Do you know that India holds dear the birth of Lord Krishna? Yes, this is a traditional festival that has existed since ancient times. According to the story, the birth of Lord Krishna was peculiar. His parents were taken captives by his uncle and put in a dungeon and he was born at midnight during this period. His uncle planned to kill the baby as soon as it was born. But when the palace guards fell asleep, his father stole him away, crossed the Yamuna River and placed him in the care of Yashoda, one of the gopis.
The symbolic Interpretation of the Story
As strange as the story may sound, it is very symbolic. Krishna represents infinity, total bliss, and love. On the other hand, his mother, Devaki, is the body while his father, Vasudeva, stands as the prana of the mind. So, it is believed that the combination of the body, mind, and prana brings about the birth of Krishna, that symbol of infinite bliss.
However, it needs protection and sustenance and cannot be allowed to remain exposed to dangers. As always, Kamsa, the symbol of Ego or Ahamkara, will try to destroy or corrupt it as the slightest opportunity. Since he was the brother to Krishna’s mother, the body, the Ego goes naturally with the body and the “I” limitation which is an inseparable part of the entire being.
In order to keep Krishna safe from harm, his father who represents the prana or the mind, spirited him away to the Yamuna, the river of love or devotion. In other words, he went beyond love to arrive at the gopis and Yashoda, the symbol of devotion. Therefore, ultimate bliss can be achieved through yoga.
But, for bliss to be perfectly established and sustained, it must lead to devotion. In the absence of love and devotion, bliss cannot thrive because it will easily be corrupted by Ego. The palace guards who fell asleep at the time Lord Krishna was born are the symbol of the senses. Just as all the guards suddenly slept, all the senses must turn inward or become deactivated if bliss is to be fully achieved.
Experiencing Krishna through Yoga
You can see that the festival of the birth of Krishna goes beyond the celebration of place and time. It should be observed every day, every moment through the fusion of the body, the mind and the breath through yoga. At the moment of love and devotion, you create and nourish infinite bliss and make it an integral part of your life. There and then, you experience the true essence and reality of Krishna which has been the reason behind the celebration of Krishna Janmashtami.
2018 Timings of Krishna Janmashtami
India (IST)
• The AshtamiTithi begins at 20:47 of September 2, 2018, and ends at 19:20 on September 3, 2018
• The RohiniNakshatra starts at 20:49 on September 2, 2018, and comes to an end by 20:06 on September 3, 2018.
USA (EST)
• The AshtamiTithi commences at 11:17 on September 2, 2018, and will come to a close at 09:50 on September 3, 2018. • The RohiniNakshatra starts at 11:19 on September 2, 2018, and ends at 10:36 on September 3, 2018.