॥ हर हर महादेव हर ॥ Janmashtami, the pious day marking the birth of the deity Supreme’s incarnation as the omnipresent, omnipotent, and transcendental Lord of the three worlds. For those adhering to the teachings of the Sanatan Dharm, Janmashtami is a joyous amalgamation of the victory of divinity over evil, hope for the future, and the mark for new beginnings. The Birth of the Primeval Lord Shri Krushna, falls on the eighth day of the Waning moon (Krushna Paksh Ashtami) of the month of Bhadrapad. Ashtami, being a tamasic tithi (void of all benefits), beseeched the Lord to be born on an Ashtami to rid the hesitation and hostility surrounding that particular day. The merciful Lord promised to be incarnated as Krushna, on an Ashtami, not only negating the negative aspects of an Ashtami, but marking it as the powerful reiteration of the ultimate truth (Krushna Janm). Janmashtami is observed not only by Vaishnavs around the world, but all Sampradays which fall under the Sanatan Dharm. On this day, Hindus around the world fast on fruits, drink milk, eat dairy products and engage in a vivid range of spiritual practices from engaging in deep austerities, to performing street plays, based on the appearance of Bhagvan Shri Krushna. These street plays reflect on the grand personality of the benign Lord, and His compassionate nature. The Supreme Lord Shri Krushna, in His universal song, the Bhagvad Gita, explains His true form, His form as Brahman, the ultimate reality, and goal of all concentration: अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः । अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥ गीता १०।२० ॥ O Arjun, I am the Supreme Ultimate Consciousness within the hearts of all living entities, I am the beginning, middle, and end of all life. This verse of the Gita proves the ultimate reality of Shri Krushna, referred in the Gita as Bhagvan, the possessor of all qualities. The crowning jewel of all devotional texts, the Bhagavatam preaches a threefold introduction of the primordial Lord, His features, His occupation, and His benevolence: सच्चिदानन्द रुपाय विश्वोत्पत्यादि हेतवे । तापत्रयविनाशाय श्री कृष्णाय वयं नुमः ॥ भागवतम् १।१।१ ॥ He who if the face of truth, consciousness, and bliss, the reason behind this creation, it’s sustenance and it’s destruction, and the destroyer of the threefold agony (self-inflicted, inflicted upon by others, and inflicted by nature), to such a Shri Krushna, we offer our prostrations. Bhagvan Shri Krushna is not only portrayed as unification of the trinity, but as the underpinning reality of all existence. His benevolent nature rids one of stresses brought up by the individual or his surroundings. The fundamental reality of the compassionate Lord is further elaborated in the profound proclamation in the Gita: यच्चापि सर्वभूतानां बीजं तदहमर्जुन । न तदस्ति विना यत्स्यान्मया भूतं चराचरं ॥ गीता १०।३९ ॥ O Arjun! I am the root cause of all living beings, there is nothing, moving or stationary, in all of creation which exists independent of Me. Of all life, Bhagvan Shri Krushna is the imperishable energy, fostered temporarily in the mortal coil of what we call creation, whether it be the entire universe, or our own bodies, the macrocosm, or the microcosm. On the day of Janmashtami, may we understand our true nature, perfect our being, and merge our consciousness with the Supreme Truth, Bhagvan Shri Krushna. सत्यम् परम् धीमही
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 07:54:54 +0000
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