadā svadhāmnā paribhūtakaitavam ||25 ||
evasampūjya deveśaebhir mantrair mahātmane |
praamya viṣṇusarvāṅga pūjāṁ kuryāt prayatnata|| 26 ||

|| prāṇāyāmam ||
om namo nārāyaṇāya puruṣāya mahātmane |
viśuddha sattvadhīsthāya mahāhasāya dhīmahi || 27 ||


|| mantra āhuti ||
om viṣṇave madhusūdanāya vāmanāya trivikramāya śrīdharāya hṛṣīkeśāya
padmanābhāya dāmodarāya sakaraṇāya vāsudevāya pradyumnāya aniruddhāya
adhokajāya purśottamāya śrīkṛṣṇāya nama|
iti pāda gulpha jānūrukayudara pṛṣṭha bhujā kandhara kara nāsikā 'dhara netra
śirasu pthak pthak pūjyāmīti sarvaga-pūjāṁ kuryāt | tathā sakhī sakha śakha cakra
gadā padmāsi dhanur bāṇa hala musalādīn tathā kaustubha vanamālā śrīvatsa
pītāmbara nīlāmbara vaṁśī vetrādīn tathā tālāṅka garuḍāṅka ratha dāruka sumati
sārathi garua kumuda nanda sunanda caṇḍa mahābala kumudākṣādīn | praava
pūrvea caturthyantena namasamyuktena nāmnā tathā vivaksena śiva vidhi durgā
vināyaka digpāla varua navagraha mātkādīn mantraipūjayet |
om namo vāsudevāya namasakaraṇāya ca |
pradyumnāyāniruddhāya sātvatāṁ pataye nama|| 28 ||

|| samarpaam ||
praamed daṇḍavad bhūmau mantrametaudīrayet || 29 ||
dhyeyasadā paribhavaghnaabhīṣṭado'ha
tīrthāspadaṁ śiva viriñci nutaṁ śarayam |
bhūtyārtihan praatapāla bhavābdhipota
vande mahāpurua te caraṇāravindam || 30 ||


|| phalaśruti||
iti natvā harirājan punar nīrājanahare|
kārayed vidhivad bhakto hari bhakta-janaisaha || 31 ||
ghai-vādya raad ghaṅṭākāṁsya vīṇādi kīcakai|
kara tāla mdagādyaikīrtanakārayed budha|| 32 ||
ntyanti śrīharer agre bhaktā vai prema vihvalāḥ |
jayadhvani samāyuktāḥ satkathā gāna tatparāḥ || 33 ||
punaprabhunamasktya mandire tapanojjvale |
śayanakārayet samyak śrīkṛṣṇasya mahātmana|| 34 ||
evakaroti śrīkṛṣṇa sevāṁ yo lagna mānasa|
praamanti ca tarājan devatāḥ svarga-sabhavāḥ || 35 ||
so'pi rājendra nāke'pi padadhtvā harer jana|
ante yāti paradhāma golokayogi durlabham || 36 ||
iti śrīkṛṣṇa sevāyā vidhānavaritamayā ||
catupadārthadanṝṇāṁ kibhūyaḥ śrotuicchasi || 37 ||


|| Iti śrīkṛṣṇa-sevā-vidhāna varanasampūram ||

 SRI KRISHNA ASHTOTTARAM

श्री कृष्णाय नमः
oṁ śrī kṛṣṇāya namaḥ || 1 ||
Obeisance to Lord Shri Krishna, who has a dark, attractive complexion, who attracts the mind of others (i.e. ‘karshati iti’)

कमलनाथाय नमः
oṁ kamala-nāthāya namaḥ || 2 ||
the Lord of Goddess Lakṣmī, Kamalā,

वासुदॆवाय नमः
oṁ vāsudevāya namaḥ || 3 ||
Vasudeva’s son

सनातनाय नमः
oṁ sanātanāya namaḥ || 4 ||
the eternal Lord

वासुदॆवात्मजाय नमः
oṁ vāsudevātmajāya namaḥ || 5 ||
Salutations to Vāsudeva (Vāsudev’s son, Krishna)
पुण्याय नमः
oṁ puṇyāya namaḥ || 6 ||
the Meritorious One, who is consummate piety
लीलामानुष विग्रहाय नमः
oṁ līlā-mānuṣa-vigrahāya namaḥ || 7 ||
who has assumed a human-like form (as Rama or Krishna) to perform His divine pastimes
श्रीवत्स कौस्तुभधराय नमः
oṁ śrīvatsa-kaustubha-dharāya namaḥ || 8 ||
the Lord who wears the Shri Vatsa (representing Shri Lakshmi) and the Kaustubha gem

यशॊदावत्सलाय नमः
oṁ yaśodā-vatsalāya namaḥ || 9 ||
Mother Yashoda’s darling child, the object of Yashoda’s maternal affections
हरये नमः १०
oṁ haraye namaḥ || 10 ||
Salutations to Lord Hari
चतुर्भुजात्त चक्रासिगदा शङ्खाम्बुजा युदायुजाय नमः
oṁ caturbhujātta cakrāsi gadā śaṅkhāmbujā yudāyujāya namaḥ || 11 ||
the Four-armed Lord who carries the weapons of disc, conch, club and lotus
दॆवाकीनन्दनाय नमः
oṁ devakī-nandanāya namaḥ || 12 ||
One who gladdens the heart of His Mother, Devaki and brings joy to her.
श्रीशाय नमः
oṁ śrīśāya namaḥ || 13 ||
the abode of Shri (Lakshmi)
नन्दगॊप प्रियात्मजाय नमः
oṁ nanda-gopa-priyātmajāya namaḥ || 14 ||
Nanda Gopa’s darling child, dear son of the cowherd Nanda
यमुनावेग संहारिणॆ नमः
oṁ yamunā-vega-saṁhāriṇe namaḥ || 15 ||
the Lord who checked the flow of the Yamunā
बलभद्र प्रियनुजाय नमः
oṁ bala-bhadra-priyānujāya namaḥ || 16 ||
Balabhadra’s (Balarama’s) dear younger brother
पूतनाजीवित हराय नमः
oṁ pūtana-jīvita-harāya namaḥ || 17 ||
the Destroyer of the demoness Putana
शकटासुर भञ्जनाय नमः
oṁ śakaṭāsura-bhañjanāya namaḥ || 18 ||
the Lord who destroyed the cart demon Sakatasura
नन्दव्रज जनानन्दिनॆ नमः
oṁ nanda-vraja-janānandine namaḥ || 19 ||
the Lord who brought great happiness to Nanda and the people of Vraja
सच्चिदानन्द विग्रहाय नमः २०
oṁ saccid-ānanda-vigrahāya namaḥ || 20 ||
the Lord who’s embodiment is of eternal Existence, Knowlwdge and Bliss
नवनीत विलिप्ताङ्गाय नमः
oṁ navanīta-viliptāṅgāya namaḥ || 21 ||
the Lord whose body is smeared all over with butter
नवनीत नटनाय नमः
oṁ navanīta naṭanāya namaḥ || 22 || (naṭāya)
the One who danced to get butter
अनघाय नमः
oṁ anaghāya namaḥ || 23 ||
the sinless One
नवनीतनवाहाराय नमः
oṁ navanīta-navā-hārāya namaḥ || 24 || (navanīta-harāya)
whose first food was fresh butter

