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Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Sri Krishna Ashtaka
Sri Krishna Janmashtami
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nityAnandaikarasam saccinmAtram svayanjyotih
puruShottamamajamISam vande SrIyAdavAdhISam ||
I adore Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Unborn
Lord, the Self-effulgent One, the Supreme Lord of
the descendents of Yadu, Whose nature is that of
existence and consciousness, and Whose essence is
entirely that of eternal bliss.
(Prabodha sudhAkara of SrI SankarAcArya)
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This year, Sri Krishna Janmashtami is to be observed
on the 17th of August.
The birthday of Sri Krishna is usually taken to be the
Sravana Krishna Ashtami, but is sometimes assigned to
the month Bhadrapada, especially in Northern India.
According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami is
observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at
midnight. If the ashtami tithi AND the Rohini nakshatra
occur on the same day, then the observance is considered
to be doubly sacred; otherwise the observance is held on
the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight.
The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole
night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and
Krishna's pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata,
offering arghya to Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial
breaking of the fast. The next day is celebrated as
Krishna Jayanti.
Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all Krishna
temples, especially the ones in Vrndavan, Mathura
(Uttar Pradesh), Dvaraka (Gujarat), and other regionally
famous temples.
Although, the great Vedantin Adi Sankara preached the
path of knowledge (Jnana), fiercely criticizing and
routing various schools of philosophy, he did not decry
the path of devotion (Bhakti). On the contrary, one is able
to discern from his writings that he had a "soft-corner"
for Bhakti. Sankara did not only believe in the efficacy of
Bhakti in the realization of Brahman, but he also actually
composed many stotras or hymns in praise of Visnu, Siva,
Devi, Ganapati, Skanda, etc.
One such hymn is the Sri Krishna Ashtaka or eight verses in
praise of Sri Krishna. This stotra, like many of Sankara's
stotras, has a musical effect and may be easily set to
music. It is, therefore, recommended that the stotra be
sung, not just recited. For Lord Vishnu has promised to
be present wherever His devotees sing His glories.
yatra gAyanti madbhaktAh tatra tiShThAmi nArada |
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Sri Krishna Ashtaka of Sankara Bhagavatpada
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bhaje vrajaikamaNDanam samastapApakhaNDanam
svabhaktacittaranjanam sadaiva nandanandanam |
supicchagucchamastakam sunAdaveNuhastakam
anangarangasAgaram namAmi kRShNanAgaram || 1 ||
I worship the naughty Krishna, the sole ornament of Vraja,
Who destroys all the sins (of His devotees),
Who delights the minds of His devotees, the joy of Nanda,
Whose head is adorned with peacock feathers, Who holds
a sweet-sounding flute in His hand, and Who is the ocean of
the art of love.
manojagarvamocanam viSAlalolalocanam
vidhUtagopaSocanam namAmi padmalocanam |
karAravindabhUdharam smitAvalokasundaram
mahendramAnadAraNam namAmi kRShNAvAraNam || 2 ||
I bow to Krishna Who rid Kama deva of his pride, Who has
beautiful, large eyes, Who takes away the sorrows of the
Gopas (cowherds), the lotus-eyed One. I bow to Krishna
Who lifted the (Govardhana) hill with His hand, Whose
smile and glance are extremely attractive, Who destroyed
the pride of Indra, and Who is like the King of elephants.
kadambasUnakuNDalam sucArugaNDamaNDalam
vrajAnganaikavallabham namAmi kRShNadurlabham |
yaSodayA samodayA sagopayA sanandayA
yutam sukhaikadAyakam namAmi gopanAyakam || 3 ||
I bow to that Krishna Who wears earrings made of Kadamba
flowers, Who has beautiful cheeks, Who is the only darling
of the Gopikas of Vraja, and Who is very difficult to attain
(by any means other than Bhakti). I bow to Krishna Who is
accompanied by Gopas (cowherds), Nanda, and an overjoyed
Yashoda,Who gives (His devotees) nothing but happiness, and
Who is the Lord of the Gopas.
