KRISHNA (Sanskrit : कृष्ण) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the supreme God in his own right He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities Krishna’s birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar. The anecdotes and narratives of Krishna’s life are generally titled as Krishna Leela He is a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Bhagavad Gita, and is mentioned in many Hindu philosophical, theological, and mythological texts They portray him in various perspectives : a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and as the universal supreme being His iconography reflects these legends, and shows him in different stages of his life – such as An infant eating butter A young boy playing a flute A young boy with Radha or surrounded by women devotees A friendly charioteer giving counsel to Arjuna

WHO IS LORD KRISHNA ?

• KRISHNA (Sanskrit : कृष्ण) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the supreme God in his own right
• He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities
• Krishna’s birthday is celebrated every year by Hindus on Krishna Janmashtami according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, which falls in late August or early September of the Gregorian calendar
• The anecdotes and narratives of Krishna’s life are generally titled as Krishna Leela
• He is a central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Bhagavad Gita, and is mentioned in many Hindu philosophical, theological, and mythological texts
• They portray him in various perspectives : a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and as the universal supreme being
• His iconography reflects these legends, and shows him in different stages of his life – such as
  • An infant eating butter
  • A young boy playing a flute
  • A young boy with Radha or surrounded by women devotees
  • A friendly charioteer giving counsel to Arjuna
• The name and synonyms of Krishna have been traced to 1st millennium BCE literature and cults
• In some sub-traditions, Krishna is worshipped as Svayam Bhagavan (the Supreme God) and it sometimes known as Krishnaism
• These sub-traditions arose in the context of the medieval era Bhakti movement
• Krishna-related literature has inspired numerous performance arts such as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, and Manipuri dance
• He is a pan-Hindu god, but is particularly revered in some locations such as
  • Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh
  • Dwarka and Junagadh in Gujarat
  • The Jagannatha aspect in Odisha
  • Mayapur in West Bengal
  • In the form of Vithoba in Pandharpur, Maharashtra
  • Shrinathji at Nathdwara in Rajasthan
  • Udupi Krishna in Karnataka
  • Parthasarathy in Tamil Nadu and
  • Guruvayoorappan in Guruvayoor in Kerala
• Since the 1960s – the worship of Krishna has also spread to the Western world and to Africa, largely due to the work of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)

NAMES & EPITHETS OF LORD KRISHNA

• The name “Krishna” originates from the Sanskrit word Kṛṣṇa, which is primarily an adjective meaning “black”, “dark”, “dark blue” or “the all attractive”
• The waning moon is called Krishna Paksha, relating to the adjective meaning “darkening”
• The name is also interpreted sometimes as “all-attractive”
• As a name of Vishnu, Krishna is listed as the 57th name in the Vishnu Sahasranama
• Based on his name, Krishna is often depicted in idols as black- or blue-skinned
• Krishna is also known by various other names, epithets, and titles that reflect his many associations and attributes
• Among the most common names are Mohan “enchanter”; Govinda “chief herdsman”, Keev “prankster”, and Gopala “Protector of the ‘Go'”, which means “Soul” or “the cows”
• Some names for Krishna hold regional importance; Jagannatha, found in Puri Hindu temple, is a popular incarnation in Odisha state and nearby regions of eastern India
• Krishna may also be referred to as Vāsudeva-Krishna, Murlidhar, and Chakradhar
• The honorary title “Sri” (also spelled “Shri”) is often used before the name of Krishna

NAMES IN DIFFERENT STATES OF INDIA

KRISHNA IS COMMONLY WORSHIPPED AS

1. Kanhaiyya / Bankey Bihari / Thakurji: Uttar Pradesh
2. Jagannath : Odisha
3. Vithoba : Maharashtra
4. Shrinathji : Rajasthan
5. Guruvayoorappan / Kannan: Kerala
6. Dwarakadheesh / Ranchhod: Gujarat
7. Parthasarathy / Kannan : Tamil Nadu

