Sri Krishnashtami /Sri Krishna Jayanti / Gokulashtami

Send Sri Krishnashtami Greetings

Kasthuri Thilakam Lalaata Phalake ! Vakshasthale Kousthubham!
Naasaagre Nava Moukthikam ! Karathale Venum !
Kare Kankanam ! Sarvaange Hari Chandanancha Kalayam !
Kanthecha Mukthavali! Gopa Sthree Pariveshtitho !
Vijayathe Gopala Choodamani !

Hail to You O King of Cowherds. Your divine beauty glows with the dark musk line on the forehead (Kasthuri Thilakam), shining jewel (Kousthubham) on the breast, the circular ornament at the end of the nose with nine pearls (Nava Moukthikam), holding Flute (Venu), with blazing bracelets (Kankanam), the Sandal (Chandanam) applied on the body spreading fragrances, wearing the pearl necklace (Mukthavali). Salutations to you Diadem of Cowherds, surrounded by the shepherdesses.

Sri Krishna Ashtami is celebrated marking the occasion of birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Almighty Vishnu. It falls on the Bahula Ashtami (The Eighth day after the full or new moon) in the Sravana Maasa (The Fifth Lunar Month that fall between August and September of Georgian Calendar). Lord Krishna was said to have born in Rohini Nakshtra (Aldebaran Asterism). Sri Krishna Ashtami is also known as Sri Krishna Jayanthi (birth anniversary) and Gokula Ashtami.

The culture of celebrating birth anniversaries of famous personalities, according to historians, triggered off with that of Lord Krishna.

Two traditions are in practice to celebrate the occasion. Believers celebrate the festival giving importance to star or asterism. They rejoice on the Sravana Maasa Bahula Ashtami night during the transition of Rohini Nakshatra. Others follow a culture of performing the tradition giving importance to Thithi (The date by computation of lunar days by which religious rites are regulated. They make merry on Bahula Ashtami with Rohini Nakshatra either in Sravana Maasa or Bhadrapada Maasa (The Sixth month of the Hindu year in which the moon’s changes takes places when the Sun is in Virgo).

On the day of Sri Krishna Ashtami people wake up early. After attending to the nature calls, they bathe with cold water added with Tulasi leaves (Sacred Basil, termed to be sacred to God Vishnu). Elders say the effect of taking bath with Tulasi and cold water gives the result equivalent to bathing in all the Holy Rivers of the country.