The spiritual significance of Krishna Janmashtami

1. The prophesy of good over evil

"Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata

Abhythanama dharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham

Paritranaya sadhunang vinashay cha dushkritam

Dharmasangsthapanarthay sambhabami yuge yuge

The famous shloka from Chapter 4 of Bhagavad Gita was translated by the great 19th century philosopher-monk Swami Vivekananda  as follows:

"Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O Bharata,

And there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth ;

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers,

For the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age."

At the midnight hour when moon transited the constellation Rohini, in the month of Bhadrapada, in the tithi (lunar day) of Ashtami (8th day) of Krishna Paksha (waning moon) Lord Krishna was born. His birth marks like the tithi 'Ashtami' itself—a sign of courage to move forward, the strength required for goodness to win over evil and light to win over darkness. It also marks unwavering determination to stand up for righteousness.

2. The divine protection in dangerous times

Despite being the powerful King Kamsa's own nephew, Krishna's birth takes place in a prison. Devaki and Vasudeva are blessed with the baby boy, as their 8th child who is prophesized to kill the tyrannical inhuman Kamsa and restore justice and balance to Mathura and the surrounding world.

The night was a difficult one for both the parents, as they had to secretly without waking the guards of prison or making Kamsa aware of Krishna's birth, take the little born to the house of Gokul— where Nanda was eagerly waiting for the child.

Despite thunder-storm and torrential rain, the myth tells us that little Krishna who was carried in a basket by Vasudeva was protected by the canopy of hood of Serpent King Adisesha. There was serpent Kaliya waiting in Yamuna river, who was a steadfast ally to King Kamsa, but Adisesha who is also said to be the avatar of Shesha Naga (a devout servant of Lord Vishnu) has descended on the mortal plane to serve Lord Krishna and protect his safety. 

Therefore, the birth of Lord Krishna itself shows that divine protection follows and safeguards the one who is born to establish righteousness.

3. Not Krishna's birth mother: the devotion of great Yashoda Maiyya

Janmashtami helps us remember that Krishna was raised with so much care and affection not by Devaki— his biological mother, but Yashoda who loved and pampered him in a way that makes her the epitome of motherhood.

Janmasthami is perhaps the reminder of motherhood to every woman. It reminds us that one need not give birth to a child to necessarily be a mother.  In this sacred festivity therefore, thousands of women celebrate by making 8 types of sweet-dishes for little Kanha's idol and pray for a little child— called 'Gopal'. They also put the idol in a swinging cradle and feed it spoonful of milk and other delicacies.

The entire ritual is a significant moment of celebrating motherhood and putting emphasis on the “nurturing" aspect of it than the "birthing" aspect.

4. The sacrifice of Krishna's sister Yogmaya

The mythology goes that Krishna's sister, who is said to be the incarnation of Goddess Durga had come to take place as a child to Devaki and Vasudev after Krishna was safely given away to Nanda and Yashoda.

When Kamsa learns about the birth, thinking it is a male child, attempts to kill the child.  It is then, Yogmaya (an avatar of Goddess Durga) reveals herself to Kamsa and tells of Krishna's birth.

Janmashtami is therefore the remembrance of great sacrifices like casualties in war which occur before the victory of Good over Evil.

Lord Krishna's birth and safety actually put a lot of people of Gokul, Vrindavan and Mathura in danger, as Kamsa grew more impatient to find out his prophesized end.

5. The ignored warnings

Several times throughout Kamsa's life Narad rishi comes to warn him of his impending doom. Akash-vani (divine message from skies) also confirm his death at the hand of Devaki's 8th child (Lord Krishna).

Kamsa however considers himself beyond the powers of Sages and Gods, so he is openly disrespectful towards everyone and goes on committing heinous crime against his sister by killing all her 7 children, and also locking her with her husband in prison unlawfully.

The birth of Krishna and the occasion of Janmashtami is therefore the remembrance of the fact that— before the fall of the tyrant, lots of warnings and prophesies are usually ignored. However, ultimately Good always triumphs over Evil.

6. Dahi-handi ritual and the Leela of Krishna

Krishna's janmasthami is celebrated with the playful mischievous event of dahi-handi. Where a group of little boys dress like playful lord Krishna and they form a pyramid. Then one of them climbs to the top and breaks the pot with makhan (butter), dahi (yogurt) or other sweets stuffed in it.

It is the enactment of Krishna's Leela (playful spell) as a child where he makes every boy in the village participate with him in the stealing of makhan. It is a playful theft, that's why he is called ‘Nat-khat nanda-lala’ (mischievous son of Nanda).

Janmasthami therefore marks the celebration of Krishna's Leela (his spell) where all the adults forgive and wait for children to do their plays. It is a moment to celebrate childhood and the forgotten joys of boyhood days.

7. A note of celebration and playfulness

Krishna's birthday (Janmashtami) marks the beginning of several other related processions and religious events i.e. Rasaleela and Radhashtami (Radha's birthday). The month of August till early September is marked with several devotees engaging in different cultural and religious functions depicting different phases of Krishna's life.

Radha and Krishna's divine love is given special importance through Rasa-leela functions.

The Bhagavad Gita and portions of Vishnu Purana are read at different places throughout these two months celebrating and fostering the teachings of Lord Krishna and the wondrous manifestations of Lord Vishnu.

The celebrations including various musical and dance practices, dramas and chants point to the necessity of music and dance and playful mood to experience the Divine energy of Lord Krishna.

The most important message that Janmashtami therefore hopes to celebrate is one of playfulness.

Perhaps to experience divine love, one has to become child-like and go back to the days of a little Krishna growing in Gokul. Perhaps the whole celebration allows us to escape to our own childhood innocence, and find all our spiritual answers.

Sources:

Bhagavata Purana, translated by C. L. Goswami (2005)

Harivamsa, translated by Bibek Debroy (2015)

Vishnu Purana, translated by H. H. Wilson (1840)