sadaiva pAdapankajam madIya mAnase nijam
dadhAnamuktamAlakam namAmi nandabAlakam |
samastadoShaSoShaNam samastalokapoShaNam
samastagopamAnasam namAmi nandalAlasam || 4 ||
I bow to the son of Nanda, Who has placed His lotus feet
in my mind and Who has beautiful curls of hair. I adore
Krishna Who removes all defects, Who nourishes all the
worlds and Who is desired by all the Gopas and Nanda.
bhuvo bharAvatArakam bhavAbdhikarNadhArakam
yaSomatIkiSorakam namAmi cittacorakam |
dRgantakAntabhanginam sadA sadAlisanginam
dine dine navam navam namAmi nandasambhavam || 5 ||
I bow to Krishna Who relieves the burden of the earth
(by vanquishing innumerable demons and other evil forces),
Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries, Who is the son
of Yasoda, and Who steals the hearts of everyone. I bow to
Nanda's son Who has extremely attractive eyes, Who is always
accompanied by saintly devotees, and Whose (pastimes and form)
appear newer and newer, day by day.
guNAkaram sukhAkaram kRpAkaram kRpAparam
suradviShannikandanam namAmi gopanandanam |
navInagopanAgaram navInakelilampaTam
namAmi meghasundaram taDitprabhAlasatpaTam || 6 ||
Krishna is the repository of all good qualities, all
happiness, and grace. He destroys the enemies of the gods
and delights the Gopas. I bow to the mischievous cowherd
Krishna, Who is attached to His exploits, which (appear)
new (every day), Who has the handsome complexion of a
dark cloud, and Who wears a yellow garment (pItAmbara)
that shines likes lightning.
samastagopanandanam hRdambujaikamodanam
namAmi kunjamadhyagam prasannabhAnuSobhanam |
nikAmakAmadAyakam dRgantacArusAyakam
rasAlaveNugAyakam namAmi kunjanAyakam || 7 ||
Krishna delights all the Gopas and (plays with them)
in the center of the grove (kunja). He is appears as
resplendent and pleasing as the sun and causes the
lotus that is the heart (of the devotee) to blossom
with joy. I bow to that Lord of the grove of creepers
Who completely fulfills the desires (of the devotees),
Whose beautiful glances are like arrows, and Who plays
melodious tunes on the flute.
vidagdhagopikAmanomanojnatalpaSAyinam
namAmi kunjakAnane pravRaddhavahnipAyinam |
kiSorakAntiranjitam dRaganjanam suSobhitam
gajendramokShakAriNam namAmi SrIvihAriNam || 8 ||
Krishna lies down on the bed that is the minds of the
intelligent Gopis who always think of Him. I adore Him
Who drank the spreading forest-fire (in order to
protect the cowherd community). I bow to Krishna Who has
eyes which are made attractive by His boyhood charm and
a black unguent (anjan), Who liberated the elephant
Gajendra (from the jaws of the crocodile), and Who is the
consort of Lakshmi (Sri).
yadA tadA yathA tathA tathaiva kRShNasatkathA
mayA sadaiva gIyatAm tathA kRpA vidhIyatAm |
pramANikAShTakadvayam japatyadhItya yah pumAn
bhavetsa nandanandane bhave bhave subhaktimAn || 9 ||
O Lord Krishna! Please bless me so that I may sing your
glories and pastimes, regardless of the position I am in.
Anyone who studies or recites these two authoritative ashtakas
will be blessed with devotion to Krishna in every rebirth.
Note: The two ashtakas referred to above are the Sri Krishna
Ashtaka and the Krishna Ashtaka.
iti SrImacchankarAcAryakRtam SrIkRShNAShTakam sampUrNam ||
SrI kRShNArpaNamastu ||
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NOTE : I have used the following as a transliteration key.
(the obvious sounds have been omitted for brevity)
A - as in mAtA; a - as in aditi; i - as in viSeSh;
I - as in ISvar; e - as in keSava; R- as in RShi
o - as in govinda ; u - as in puruSha; U - as in citrakUTa;
c - as cidambara; ch - as in chAyA ;
d - as in dAmodara; D - as in panDita ; dh - as in dharma;
t - as in trivikrama; T - as in kUTa or pATalIputra;
th- as in SrInAth; Th - as in viThala; N - as in nArAyaNa;
Dh - as in dRDha; S - as in SrI; Sh - as in SeSha
Anand