मुचुकुन्द प्रसादकाय नमः
oṁ mucukunda-prasādakāya namaḥ || 25 ||
the Lord who blessed (gave salvation) to King Muchukunda
षॊडशस्त्री सहस्रॆशाय नमः
oṁ ṣoḍaśastrī-sahasreśāya namaḥ || 26 ||
the Lord of sixteen thousand wives
त्रिभङ्गिनॆ मधुराकृतये नमः
oṁ tribhaṅgine madhurākṛtaye namaḥ || 27 || (Tribhangi Lalitakritaye)
the sweet lord, who poses in a threefold-bending form
शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दवे नमः
oṁ śukavāg-amṛtābdhīndave namaḥ || 28 ||
the ocean of nectar in the form of Sukadeva’s words (spoken as Srimad-Bhagavatam)
गॊविन्दाय नमः
oṁ govindāya namaḥ || 29 ||
the Lord of the cows
यॊगिनाम्पतयॆ नमः ३०
oṁ yoginām-pataye namaḥ || 30 ||
the Lord of the yogIs
वत्सपालना संचारिने नमः
oṁ vatsapālanā sancārine namaḥ || 31 || (vatsavāṭi carāya –
वत्सवाटचराय )
the Lord who roamed (in Vrindavana) with the company of calves and friendly cowherd boys
अनन्ताय नमः
oṁ anantāya namaḥ || 32 ||
the Unlimited, Infinite One
धेनुकासुरभञ्जनाय नमः
oṁ dhenukāsura-bhañjanāya namaḥ || 33 || (mardanāya –
मर्दनाय)
the Lord who killed the ass-demon Dhenukasura
तृणी कृत तृणावर्ताय नमः
oṁ tṛṇī-kṛta-tṛṇāvartāya namaḥ || 34 ||
the Lord who destroyed the whirlwind demon Trinavarta
यमलार्जुन भञ्जनाय नमः
oṁ yamaḷārjuna-bhañjanāya namaḥ || 35 ||
the Lord who broke the two Yamala-Arjuna trees
उत्तलॊत्ताल भॆत्रॆ नमः (उत्ताल-ताल)
oṁ uttālottāla-bhetre namaḥ || 36 || (uttāla-tāla)
the Lord who broke all the big, tAla trees (killing Dhenuka)
तमाल श्यामलाकृतये नमः
oṁ tamāla śyāmalākṛtaye namaḥ || 37 ||
the Lord who is a beautiful blackish as the dark Tamala tree
गॊपगॊपीश्वराय नमः
oṁ gopa-gopīśvarāya namaḥ || 38 ||
The Lord of the gopas and gopīs (the cowherd boys and damsels of Vrindavan)
यॊगिनॆ नमः
oṁ yogine namaḥ || 39 ||
the greatest Yogī
कॊटिसूर्य समप्रभाय नमः ४०
oṁ koṭi-sūrya-sama-prabhāya namaḥ || 40 ||
the Lord who is as lustrous as a million suns



इलापतयॆ नमः
oṁ iḷā-pataye namaḥ || 41 ||
Lord of IlA, the earth
परस्मै ज्योतिषे नमः
oṁ parasmai-jyotiṣe namaḥ || 42 || (parañjyotiṣe –
परञ्ज्यॊतिषॆ)
the Supreme light, the Supreme Radiance
यादवॆन्द्राय नमः
oṁ yādavendrāya namaḥ || 43 ||
the king of the Yadu clan (Yadavas)
यदूद्वहाय नमः
oṁ yadu-dvahāya namaḥ || 44 ||
the preeminent leader of the Yadu Dynasty
वनमालिनॆ नमः
oṁ vanamāline namaḥ || 45 ||
One who wears the divine garland made of wild forest flowers (Vaijayanthi)
पीतवाससे नमः
oṁ pīta-vāsase namaḥ || 46 || (pītavāsane)
the Lord who wears yellow garments
पारिजातपहारकाय नमः
oṁ pārijāta-apahārakāya namaḥ || 47 ||
the Lord who removed the parijatha flower (from India’s garden)
गोवर्धनाचलोद्धर्त्रे नमः
oṁ govardhanācaloddhartre namaḥ || 48 ||
the Lord who held up the Govardhana mountain

गॊपालाय नमः
oṁ gopālāya namaḥ || 49 ||
the protector of cows, Gopāla
सर्वपालकाय नमः ५०
oṁ sarva-pālakāya namaḥ || 50 ||
the protector of all beings
अजाय नमः
oṁ ajāya namaḥ || 51 ||
the all-victorious Lord who is unconquered/ invincible,
निरञ्जनाय नमः
oṁ nirañjanāya namaḥ || 52 ||
the unblemished, untainted Lord
कामजनकाय नमः
oṁ kāma-janakāya namaḥ || 53 ||
who incites the gopIs desires
कञ्जलॊचनाय नमः
oṁ kañja-locanāya namaḥ || 54 ||
the Lord who has beautiful eyes
मधुघ्नॆ नमः
oṁ madhughne namaḥ || 55 ||
the Lord who killed the demon Madhu
मथुरानाथाय नमः
oṁ mathurā-nāthāya namaḥ || 56 || (madhurānāthāya)
Lord of Mathurā (the Lord of sweetnes)