DESCRIBE THE ICONOGRAPHY OF LORD KRISHNA

• Krishna is represented in the Indian traditions in many ways, but with some common features
• His iconography typically depicts him with black, dark, or blue skin, like Vishnu
• However, ancient and medieval reliefs and stone-based arts depict him in the natural color of the material out of which he is formed, both in India and in southeast Asia
• In some texts – his skin is poetically described as the color of Jambul (Jamun, a purple-colored fruit)
• Krishna is often depicted wearing a peacock-feather wreath or crown, and playing the bansuri (Indian flute)
• In this form, he is usually shown standing with one leg bent in front of the other in the Tribhanga posture
• He is sometimes accompanied by cows or a calf, which symbolise the divine herdsman Govinda
• Alternatively, he is shown as a romantic young boy with the gopis (milkmaids), often making music or playing pranks
• In other icons, he is a part of battlefield scenes of the epic Mahabharata
• He is shown as a charioteer, notably when he is addressing the Pandava prince Arjuna character, symbolically reflecting the events that led to the Bhagavad Gita – a scripture of Hinduism
• In these popular depictions, Krishna appears in the front as the charioteer, either as a counsel listening to Arjuna or as the driver of the chariot while Arjuna aims his arrows in the battlefield of Kurukshetra
• Alternate icons of Krishna show him as a baby (Bala Krishna, the child Krishna), a toddler crawling on his hands and knees, a dancing child, or an innocent-looking child playfully stealing or consuming butter (Makkan Chor),holding Laddu in his hand (Laddu Gopal)
• As a cosmic infant sucking his toe while floating on a banyan leaf during the Pralaya (the cosmic dissolution) observed by sage Markandeya
• Regional variations in the iconography of Krishna are seen in his different forms, such as Jaganatha in Odisha, Vithoba in Maharashtra, Shrinathji in Rajasthan and Guruvayoorappan in Kerala
• Guidelines for the preparation of Krishna icons in design and architecture are described in medieval-era Sanskrit texts on Hindu temple arts such as Vaikhanasa agama, Vishnu dharmottara, Brihat samhita, and Agni Purana
• Similarly, early medieval-era Tamil texts also contain guidelines for sculpting Krishna and Rukmini
• Several statues made according to these guidelines are in the collections of the Government Museum, Chennai.
• Krishna iconography forms an important element in the figural sculpture on 17th-19th century terracotta temples of Bengal
• In many temples, the stories of Krishna are depicted on a long series of narrow panels along the base of the facade
• In other temples, the important Krishnalila episodes are depicted on large brick panels above the entrance arches or on the walls surrounding the entrance
   

LORD KRISHNA – INFLUENCE ON PERFORMANCE ARTS

• The Krishna stories have played a key role in the history of Indian theatre, music, and dance, particularly through the tradition of Rasaleela
• These are dramatic enactments of Krishna’s childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. One common scene involves Krishna playing flute in rasa Leela, only to be heard by certain gopis (cowherd maidens), which is theologically supposed to represent divine call only heard by certain enlightened beings
• Classical dance styles such as Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam in particular are known for their Krishna-related performances
• Krisnattam (Krishnattam) traces its origins to Krishna legends, and is linked to another major classical Indian dance form called Kathakali

KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI – CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA

The date of Krishna’s birth is celebrated every year as Janmashtami

• Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu
• It is observed according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar – on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in Bhadrapada which overlaps with August or September of the Gregorian calendar
• It is an important festival, particularly in the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism
• Dance-drama enactments of the life of Krishna according to the Bhagavata Purana (such as Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila), devotional singing through the midnight when Krishna was born, fasting (upavasa), a night vigil (Ratri Jagaran), and a festival (Mahotsav) on the following day are a part of the Janmashtami celebrations
• Krishna Janmashtami is followed by the festival Nandotsav, which celebrates the occasion when Nanda Baba distributed gifts to the community in honor of the birth

• Proposed Datings (Hinduism)  – The supposed location of where Krishna spent his last moments – fixes the death of Sri Krishna on 18 February 3102 BCE at the age of 125 years and 7 months
• Proposed Datings (Jainism) – According to mythologies in the Jain tradition, Krishna was a cousin of Neminatha -Neminatha is believed in the Jain tradition to have been born 84000 years before the 9th-century BCE Parshvanatha, the twenty-third tirthankara

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE & SYMBOLISM OF JANMASHTAMI ?

