Janmashtami is celebrated in various parts of Mithila and all over India to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. It is observed on the Ashtami day of the Shravan (July/August) month according to the Hindu calendar. The temples of Vrindavan witness an extravagant and colourful celebration on this occasion. Raslila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

Legends

According to the legends, the birth of Lord Krishna took place under extraordinary circumstances. Krishna was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who comes to the world to get rid of all evil demons. He was born at midnight stroke on a dark, rainy night to 'Devaki' and 'Vasudev' who had been imprisoned by Devaki's brother Kansa.

It had been foretold that the eighth son of Devaki would kill the evil king Kansa. Upon hearing this prophesy, Kansa had his sister put into prison. He killed her seven children one by one but when Krishna was born, there was divine intervention to save the life of baby Krishna. The guards had fallen into deep slumber and were unable to inform their master about the newborn child.

A voice commanded Vasudev to take the baby to Gokul and exchange with the newborn baby Nanda and Yashoda. The shackles and the prison gates opened miraculously and Vasudev carried the child in a small basket, through the waters of Yamuna. As it was a dark stormy night, the waters of Yamuna were raging but parted to let the carrier of the divine Krishna pass. A huge snake known as Adisesha with 2000 hoods, glided behind them, its hoods formed a protective canopy over the child.

When Vasudev returned back with Nanda's child the shackles fastened and the doors closed and the guards awakened. Kansa came and picked up the child to hurl it to the wall and kill him but somehow the baby slipped from his grasp and took the form of a Goddess laughing at Kansa, she vanished after telling him that the one who would kill him had already taken birth and was elsewhere.

As a little boy, Krishna was the heartbeat of Gokul, a mischievous prankster who was favourite amongst the gopikas. He used to steal curd and butter from the houses of gopikas. Even though he was a child, he performed several miracles. His exploits are now the immortal legends of Braj. He killed a number of 'asuras'(devils), vanquished the Kali Nag and later he killed Kansa as it had been foretold.
Composed By Jay Chandra Jha Views@mithilalive.com