द्वारकानायकाय नमः
oṁ dvārakā-nāyakāya namaḥ || 57 ||
the hero and Lord of Dvārakā
बलिनॆ नमः
oṁ baline namaḥ || 58 ||
To the all-powerful Lord, the One with unlimited strength
बृन्दावनान्त सञ्चारिणॆ नमः
oṁ vṛndāvanānta-sañcāriṇe namaḥ || 59 ||
the Lord who roamed around Vrindavana
तुलसीदाम भूषनाय नमः ६०
oṁ tulasī-dāma-bhūṣaṇāya namaḥ || 60 ||
the Lord who adorns Himself with tulasi leaf garlands
स्यमन्तकमणेर्हर्त्रे नमः
oṁ syamantaka-maner-hartre namaḥ || 61 || (mani-hartre –
मणिहर्त्रे)
the Lord who appropriated the Syamantaka jewel
नरनारयणात्मकाय नमः
oṁ naranārayaṇātmakāya namaḥ || 62 ||
the Lord who has the twin forms of Nara and Narayana
कुब्जा कृष्णाम्बरधराय नमः
oṁ kubjā-kṛṣṇāmbara-dharāya namaḥ || 63 || (kṛṣṭāmbara –
कृष्णाम्बर)
the Lord who wore the ointment (sandal paste) offered by Kubja, the hunchbacked lady
मायिनॆ नमः
oṁ māyine namaḥ || 64 ||
the Lord of Maya, the master of illusion

परमपुरुषाय नमः
oṁ parama-pūruṣāya namaḥ || 65 ||
the Supreme person
मुष्टिकासुर चाणूर मल्लयुद्ध विशारदाय नमः
oṁ muṣṭikāsura cāṇūra mallayuddha viśāradāya namaḥ || 66 ||
the lord who expertly fought the demoniac wrestlers Muṣṭika and Cāṇūra
संसारवैरिणॆ नमः
oṁ saṁsāra-vairiṇe namaḥ || 67 ||
the enemy of Samsara (the cycle of births and deaths)
कंसारयॆ नमः
oṁ kaṁsāraye namaḥ || 68 ||
the enemy of King Kamsa (who wanted to kill Krishna)
मुरारयॆ नमः
oṁ murāraye namaḥ || 69 || (murarine)
the enemy of the demon Mura
नाराकान्तकाय नमः ७०
oṁ nārākāntakāya namaḥ || 70 ||
the destroyer of the demon Narakāsura
अनादि ब्रह्मचारिणॆ नमः
oṁ anādi-brahmacāriṇe namaḥ || 71 ||
the beginningless brahmacārī
कृष्णाव्यसन कर्शकाय नमः
oṁ kṛṣṇā-vyasana-karśakāya namaḥ || 72 ||
Kṛṣṇa, who removed Draupadi’s distress

शिशुपालशिरश्छेत्रे नमः
oṁ śiṣupāla-śiraś-chetre namaḥ || 73 || (śiccetre –
शिच्चॆत्रॆ)
the Lord who cut off Sisupala’s head (with his Sudarsana Chakra)
दुर्यॊधनकुलान्तकाय नमः
oṁ duryodhana-kulāntakāya namaḥ || 74 ||
the destroyer of the dynasty of Durodhana
विदुराक्रूर वरदाय नमः
oṁ vidurākrūra-varadāya namaḥ || 75 ||
the Lord who benedicted Vidura & Akrūra
विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकाय नमः
oṁ viśvarūpa-pradarśakāya namaḥ || 76 ||
the Lord who revealed His Viswarupa (the Universal Form)
सत्यवाचॆ नमः
oṁ satya-vāce namaḥ || 77 ||
To the Lord who utters only truth
सत्य सङ्कल्पाय नमः
oṁ satya-saṅkalpāya namaḥ || 78 ||
the Lord of true resolve, whose determination is fact
सत्यभामारताय नमः
oṁ satyabhāmā-ratāya namaḥ || 79 || (ratāye)
the Lover of Satyabhama
जयिनॆ नमः ८०
oṁ jayine namaḥ || 80 ||
the Lord who is ever victorious
सुभद्रा पूर्वजाय नमः
oṁ subhadrā-pūrva-jāya namaḥ || 81 ||
the elder brother of Subhadra
विष्णवॆ नमः
oṁ viṣṇave namaḥ || 82 ||
Lord Viṣṇu
भीष्ममुक्ति प्रदायकाय नमः
oṁ bhīṣma-mukti-pradāyakāya namaḥ || 83 ||
the Lord who bestowed salvation on Bhishma
जगद्गुरवॆ नमः
oṁ jagad-gurave namaḥ || 84 ||
the Lord who is universal Guru, world preceptor
जगन्नाथाय नमः
oṁ jagannāthāya namaḥ || 85 ||
the Lord Lord of the universe
वॆणुनाद विशारदाय नमः
oṁ veṇu-nāda-viśāradāya namaḥ || 86 ||
the Lord who is an expert in playing flute music
वृषभासुर विध्वंसिने नमः
oṁ vṛṣabhāsura-vidhvaṁsine namaḥ || 87 ||
the Lord who destroyed the demon Vrishaba asura
बाणासुर करान्तकाय नमः
oṁ bāṇāsura-karāntakāya namaḥ || 88 || (karāntakṛte –
करान्तकृतॆ)
the Lord who chopped off the hands of the demon Bāṇāsura

युधिष्ठिर प्रतिष्ठात्रे नमः
oṁ yudhiṣṭhira-pratiṣṭhātre namaḥ || 89 ||
the Lord who established Yudhiṣṭhira (as the king)
बर्हिबर्हावतंसकाय नमः ९०
oṁ barhi-barhāvat-aṁsakaya namaḥ || 90 ||
the Lord whose crest is decorated with peacock feathers
पार्थसारथये नमः
oṁ pārtha-sārathaye namaḥ || 91 ||
the Lord who is the chariot driver of Arjuna (Pārtha Sārathi)
अव्यक्ताय नमः
oṁ avyaktāya namaḥ || 92 ||
the Lord Who appears unmanifest, who is subtle and unseen to material vision
गीतामृत महोदधये नमः
oṁ gītāmṛta-mahodadhaye namaḥ || 93 || (mahodhadiye –
महोधदियॆ)
the Lord who is the great nectar-ocean of Bhagavad-gita
कालीय फणिमाणिक्य रञ्जित श्री पदाम्बुजाय नमः
oṁ kālīya-phaṇi-māṇikya-rañjita-śrī-padāmbujāya namaḥ || 94 ||
the Lord whose beautiful lotus feet danced on the jeweled hoods of the Kāliya serpent.
दामॊदराय नमः
oṁ dāmodarāya namaḥ || 95 ||
the One who was tied up with a rope to a grinding stone by His mother Yaśodā
यज्ञभोक्त्रे नमः
oṁ yajña-bhoktre namaḥ || 96 ||
the enjoyer of sacrificial offerings

