Happy Janmashtami to all our readers. This year the Janmashtami is being celebrated today and tomorrow. On this occassion, we are happy to present the Katha that is to be read as part of the Janmashtami Puja which is already available at our site – Here .

Thanks to our Satsanghi Vidya Rangarajan for making the text of the Katha available to all of us.

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THE BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA

From - Kamala Subramaniam’s Bhagavatha

Lord Narayana who is the soul of the Universe, who is the refuge of everyone, entered the mind of Vasudeva. People were amazed to see the glow that emanated from Vasudeva. He shone like noonday sun since the Lord had found an abode in him.

Devaki received in her the embodiment of auspiciousness, the essence of all wealth and glory of the Universe, the soul of the Universe, the indestructible atman which resides in every living and non living things. Devaki had the great fortune of becoming the mother of the Lord of the Lords. Like the East glows with the newly risen moon, she looked beautiful. Her form was radiant. But the world could not see it since she was captive in the house of Kamsa. Her glory was hidden like a lamp placed inside a pot; like Saraswati, the goddess of learning is hidden in the mind of a pandit who is greedy about his learning and refuses to impart with others.

Kamsa, however knew that she was glowing with an unearthly light. Devaki was holding the lord in her womb and the entire house was bathed in a strange light since she was there.Her lips bore a beautiful smile and Kamsa, looking at her spoke to himself and said

“Devaki has never looked like this before. It seems to me this strange glow in her is there because of the child that is to be born. I think it is Narayana who is to be born and that is why she looks so very beautiful. I must take proper precautions lest he should do what he was promised to do! I do not want to die. I could kill her now. But then she is a woman; she is my sister and she is with the child. Each killing in itself is an unforgivable crime and the world will condemn me if I kill her now. All my fame and all my wealth and even my life-span will suffer because of this sin. Is it not the fact that a man who lives in constant association with terrible deeds is but a walking corps? When he is alive people will curse him and when he dies he will go to the hell, which goes by the name of Andhatmas.

Kamsa desisted from killing his sister and awaited for the birth of the child with impatience. The thoughts of the coming child had become with him an obsession. While sitting down on a seat he would suddenly stop and look at the seat since he thought he saw a child on the seat. He would tell himself, there was a child on the seat and I was about to sit on it ! Terrible ! He would then go tot bed and try to lie down and there too he would see the child. He would move away from there and stand far away. Looking down he would see a child at his feet. He would go and sit down to eat . Instead of food he would see child on the plate. He would get up in disgust and walk from there. At every step the child would persist on his way. To Kamsa, the entire world seemed to be pervaded by the Lord of The Lords in the form of a mere child.

The time was drawing near. Brahma, Mahadeva and all the devas went to the presence of Devaki and stood in front of her with folded palms and praised the Lord. They said “salutations to Thee, O Lord, you were gracious to take different forms at different times to save us from despair. You were Matsya, Hayagreeva, Kurma, Narasimha, Varaha, Hamsa, Parashurama, Rama Yadna and Kapila. Many other forms were assumed by you. Now, when the earth needs you, please save the world form the great suffering she is undergoing. We bow down to you.”

They then spoke to Devaki and said you are fortunate princess, since you will be the mother of Narayana himself. Adishesha is already born to you and this child which is to be born will be the saviour of the world. You need have no more fear of Kamsa. His days are numbered. Having pacified her and encouraged her, Brahma and rest of the celestial hosts vanished from their presence.

The time was auspicious. It had the charm of all the six seasons. The planets and the stars were in the position from where they showered peace and joy to the world. The four quarters were clear and placid and the star Rohini was in the ascent, the star which is governed by Prajapati. The sky was clear and studded with stars which were shining brightly. The waters in the river were clear and sweet. The lakes were filled with flowers, lotuses and utpalas. The trees were covered with flowers. The gentle breeze was flowing and it brought intense scents of the flowers with it. The fire which were kindled by the Brahmins were burning without smoke and an air of peace and tranquility pervaded the earth. The mind of all men were happy for no reasons, only Kamsa was unhappy. The divine dundubhi was being played in the havens, kinnaras were singing and so were Gandharvas. Siddhas and Charanas were chanting the words of praise. The Apsaras and Vidyadharas women were dancing with abandon. The Devas and Rishis showered flowers on the earth. There was heard a great rumbling from the clouds which was like roar of the ocean. It was midnight. The Muhurtha was “Abhijeet” and Narayana, who is in the hearts of everyone, was born to Devaki, wife of Vasudeva.