• Krishna is Devaki and Vasudeva Anakadundubhi’s son and his birthday is celebrated by Hindus as Janmashtami, particularly those of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition as he is considered the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Janmashtami is celebrated when Krishna is believed to have been born according to Hindu tradition, which is in Mathura, at midnight on the eighth day of Bhadrapada month (overlaps with August and 3 September in the Gregorian calendar)
• Krishna was born in an area of chaos
• It was a time when persecution was rampant, freedoms were denied, evil was everywhere, and when there was a threat to his life by his uncle King Kansa
• Immediately following the birth at Mathura, his father Vasudeva Anakadundubhi took Krishna across the Yamuna, to foster parents in Gokul, named Nanda and Yashoda
• This legend is celebrated on Janmashtami by people keeping fast, singing devotional songs of love for Krishna and keeping a vigil into the night
• After Krishna’s midnight hour birth, statues of baby Krishna are washed and clothed, then placed in a cradle
• The devotees then break their fast, by sharing food and sweets
• Women draw tiny footprints outside their house doors and kitchen, walking towards their house, a symbolism for Krishna’s journey into their homes

HOW IS JANMASHTAMI OBSERVED & CELEBRATED ?

JANMASHTAMI IS CELEBRATED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS WITH VARIATIONS BASED ON REGIONS & OTHER FACTORS

DAHI HANDI (NEST DAY)

KITE FLYING

FAIRS

FASTING

TEMPLE VISITS & DECORATIONS

TRADITIONAL SWEET DISHES and many more

 

Some communities celebrate Krishna’s legends such as him as a Makkan chor (butter thief).

• Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting, singing, praying together, preparing and sharing special food, night vigils, and visiting Krishna or Vishnu temples
• Major Krishna temples organize recitation of Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita
• Many communities organize dance-drama events called Rasa Lila or Krishna Lila
• The tradition of Rasa Lila is particularly popular in the Mathura region, in northeastern states of India such as Manipur and Assam, and in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat
• It is acted out by numerous teams of amateur artists, cheered on by their local communities, and these drama-dance plays begin a few days before each Janmashtami

DAHI HANDI – BREAKING THE EARTHEN POT

Govinda pathaks forming a human tower to break the Dahi handi

• The participants form a pyramid consisting usually below 9-tiers, and are given three attempts to break the earthen pot
• DAHI HANDI involves communities hanging a clay pot filled with yogurt (dahi), butter, or another milk-based food at a convenient or tall height
• Young men and boys form teams, make a human pyramid, and attempt to reach or break the pot
• As they do so, people surround them, sing, play music, and cheer them on. It is a public spectacle, and an old tradition
• More recently, Dahi Handi was lavished with media coverage, prize money and commercial sponsorships
• The event is based on the legend of the god Krishna along with his friends mischievously stealing butter and other curd from neighbouring homes in Gokul as a child
• He is also called Makhan chor or butter thief
• The neighbours would try to avert his mischief by hanging the pots high out of his reach, but Krishna would find creative ways to reach them
• The event involves making a human pyramid and breaking an earthen pot filled with milk, curd, butter, fruits and water which is hung at a convenient height, thus imitating the actions of child Krishna
• Sometimes the prize money is added to the pot instead
• The terms govinda (also another name of Krishna) or govinda pathak are used to refer to the people who participate in forming this human pyramid
• They practise in groups weeks before the actual event
• These groups are called mandals and they go around the local areas, attempting to break as many pots as possible during the event
• Pyramid formation needs coordination and focus; the lowest layers consist of the most people, preferably sturdy, while the middle layer players need to pay attention to those below as well as the others standing on their shoulders
• The outer layer individuals need to focus on maintaining balance
• As lighter people are needed higher up, the topmost layer usually has a single child
• Breaking the pot usually ends up with the contents spilling over the participants
• Traditionally, spectators threw water on the participants to deter them and people chant in Marathi “Ala re ala, Govinda ala” (govindas have arrived)
• The pyramid formation is often accompanied by crowds, music and dancing
• In 2012, a mandal called Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from Jogeshwari, Mumbai, made an entry into the Guinness World Record by forming a human pyramid of 9-tiers 43.79 feet (13.35 m) at the Dahi Handi event held in Thane; the previous record was held by Spain since 1981

KRISHNA JANMASTHAN TEMPLE COMPLEX

MATHURA