दानवॆन्द्र विनाशकाय नमः
oṁ dānavendra-vināśakāya namaḥ || 97 ||
destroyer of the leading demons, killer of the Lord of Asuras
नारायणाय नमः
oṁ nārāyaṇāya namaḥ || 98 ||
Lord Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu
परब्रह्मणॆ नमः
oṁ para-brahmaṇe namaḥ || 99 ||
the Supreme absolute Truth Brahman (which is spiritual)
पन्नगाशन वाहनाय नमः १००
oṁ pannagāśana-vāhanāya namaḥ || 100 ||
the Lord who has a serpent (Adisesha) as His seat, the great snake Vasuki that forms the bed of Vishnu
जलक्रीडा समासक्त गॊपीवस्त्रापहाराकाय नमः
oṁ jala-krīḍā-samāsakta-gopī-vastrāpahārakāya namaḥ || 101 ||
the Lord who playfully stole the gopīs clothing while they played in the waters of the Yamuna river
पुण्य श्लॊकाय नमः
oṁ puṇya-ślokāya namaḥ || 102 ||
the Lord whose poetic depictions are virtuous, whose praises bestow merit
तीर्थपादाय नमः
oṁ tīrtha-pādāya namaḥ || 103 ||
creator of holy places, the One whose feet are holy
वॆदवॆद्याय नमः
oṁ veda-vedyāya namaḥ || 104 ||
the Lord who is the source of the Vedas, who is revealed by the Vedas
दयानिधयॆ नमः
oṁ dayā-nidhaye namaḥ || 105 ||
the Lord who is the Treasure of compassion
सर्वभूतात्मकाय नमः
oṁ sarva-bhūtātmakāya namaḥ || 106 ||
the Lord who is possessing the essence of the elements
सर्वग्रह रुपिणॆ नमः
oṁ sarva-graha-rūpiṇe namaḥ || 107 ||
the Lord who forms all the planets
परात्पराय नमः 108
oṁ parātparāya namaḥ
The Supreme beyond the highest


