Sri Krishna Janmashtami
August 19, 2022
The birthday of Lord Krishna, known as Sri Krishna Jayanti, is a day celebrated with great love, zeal and bhakti all over India. Lord Krishna was born at midnight on the eighth day after the full moon, which is known as ashtami. It was in the auspicious month of Shravana Masam that Sri Krishna chose to take a human birth, or janma, to uphold righteousness on earth. As such, this day is also commonly referred to as Krishna Janmashtami.
Singing the name of Sri Krishna
On this day people everywhere will sing the name of Sri Krishna, observe fasting, stay awake until midnight and also listen to scriptural readings of the Bhagavad Gita, the essential teachings narrated by Lord Krishna to the Pandava prince Arjuna. The Gita describes how to live in dharma and how to attain liberation from the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation.
This year, Krishna Jayanti will be celebrated on the 19th of August at Amma’s Penusila Forest Ashram by worshiping of the Divine Saligrama stones, which are sacred embodiment’s of Lord Maha Vishnu. On this day, performing Saligrama puja is advantageous and fitting, as Lord Krishna is one of the recent incarnations of the Lord Maha Vishnu.
Read Amma’s Special Messages & Guidance
Embodiments of Divine Souls, Amma’s beloved children, sometimes during our life we fall into depression and mental commotion. This same thing happened to Arjuna. Arjuna was so disturbed and felt he could not face the challenges of life. But Lord Krishna was behind Arjuna. God is always behind you, children. In the middle of the battlefield Sri Krishna gives the great teaching of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Sri Krishna is giving a complete teaching to Arjuna and to everyone on how to live in dharma. Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, it is a complete teaching. Bhakti yoga, is the path of devotion. It is so sweet and takes us to moksha. And Karma Yoga Sri Krishna teaches to Arjuna.
What is karma yoga? If we are performing our actions hoping that we will get some name, fame, or somebody is going to notice us, really is it karma yoga? This is not karma yoga, children. Sri Krishna is teaching nishkama karma yoga. Nishkama means selflessly and without expecting anything. When we practice nishkama karma yoga we develop great atma shakti, inner strength and self-confidence. We get atma tejas, divine inner light. When we are so selfless children, all of our acts bring us contentment and happiness to others also.
On Sri Krishna Jayanti we are going to do a special Saligrama Puja at ashram, and we are going to offer tulsi to God. Why are we offering tulasi? Tulasi is nothing but purity only. We have to become pure, like the tulasi plant, and Lord Krishna will bless us with spiritual inclination.
On Sri Krishna Jayanti if you know how to chant Vishnu Sahasranama that is very good to do . If you don’t know how to do that, it is ok. Sit in front of Sri Chakra. Meditate. Chant the name of God. If you want to offer naivedyam to Sri Chakra, you can offer milk, butter or yogurt for Sri Krishna Jayanti. Do puja and prayers in your own faith. Lord Krishna bless every one of us and helps us to perform dharmic actions. He is the one who blesses us with bhakti and jnana.
Have more faith in God and more love towards God, children. Definitely you are going to reach your destination with your sincere love on God and spiritual practices. This Sri Krishna Jayanti we will be doing Salagrama abhishekam and Tulasi puja on everyone’s behalf and for our entire world-home. Amma’s motherly love and special blessings to you.
What are Saligramas?
Saligrama Silvari Darshanam Sarva Roga Hareenim
Saligrama Silvari Darshanam Sarva Papa Kshayam
Saligrama Silvari Darshanam Moksha Samrajya Dakayakam
Simply to let your vision behold the sacred Saligrama stones will destroy all kinds of disease, annihilate all negative karmas, and grant you the kingdom of enlightenment.
Saligramas are sacred, black stones found in the Himalayan river known as the Gandaki. They are the living, conscious embodiments of the Lord Maha Vishnu. Like the worship of Lord Shiva in the aniconic form of a Lingam, the worship of Lord Vishnu can be performed to a Saligrama stone. While a Lingam can be made form a variety of materials, and even carved by a human being, the Saligrama, however, is never made by a human and can only be found in the Gandaki River.
Various idols of Lord Visnu may also be sculpted into forms like Sri Rama, Narasimha or Lord Krishna, for example. After the murti (idol) has been completed, it will undergo the rituals and process of consecration, before being used for any worship. Salagramas, regardless of if cracked or chipped, are worthy of worship immediately and do not require any consecration. Just as fire is latent within a dry log, so does the Lord Vishnu burst forth form the Saligrama when it is worshiped.
A Saligrama stone should never be purchased, sold or bought. It should be given by a well-wisher, holy person or ascetic.
Poojas
Aug 19, 2022. Friday
