Krishna is the Eighth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is the teacher of Karma, the symbol of playfulness, and the Lord Krishna is example of Unconditional Love. He appeared on this Earth at midnight, approximately 5,000 years ago in Mathura. And, his message is still strong in our cells.
Yes, it is Lord Krishna.
Happy Krishna Janmashtami, Soul Tribe.
Janmashtami is all about embodying joy, playfulness, and love- prime lessons that the life of Krishna teaches us. Before learning the Spiritual significance of Janmashtami, let us explore the legend behind this festival.
The legend behind Shri Krishna Janmashtami:
Let’s start by understanding why do we really celebrate Janmashtami.
The day of Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. As the legend goes, Lord Krishna took human form to destroy Mathura’s demon king, Kansa.
Kansa was Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle. He was overpowered by arrogance and ego. He believed he could escape mortality and be invincible. However, the laws of life and death don’t bend for anyone.
As the Divine Prophecy would have it, Kansa was written to be killed by Krishna. This eventually happened when Krishna beheaded him after returning to the Kingdom.
Before the Leela (Play) of Prophecy happened, a lot of incidents took place.
Fearing his death, Kansa killed 6 of Devaki’s children (his sister and Lord Krishna’s birth mother). However, at the birth of the 7th child of Devaki, Divine Intervention took place. The birth of the seventh-born son, Balarama, was mysteriously transferred to the womb of Rohini.
When the eighth child (Krishna) was birthed, Vasudeva carried him to his cousin Nanda. Hence, Krishna was raised by Yashoda and Nanda in Gokul.
Born in a prison cell in Mathura to Devaki, Lord Krishna spent his early childhood as the playful and notorious son of Yashoda. He was the apple of the eye for everyone in Gokul.
We have all heard the stories of stealing Makhan Mishri, haven’t we? The broader message of Lord Krishna came later but the most unforgettable one remains JOY.
The Spiritual Significance of Janmashtami Celebration: Lord Shri Krishna
“For those who see me everywhere and see all things in me, I am never lost, nor are they ever lost to me.”
-The message of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita
Spiritually speaking, the significance of Janmashtami or Krishan Ashtmi lies in the celebration of these divine qualities:
- Love, joy, playfulness, and surrender
- The Divine is in everyone.
- Laws of life and death as Kansa could not escape his death
- The law of Karma taught in the Bhagavad Gita
- “Karma kar, phal ki chinta mat kar”: Do good deeds without attaching yourself to the outcome
- What goes around (good deeds & bad deeds) come around
Good will always defeat evil, maybe not immediately, but eventually
Last, but not least, the Bhagavad Gita (the tale of Mahabharta) informs us of the loudest message of Lord Krishna:
Whenever evil rises in the world, he will reincarnate to fight the evil and lead people back to the right path.
May we never give in to arrogance, may we always mind our karma, and may we always invite JOY in our lives.
Namastey.
Dr. Manmeet Kumar is a Spiritual Coach who founded Soul Miracles in 2016. She uses her gifts of being a psychic and a medium to enable others to transform their inner core.