Sri Janmashtami Vrata/Puja Vidhanam – Brahma Vaivarta Puranam
BY K. Muralidharan

The following furnishes the procedure to observe Lord Krishna Janmashtami Vratam and perform Puja on that day taken from Brahma Vaivarta Puranam, Krishna Janma Khanda, and Chapter 8 titled Krishna Janmashtami Vrata Puja Upavasa Nirupanam as given by Lord Brahma to Lord Kumara and retold by Lord Narayana to Sage Narada.
 The first part titled Sri Janmashtami Vrata Vidhanam furnishes the procedure for observing Janmashtami Vratam and the benefits accrued. The middle part furnishes the procedure for performing Janmashtami Puja with 16 Upacharas. The Upacharas given here are slightly different from the usual ones. While most of the Upacharas contain Upachara shlokas (which can be chanted while performing the particular Upachara, a couple of them contain only the prescription of what to be done. The final part provides the benefits of observing the Vratam and Do’s and Don’ts, a brief of which is given below.
• One should eat only cooked rice (Havishya) once on Saptami day (7th lunar day). On Ashtami day, one should get up before sunrise, perform ablutions and start Vratam by performing Sankalpa (resolution) that he would observe the Vrat to beget Bhagavan Krishna’s blessings. He should get all materials ready for the puja such as 8 types of flowers, sweets, coconut, Vastra, etc necessary for 16 Upacharas.
• One who observes this Vrata gets the benefit of performing Vrata/Puja/Upavasa on a Manvadi day multiplied by crore times. One who performs Tarpana to ancestors even with water gets the benefit of performing Shraddha in Gaya for 100 years.
• After bath, he should wear pure dress, be seated and wash hands. He should chant Swasti Vachaka shlokas. After that he should install a pot filled with water (Ghata) and invoke 5 Devatas (presumably Pancha Lokapala Devas – Ganapati, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Gauri) and perform puja to them.
• After that, Lord Krishna, Vasudeva, Devaki, Yashoda, Nanda, Rohini, Baladeva, Shashti Devi, Prithvi, Brahmani, Asthtami, Sthana Devata, Ashwatthama, Bali, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, Parashurama, Vedavyasa and Markandeya should be invoked in the Kalasha and puja performed to them.
• Then one should perform Puja to Lord Krishna as per the Puja Vidhi given under the tile Janmashtami Puja Vidhanam (below). After that, perform puja to the other devatas invoked earlier.
• After this, perform puja to Sunanda, Nanda, Kumuda, Gopa, Gopi, Radhika, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Brahma, Shiva, Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Dik,palakas, Planets, Shesha, Sudarshana, and Parshadas with utmost devotion by offering flowers thrice and prostrate before them.
• Offer Neivedyam and Dakshina to Brahmins and listen to Krishna Janmashtami story from them.
• After that, sit on a seat made of Kusha grass and keep vigil throughout the night.  
• On the following day (Navami), perform fire ritual (Havan) to Lord Krishna, feed Brahmins and perform Hari Kirtan.
• If Ashtami Tithi as well as Rohini Nakshatra occur during midnight, it is very auspicious and is capable of destroying all sins accrued in a crore births. The conjunction of Mercury and Moon at this time is even more auspicious and the observer of Vrat will never enter a womb again.
• Janmashtami Vrata should never be performed on a day in which both Saptami and Ashtami occur.
• One should do Parana (break fast) only after Rohini Tithi is over.
• If one just observes fast only, he attains the benefit of performing Ashwamedha Yajna. If one observes only Vrat but without vigil, he gets the sins accrued in previous seven briths nullified.
• One who eats on Janmashtami day is to be considered as the lowest of the human being and will destroy all punya accrued in the previous one crore births and becomes unfit for performing ceremonies to ancestors (Pitrus) and will reside in the hell called Kalasutra until Sun and moon exist. After that he takes hundreds of births such as worms, etc. before being born as a Brahmin.
• If one really can’t do Upavasa (i.e. unable to fast), then he should feed at least one Brahmin and offer Dakshina to him. After this he should do 1008 Gayatri Japa along with Pranayama.
śrīnārada uvāca –
Janmāṣṭamī-vrataṁ brūhi vratānāṁ-varataṁ-uttamam | phalaṁ jayantī yogasya sāmānyenaiva sāṁpratam || 1 ||
 ko vā doṣo 'pyakaraṇe bhojane vā mahāmune | upavāsa-phalaṁ-kiṁ vā jayantyāṁ ca susaṁmatam
|| 2  ||
vrataṁ pūjā-vidhānaṁ ca saṁyamasya ca sāṁpratam | upavāsa-pāraṇayoḥ suvicārya vada prabho
||3 | |
śrījanmāṣṭamī vrata vidhānam || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca - kṛtvā haviṣyaṁ saptamyāṁ saṁyataḥ pāraṇe tathā  aruṇodaya-velāyāṁ samutthāya pare 'hani || 4 ||
prātaḥ kṛtyaṁ saṁvidhāya snātvā saṅkalpaṁ ācaret | vratopavāsayor brahmañ chrīkṛṣṇa-prīti-hetukam || 5 ||
 manvādi-divase prāpte yatphalaṁ snāna-pūjanaiḥ | phalaṁ bhādrapade 'ṣṭamyāṁ bhavet-koṭi-guṇaṁ dvija || 6 ||
tasyāṁ tithau vāri-mātraṁ pitṛṇāṁ yaḥ prayacchati | gayā-śrāddhaṁ-kṛtaṁ tena śtābdaṁ nā'tra-saṁśayaḥ || 7 ||
snātvā nitya-kriyāṁ-kṛtvā nirmāya sūtikā-gṛham | loha-khaṇḍa-vahni-jālair yuktaṁ rakṣaka-saṅghakaiḥ || 8 ||
tatra-dravyaṁ bahu-vidhaṁ nābhicchedana-kartanam | dhātrī-svarūpāṁ nārīṁ ca yatnataḥ sthāpayed budhaḥ || 9 ||
pūjā-dravyāṇi cārūṇi sopacārāṇi ṣoḍaśa | phalānyaṣṭau ca miṣṭāni dravyāṇyeva hi nārada || 10 ||
jātīphalaṁ ca kaṅkolaṁ dāḍimaṁ śrīphalaṁ tathā || 11 ||
nārīkeraṁ ca jambīraṁ kūṣmāṇḍaṁ ca suvāsasam | āsanaṁ vasanaṁ pādyaṁ madhuparkaṁ tathaiva ca || 12 ||
arghyaṁ ācamanīyaṁ ca snānīyaṁ śayanaṁ tathā | gandhaṁ puṣpaṁ ca naivedyaṁ tāmbūlaṁ anulepanam || 13 ||
dhūpa-dīpau bhūṣaṇaṁ vai copacārāṁśca ṣoḍaśa | pāda-prakṣālanaṁ-kṛtvā dhṛtvā dhaute ca vāsasī
 || 14 ||
ācamya cā'sane sthitvā svasti-vācana-pūrvakam | ghaṭasyā 'ropaṇaṁ kṛtvā saṁpūjya pañca-devatāḥ
|| 15 ||
ghaṭe hyāvāhanaṁ kṛtvā śrīkṛṣṇaṁ parameśvaram | vasudevaṁ devakīṁ ca yaśodāṁ nandameva ca
|| 16 || 
rohiṇīṁ baladevaṁ ca ṣaṣṭhī-devīṁ ca vasundharām | rohiṇīṁ brāhmaṇīṁ caiva aṣṭamīṁ sthāna-devatām || 17 ||
aśvatthāmnā saha baliṁ hanūmantaṁ vibhīṣaṇam | kṛpaṁ paraśurāmaṁ ca vedavyāsaṁ mṛkaṇḍujam || 18 ||
sarvasyā''vāhanaṁ kṛtvā dhyānaṁ kuryād hares tadā | puṣpakaṁ mastake nyasya punar dhyāyed vicakṣaṇaḥ || 19 ||
 dhyānaṁ ca sāmavedoktaṁ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi nārada | brahmaṇā kathitaṁ pūrvaṁ kumārāya mahātmane || 20 ||
  || dhyānam ||
bālaṁ nīlāmbujābhaṁ atiśaya-ruciraṁ smera-vaktrāmbujaṁ tam | brahmeśā 'nanta dharmaiḥ katikati-divasaiḥ stūyamānaṁ paraṁ yam | dhyānā 'sādhyaṁ ṛṣīndrair muni-gaṇa-manujaiḥ siddha-saṅghair asādhyam | yogīndrāṇāṁ-acintyaṁ atiśayamatulaṁ sākṣi-rūpaṁ bhaje'ham || 21 ||
dhyātvā puṣpaṁ ca dattvā ca tatsarvaṁ ca nivedayat | evaṁ vratī vrataṁ kuryāc chṛṇu mantra-kramaṁ mune || 22 ||
|| āsanam ||
 āsanaṁ sarva-śobhāḍhyaṁ sadratna-maṇi-nirmitam | vicitraṁ ca vicitreṇa gṛhyatāṁ śobhanaṁ hare
|| 23 ||
|| vastram ||
vasanaṁ vahni-śaucaṁ ca nirmitaṁ-viśvakarmaṇā | pratapta svarṇa-khacitaṁ citritaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare
|| 24 ||
|| pādyam ||
pāda-prakṣālanārthaṁ ca svarṇa-pātra-sthitaṁ-jalam | pavitraṁ nirmalaṁ cāru pādyaṁ ca gṛhyatāṁ hare || 25 ||