Devaki gave birth to Narayana like the east brings the glorious moon.

The story of the lord Krishna’s birth shows how loving and powerful Lord is. Whenever evil in the world becomes unbearable God himself comes to save us in the form of incarnation like Lord Krishna. Not even a mightiest evil can do anything against God.
Hence daily we should pray to god and remember him by repeatedly chanting his name in everything we do.

OM KRISHNAYA NAMAHA.

Krishna Janmasthami is the celebration of the day that Bhagwan Krishna incarnated in human form upon the Earth. It is celebrated at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).

The day is celebrated by worshipping Bhagwan Krishna, fasting and chanting devotional kirtan and bhajans until past midnight.
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Anant Chaturdashi puja falls on the 14th day of Bhadrapad shukla paksha (first fortnight) of the Hindu calender year.

Anant Chaturdashi has two main significances. The first is that it is the day of the immersion of Ganapati (also called Ganapati Visarjan). Thus Lord Ganesha is given farewell, only to be welcomed the next year with equal excitement.
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This is the story behind the celebration of Narasimha Jayanthi and can be read along with the puja. Our thanks to Satsanghi Vidya Rangarajan for providing this content for the web site.
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Narasimha Avatar is a proof of the Lord’s promise that, one who is totally surrendered to him, will be under the protection of Lord at all times.

Once Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahlada , what did he learn from his teacher. Prahlada replied, I have learnt the essence of all the learning that Narayana is the one who illumines everything in the mind , gives bliss and fulfillment to all. Prahlada’s answer disappointed Hiranyakasipu , and he tried all methods to divert his son from the devotion to God. The child Prahlada was subjected to all kinds of torture , but Prahlada’s devotion to god strengthened further. Enraged at his son’s unshaken devotion to his arch enemy, Hiranyakasipu decided to put an end forever to Prahlada , by all possible means.
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Today is Narasimha Chaturdasi, the appearance anniversary of Lord Narasimhadeva, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of the Supreme Lord. On this day fasting is observed until dusk, and then followed by feasting. This is a most auspicious day to remember the great mercy the Lord has upon His pure devotees to protect them from all varieties of dangerous situations.

Here are some beautiful prayers for worshipping Lord Narasimhadeva:

namas te narasiṁhāya
prahlādāhlāda-dāyine
hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-
śilā-ṭaṅka-nakhālaye
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The Sanskrit and Tamil Versions are available in PDF format and the English Version in text format for download..
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The Madhurastakam (Sanskrit: मधुराष्टकम्, madhurāṣṭakam) is a beautiful Sanskrit composition in devotion of Lord Krishna, composed by the Hindu Bhakti philosopher-poet Sripad Vallabha Acharya who flourished under the patronage of the Vijayanagar King Sri Krishnadevarya in the late fifteenth century.

This hymn was created to lead the devotee to the Path of Grace, which involves a constant love-filled devotion to Krishna by various means including singing (kirtana), remembering (smarana), conceptualizing and beholding (darshana) a lovely image of the deity upon singing of the Madhurastakam, and offering of services (seva). These acts enable the devotee to enter into the divine presence of Sri Krishna and to experience the Lord’s real essence (svarupa) which are in fact, succinctly laid down by the Madhurastakam.

The Madhurastakam deals with the qualities and deeds of Lord Krishna, all of which have been conceptualized as been dipped in madhu, meaning honey or nectar. In the eyes of the devotee, everything that pertains to Lord is sweet and graceful, he being the adhipati -Lord of all sweetness.

The body of the Madhurastakam includes many qualities, attributes and motifs associated with Krishna, including the venu flute, cows, the Yamuna river, gopis, and Krishna’s lila. These have been labeled as ‘sweet’ in the astakam. Hence, Madhurastakam plays an instrumental role in the realization of the Lord.

This mellifluous rendition of the Madhurashtakam is by M.S.Subbalakshmi.

Madhurashtakam ( Source: Wikipedia)