|| pañcāmṛta snānam ||
madhusarpi dadhi kṣīraṁ śarkarā saṁyutaṁ param | svarṇa-pātra-sthitaṁ deyaṁ snānārthaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 26 ||
|| arghyam ||
dūrvā 'kṣataṁ śukla-puṣpaṁ svaccha-toya-samanvitam | candanāguru kastūrī sahitaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare
|| 27 ||
|| ācamanīyam ||
susvādu-svaccha-toyaṁ ca vāsitaṁ-gandha-vastunā | śuddhaṁ ācamanīyaṁ ca gṛhyatāṁ parameśvara || 28 ||
 || snānam ||
gandha-dravya-samāyuktaṁ viṣṇo tailaṁ suvāsitam | āmalakyā-dravaṁ caiva snānīyaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 29 ||
|| śayyā ||
sadratna-maṇi-sāreṇa racitāṁ sumanoharām | chāditāṁ-sūkṣma-vastreṇa śayyāṁ ca gṛhyatāṁ hare
|| 30 ||
|| gandham ||
cūrṇaṁ-ca-vṛkṣa-bhedānāṁ mūlānāṁ-drava-saṁyutam | kastūrī-drava-saṁyuktaṁ gandhaṁ ca gṛhyatāṁ hare || 31 ||
|| puṣpam ||
puṣpaṁ-sugandhi-yuktaṁ ca saṁyuktaṁ-kuṅkumena ca | supriyaṁ-sarva-devānāṁ sāṁprataṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 32 ||
|| neivedyam ||
gṛhyatāṁ svastikoktaṁ ca miṣṭa-dravya-samanvitam | supakva-phala-saṁyuktaṁ neivedyaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 33 ||
laḍḍukaṁ modakaṁ caiva sarpiḥ kṣīraṁ guḍaṁ madhu | novaddhataṁ dadhi takraṁ neivedyaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 34 ||
|| tāmbūlam ||
śītalaṁ śarkarā yuktaṁ kṣīraṁ svādu supakvakam | tāmbūlaṁ bhogasāraṁ ca karpūrādi samanvitam | bhaktyā niveditaṁ idaṁ gṛhyatāṁ parameśvara || 35 ||
|| abīra-cūrṇam ||
candanā 'guru kastūrī kuṅkuma drava saṁyutam | abīra-cūrṇaṁ ruciraṁ gṛhyatāṁ parameśvara
|| 36 ||
|| dhūpam ||
taru-bheda-rasotkarṣo gandha-yukto 'gninā saha | supriyaḥ-sarva-devānāṁ dhūpo'yaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 37 ||  
 || dīpam ||
ghorāndhakāra-nāśaika hetureva śubhāvahaḥ | supradīpo dīptikaro dīpo'yaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare || 38 ||
|| pānīyam ||
pavitraṁ nirmalaṁ toyaṁ karpūrādi-samāyutam | jīvana sarva-jīvānāṁ pānārthaṁ gṛhyatāṁ hare
|| 39 ||
|| mālyam ||
nānā-puṣpa-samāyuktaṁ grathitaṁ-sūkṣma-tantunā | śarīra-bhūṣaṇa-varaṁ mālyaṁ ca pratigṛhyatām || 40 ||
|| anya dravyāṇi ||
dattvā deyāni dravyāṇi pūjopayogitāni ca | vrata-sthāna-sthitaṁ dravyaṁ haraye devameva ca || 41 ||
|| phalam ||
phalāni taru-bījāni svādūni sundarāṇi ca | vaṁśa-vṛddhi-karāṇyeva gṛhyatāṁ parameśvara || 42 ||
|| anya devatā evaṁ uttarāṅga pūjā ||
āvāhitāṁśca devāṁśca pratyekaṁ pūjayet vratī | tān pūjya bhakti-bhāvena dadyāt-puṣpañjali-trayam
|| 43 ||
sunanda nanda kumudān gopān gopīśca rādhikām | gaṇeśaṁ kārtikeyaṁ ca brahmāṇaṁ ca śivaṁ śivām || 44 ||
 lakṣmīṁ sarasvatīṁ caiva dikpālāṁśca grahāṁs tathā | śeṣaṁ sudarśanaṁ caiva pārṣada-pravarāṁs tathā || 45 ||
saṁpūjya-sarva-devāṁśca praṇamya daṇḍavad bhuvi | brāhmaṇebhyaśca neivedyaṁ dattvā dadyācca dakṣiṇām || 46 ||
kathāṁ ca janmādhyāyoktāṁ śṛṇuyād-bhakti-bhāvataḥ | tadā kuśāsane-sthitvā kuryāj jāgaraṇaṁ vratī || 47 ||  
 prabhāte cā 'hnikaṁ kṛtvā saṁpūjya śrīhariṁ mudā | brāhmaṇān bhojayitvā ca kārayed-hari-kīrtanam || 48 ||
|| phalaśrutiḥ ||
nārada uvāca - vrata-kāla-vyavasthāṁ ca vedoktāṁ sarva-saṁmatām | vedārthaṁ ca samālocya saṁhitāṁ ca purātanīm || 49 ||
upavāse jāgaraṇe vrate kiṁ vā phalaṁ mune | kiṁ vā pāpaṁ tatra bhuktvā vada vedavidāṁ-vara  
 || 50 ||
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca - aṣṭamī karkṣa-saṁyuktā rātryardhe yadi dṛśyate | sa eva mukhya-kālaśca tatra jātaḥ svayaṁ hariḥ || 51 ||
jayaṁ puṇyaṁ ca kurute jayantī tena saṁsmṛtā | tatropoṣya vrataṁ kṛtvā kuryāj jāgaraṇaṁ budhaḥ
|| 52 ||
sarvā'pavādaḥ kālo'yaṁ pradhānaḥ sarva-saṁmataḥ | iti vedavidāṁ vāṇī cetyuktvā vedhasā purā
|| 53 ||
tatra jāgaraṇaṁ kṛtvā yaścopoṣya vrataṁ caret | koṭi-janmārjitāt-pāpān mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ
|| 54 ||
varjanīyā prayatnena saptamī-sahitā-'ṣṭamī | sā sarkṣā'pi na kartavyā saptamī-sahitā-'ṣṭamī || 55 ||
aviddhāyāṁ kaṛkṣāyāṁ jāto devakī-nandanaḥ | veda-vedāṅga-gupteti viśiṣṭe maṅgala-kṣaṇe || 56 ||
vyatīte rohiṇī ṛkṣe vratī kuryāc ca pāraṇām | tithyante ca hariṁ smṛtvā kṛtvā devārcanaṁ vratī || 57 ||
pāraṇaṁ pāvanaṁ puṁsāṁ sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam | upavāsāṅga-bhūtaṁ ca phaladaṁ siddhi-kāraṇam || 58 ||
sarveṣvevopavāseṣu divā pāraṇamiṣyate | anyathā phalahāniḥ syāt kṛte dhāraṇa pāraṇe || 59 ||  
 nā rātrau pāraṇaṁ kuryād ṛte vai rohiṇī vratāt | niśāyāṁ pāraṇaṁ kuryād varjayitvā mahāniśām
|| 60 ||
pūrvāhṇe pāraṇaṁ śastaṁ kṛtvā vipra-surārcanam | sarveṣāṁ saṁmataṁ kuryād ṛte vai rohiṇī vratam || 61 ||
budha-soma-samāyuktā jayantī yadi labhyate | na kuryād garbha-vāsaṁ ca tatra kṛtvā vrataṁ vratī |
|| 62 ||
api varṣa-śatenāpi labhyate vā na labhyate | vrataṁ tatra vratī kuryāt puṁsāṁ koṭiṁ samuddharet
|| 64 ||
nṛṇāṁ vinā vratenāpi bhaktānāṁ hīna-saṁpadām | kṛtenaivopavāsena prīto bhavati mādhavaḥ || 65 ||
bhaktyā nānopacāreṇa rātrau jāgaraṇena ca | phalaṁ dadāti daityārir jayantī vrata saṁbhavam || 66 ||
vitta-śāṭhyaṁ-akurvāṇaḥ saṁyak phalaṁ avāpnuyāt | kurvāṇo vitta-śāṭhyaṁ ca labhate sadṛśaṁ phalam || 67 ||
aṣṭamyāmatha rohiṇyāṁ na kuryāt pāraṇaṁ budhaḥ | hanyāt purā kṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ copavāsārjitaṁ phalam || 68 || tithir aṣṭa-guṇaṁ hanti nakṣatraṁ ca caturguṇam | tasmāt prayatnataḥ kuryāt tithi-bhānte ca pāraṇam || 69 ||
mahāniśāyāṁ prāptāyāṁ tithi-bhāntaṁ yadā bhavet | tṛtīye 'hni muniśreṣṭha pāraṇaṁ kurute budhaḥ || 70 ||
 ṣaṇmuhūrte vyatīte tu rātrāveva mahāniśā | labhate brahma-hatyāṁ ca tatra-bhuktvā ca nārada
|| 71 ||
go-māṁsa viṇmūtra samaṁ tāmbūlaṁ ca phalaṁ jalam | puṁsāṁ abhakṣyaṁ śuddhānāṁ odanasya ca kā kathā || 72 ||
 triyāmāṁ rajanīṁ prāhus tyaktvā''dyaṁ ca catuṣṭayam | nāḍīnāṁ tad ubhe sandhye divasādyanta saṁjñite || 73 ||  
 janmāṣṭamyāṁ ca śuddhāyāṁ kṛtvā jāgaraṇaṁ vratam | śata-janma-kṛtāt-pāpān mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ || 74 ||
janmāṣṭamyāṁ ca śuddhāyāṁ upoṣya kevalaṁ naraḥ | aśvamedha-phalaṁ tasya vrataṁ jāgaraṇaṁ vinā || 75 ||
yad-bālye yacca-kaumāre yauvane yacca-vārdhake | sapta-janma-kṛtāt-pāpān mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ || 76 ||
śrīkṛṣṇa-janma-divase yaśca bhuṅkte narādhamaḥ | sa bhaven mātṛgāmī ca brahma-hatyā-śataṁ labhet || 77 ||
koṭi-janmārjitaṁ-puṇyaṁ tasya naśyati niścitam | anarhaścāśuciḥ śaśvad deve pitrye ca karmaṇi
|| 78 ||
ante vaset kālasūtre yāvac candra-divākarau | kṛmibhiḥ śūla tulyaiśca tīkṣṇa-daṁṣṭraiśca bhakṣitaḥ     
|| 79 ||
pāpī tataḥ samutthāya bhārate janma cellabhet | ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi viṣṭhāyāṁ ca kṛmir bhavet
|| 80 ||
gṛdhra-koṭi-sahasrāṇi śata-janmāni sūkaraḥ | śvāpadaḥ śata-janmāni sṛgālaḥ sapta janma ca || 81 ||
sapta-janmasu-sarpaśca kākaśca-sapta-janmasu | tato bhaven naro mūko galat kuṣṭhī sadā'turaḥ
|| 82 ||
tato bhavet paśughnaśca vyālagrāhī tato bhavet | tadante ca bhaved dasyur dharma-hīnaśca gṛdhrakaḥ || 83 ||
tato bhavet sa rajakas tailakāras tato bhavet | tato bhaved devalako brāhmaṇaśca sadā 'śuciḥ || 84 || upavāsā 'samarthaśced ekaṁ vipraṁ ca bhojayet | tāvad dhanāni vā dadyād yadbhuktaṁ dviguṇaṁ bhavet || 85 ||
sahasra saṁmitāṁ devīṁ japed vā prāṇa-saṁyamān | kuryād dvādaśa saṅkhyā kānyathārthe tad vrate naraḥ || 86 ||
ityevaṁ kathitaṁ vatsa śrutaṁ yad dharma-vaktrataḥ | vratopavāsa pūjānāṁ vidhānamakṛte ca yat
|| 87 ||  

|| iti brāhme-vaivarte mahāpurāṇe śrīkṛṣṇa-janma-khaṇḍe kṛṣṇa-janmāṣṭamī-vrata-pūjopavāsa nirūpaṇaṁ nāmādhyāyaṁ sampūrṇam ||



LORD KRISHNA’S DYNASTY AND HIS 80 SONS FROM 8 WIVES

We would believe as authentic Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, think of Hercules as having existed but when we recover the skeletons purported to be that of Kadothgaja, we say it is non sense.This despite the detailed descriptions of cities, people, Dynasties and Geographical descriptions which exist even to-day.” Says  Ramani in his popular Blog.
Here is the Dynasty of Lord Krishna. And this includes Lord Krishna’s sons, Grandsons as posted in his Blog
1. Brahma
2. Daksha
3. Vivasvat
4. Manu
5. Chandra
6. Pururava
7. Aayu
8. Nahush
9. Yayati
10. Yadu
11. Kroshtu
12. Vrujjinvanta
13. Swahi
14. Swati
15. Rasadu
16. Chitrarath
17. Shashabindu
18. Pruthusravas
19. Antar
20. Suyajna
21. Ushanas
22. Shineyu
23. Maruta
24. Kambalbarhis
25. Rukmakavach
26. Paravrushta
27. Jayamadh
28. Vidarbh
29. Kray
30. Kunti
31. Dhashti
32. Nivrutti
33. Dashai
34. Vyom
35. Jimut
36. Vikruti
37. Bhimrath
38. Rathvar
39. Navrath
40. Dashrath
41. Ekadashrath
42. Shakuni
43. Kurambhi
44. Devrat
45. Devkshetra
46. Devan
47. Madhu
48. Puruvash
49. Puruhotra
50. Anshu
51. Satvat
52. Bhim
53. Bhajman
54. Chitrarath
55. Vidurath
56. Shoor
57. Sharman
58. Pratikshatra
59. Swayambhoj
60. Hridik
61. Devbhithush
62. Shoor
63. Vasudev
64. KRISHNA
65. Pradyumna
66. Aniruddha
67. Vajranabha
68. Pratibahu
69. Subahu
70. Shantasen
71. Shatasen


Lord Krishna, the Dwarkadheesh, the son of Vasudev, had 80 sons. Here’s the list of the 80 sons the Lord had from his eight prime queens (ashta patraanis).




Shri Krishna-Rukminiji’s Sons:


1. Pradyumna
2. Charu Deshna
3. Sudeshna
4. Charudeha
5. Sucharu
6. Charugupta
7. Bhadracharu
8. Charuchandra
9. Vicharu
10. Charu

Srimad Bhagavata says that  the  first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, and also born of her were Charudeshna, Sudeshna and the powerful Charudeha, along with Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu and Charu (SB 10.61.8-9).  Charudeshna mentioned here is an incarnation of Ganesha or Vinayaka according ISKCON Following whom Siva appointed as Vighnesa or Vighnaraja or Lord of Obstacles.

Shri Krishna-Rukminiji’s Sons:

1. Pradyumna
2. Charu Deshna
3. Sudeshna
4. Charudeha
5. Sucharu
6. Charugupta
7. Bhadracharu
8. Charuchandra
9. Vicharu
10. Charu


Shri Krishna-Satyabhama‘s Sons:

11. Bhanu
12. Subhanu
13. Swabhanu
14. Prabhanu
15. Bhanumaan
16. Chandrabhanu
17. Bruhadbhanu
18. Atibhanu
19. Shribhanu
20. Pratibhanu


Shri Krishna-Jambavati‘s Sons:

21. Samba
22. Sumitra
23. Purujit
24. Shatajit
25. Sahasrajit
26. Vijay
27. Chitraketu
28. Vasumaan
29. Dravin
30. Krutu


Shri Krishna-Nagnajiti alias Satya’s Sons:

31. Veer
32. Chandra
33. Ashwasen
34. Chitragu
35. Vegavaan
36. Vrush
37. Aam
38. Shanku
39. Vasu
40. Kunti


Shri Krishna-Kalindi‘s Sons:

41. Shrut
42. Kavi
43. Vrush
44. Veer
45. Subahu
46. Bhadra
47. Shanti
48. Darsh
49. Purnamas
50. Somak


Shri Krishna-Lakshmana’s Sons:

51. Prabodh
52. Gatravaan
53. Simha
54. Bal
55. Prabal
56. Urdhvag
57. Mahashakti
58. Sah
59. Oja
60. Aparajit


Shri Krishna-Mitravinda’s Sons:

61. Vruk
62. Harsh
63. Anil
64. Grudhra
65. Varddhan
66. Annad
67. Mahash
68. Paavan
69. Vanhi
70. Kshudhi


Shri Krishna-Bhadra alias Shaibya’s Sons:

71. Sangramjit
72. Bruhatsen
73. Shoor
74. Praharan
75. Arijit
76. Jay
77. Subhadra
78. Vaam
79. Aayu
80. Satyak

Source:

 Lord Krishna demonstrates his impartiality towards all the wives as demonstrated by 10 sons for each of his wives.



DAVID FRAWLEY ON KRISHNA WE NEED TO CONNECT TODAY



For the practice of yoga, Krishna is the Yogavatara, the incarnation of yoga in all its aspects of knowledge, devotion and action.

If there is any single figure who represents India, its yogic spirituality, vibrant culture and great history, it is Shri Krishna. This is not any easy choice as India is also the land of Buddha, Rama, Shankara and other sages of the highest order.
Similarly, if there is any single book that conveys the wisdom of India to the world, with its synthesis of yogic teachings and cosmic consciousness, it is Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita. The Gita remains the most read and published book from India after many thousands of years.
The Bhagavad Gita is the prime scripture of Hindu dharma and Shri Krishna is its most visible teacher. Yet this fact has occurred not because Krishna gave us a simple dogma or en masse prescription, or claimed to have spoken the last word – but because Shri Krishna brings together all that is profound, beautiful and wonderful in human thought and action, and links it with the Supreme Divine.
Shri Krishna was a multisided personality, a renaissance man who mastered every domain of human life according to the highest inner vision. He was not simply a monk, a prophet or a saint, but a master of our full human potential, in the world and beyond the world, as illumined by an unlimited Divine Light from within the heart.


Shri Krishna’s many teachings
For the study of the most transcendent Vedantic philosophy of Atman and Brahman, Krishna’s key teachings in the Bhagavad Gita remain central, unlocking the Upanishadic wisdom of the highest Self-realisation.
For the practice of yoga, Krishna is the Yogavatara, the incarnation of yoga in all its aspects. His Gita is one of the most important Yoga Shastras with each chapter forming a special yogic approach of its own.
As a teacher of devotion, Shri Krishna reigns supreme as the ultimate image and guide of Divine Love, as detailed in the many heart-rending stories about him.
For Karma Yoga and transformative action, Krishna’s counselling to Arjuna in the Gita is the foundational teaching. As a statesman and diplomat par excellent no one compares with Krishna.
That is why Krishna and the Gita became the inspiration for India’s Independence movement with Tilak, Aurobindo and Gandhi.


Shri Krishna and the beauty of life
Yet besides his towering spiritual and philosophical stature, Krishna became the splendorous icon of art, music and dance – lauded in India’s literary and artistic traditions and temple worship, north and south, east and west. His flute is the basis of all music. His ras lila is the ultimate dance. Indian painting revolves around his colorful image.
Moreover, Krishna has a special form and teaching for every age group and every phase of human life. There is the infant or bal Krishna delighting his mother, the trickster youthful Krishna fascinating his friends, Krishna as the enchanting lover with his consort Radha, extending to Krishna as the husband, friend, warrior, king, and supreme guru, each with its own wide dimension of experience and wisdom.
Krishna holds all the colo\rs of the rainbow of human life, extending into all the colors of the boundless universe, represented by the peacock feather that he wears, and the all-encompassing cosmic form that he assumes in the Gita.


The need to connect with Krishna today
Krishna reflects the beauty, diversity, abundance, paradox and profundity of India as a whole. On his birthday one can honor any or all the many facets of the bejeweled light of Krishna.
The world today needs the vast wisdom of Krishna, along with his creative inspiration, diplomatic sagacity, and divine sense of play and delight.
Our world is too heavy with material attachment, intellectual opinions, political propaganda, exploitation of nature, and violence inciting cults in the name of God.
We should listen to Krishna’s flute once more and open up to our own inner reality in the divine play of consciousness and bliss.
We can contact Krishna in any way we wish, with or without form, within or without, in music or in silence, in dance or in stillness. He will surely respond.
The message of Krishna is to carefully face all life’s difficulties directly and decisively but remember to affirm that bliss is eternal, from Kurukshetra to Vaikuntha.







 



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