Khana Priyam: A tribute to Lord Krishna

Krishna Janmashtami / simply Janmashtami / Gokulashtami is an annual hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, 8th avatar of Vishnu. Krishna was born in the Rohini nakshatra, in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, on the 8th day of the waning moon (Krishna Paksha) at midnight.

I always had an interest in learning and understanding the Hindu festivals ! In fact, i have a separate notebook where i write down the history, significance behind the festival , the offerings to be done, the shlokas to be chanted etc...

This blog was not born on a single night! I always had the passion to write blogs (especially food and culture) ! Food - because, i loved to eat (when i did not know the meaning of cooking, now i love to cook). Culture - because, my family celebrated each and every festival in its own way and ensured the tradition is not forgotten and passed on to the next generation. That's what i am striving for right now, trying to teach my son the importance and significance behind each festival.

So, why am i starting the new label with Janmashtami? Obviously, the recent love and respect that i developed towards Lord Krishna. Growing up, i just know gokulashtami is Krishna's birthday and i can enjoy all the home made snacks and sweets. My grandmother would ask me to chant few shlokas which i obediently did (for the sake of eating bakshanams). So, why did i mention the word "recent"? During this lock down period , my husband and I watched the series "Mahabharath". This is not the first time for me though. I have read a book, watched different versions of it, but those times, it did not create any impact. This recent watch made an impact ; those sayings of Lord Krishna, the relationship between Arjuna and Krishna, between Draupadi and Krishna, between Pandavas and Krishna, the Bhagavad gita (without which Mahabarath doesn't exist, at least for me) etc.. I developed a strong respect and love for him, a single post is not enough to describe his leelas.

The series had these lines in its title song which i loved the most :

"கிருஷ்ணரின் மகிமையும் கீதையின் பெருமையும் ஒன்றாக சங்கமிக்கும் புண்ணிய காவியம்...மஹாபாரதம் "

"Krishnarin mahimayum geethayin perumayum, ondraga sangamikum punniya kaaviyam.. Mahabharatham.." So true!

I felt i wanted to do something special for his birthday (sincere offerings and prayers is the least that i can do). This is the first Gokulashtami after starting a blog and moving to our own house. So i thought i should not miss it. Without his blessings, nothing is possible is what my mind said.

Recently, i read an article regarding Lord Krishna and number 8. How krishna is associated with number 8? I wanted to share that here in this post.

Krishna and Number 8 :

He is the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

He is the 8th son of Devaki and Vasudeva.

He took birth on the 8th day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight).

Krishna had mainly eight wives, he is called Ashtabharya (Ashta means eight, bharya means wife). He had 16100 gopis (1 6 1 = 8) He had 80(8 0 = 8) sons from his 8 wives.

He lived for 125 (1 2 5 = 8) years.

In numerology, the number 8 represents infinity and everything good in the universe is infinite. It is the number, supplying infinity and abundance without any lack of infinite wisdom, infinite prosperity, infinite love, infinite joy, and infinite happiness. In other words, it is the number of completeness and unending abundance.

The number 8 have no ending and it loops back itself. No one knows where it starts and where it ends. Like number 8, no one knows what is hidden in the mystic smile of lord Krishna. Like infinity, lord Krishna cannot be understood.

Master of Rasaleela :

There are 8 Rasas or emotions of drama (love, humor, sadness, anger, courage, fear, horror, and wonder). Lord Krishna is the master of Rasleela. The science of Yoga has eight limbs, the ashtanga yoga or the eight-limbed yoga. The ashtanga yoga is the considered the complete yoga. And he is known as Yogiraj . The best form of salutation to the deity is considered the eight-fold salutation (shashtanga namakaskaram).

8 forms of Laxmi :

There are 8 forms of Laxmi. Laxmi is the consort of lord Vishnu. These eight forms of Laxmi are the eight Shaktis of Lord Vishnu. And in Krishna incarnation, these eight Shaktis became his eight wives. He is Pathi (husband/owner) of these eight forms.

Thus, duality - pain or pleasure, happiness and distress, victory or defeat, love or hatred, he is the complete. He is a know-er of the infinity, never bewildered with finite and its upheaval. His mystic smile expresses that. Thus, number 8 is the best suited indication of his personality.

Krishna takes up so many forms. Famous ones - Santhana gopala krishna (for pregnancy), sammohana krishna ( a very rare form of krishna for peaceful life), etc..

The rare form of Lord Krishna called Sammohana Krishna , who is half of lord krishna and half of rukmani. There is a shloka associated with this form of krishna which can be chanted everyday for pure marital bliss and to beget children.

It will be never ending if i have to write his entire story. A small video covering important phases of his life, at least the phases which i admired the most after hearing or reading! I have added my favorite title song as the music from the famous show "Nalam Tharum Narayaneeyam" (Doordarshan channel) - A tribute to Lord Krishna on his birthday!

Usual Offerings on the day :

Flowers (Tulsi included)

Betel leaf, Paaku, Fruits, Coconut

Milk, Curd, Butter

Poha / Aval, Jaggery

Any Sweet

Vadai

Bakshanams / Snacks

My Gokulashtami 2020 :

This year i wanted to make it grand. Two reasons : One for Lord krishna and another one for my charming kutti krishna. He absolutely love Bakshanams and snacks. So, with full love, i made Ribbon Pakoda , Mullu Muruku, Seedai [happy that i got a few good ones for krishna(s), remaining burst].

A video of my little krishna chanting a sloka from Krishnashtagam (Dhyana sloka of bhagavad gita) ! Love his mazhalai :)

Other offerings:

Diary : Milk, Freshly prepared and fermented curd, Butter

Aval and Fruit : Aval panchamritham (just to include jaggery , poha, fruits and honey in a single dish)

Sweet : Appam, Milk Kheer (Paal Payasam), Karupatti Almond Burfi (Healthy)

Savory : Paruppu Vadai

Flowers : Flower maalai (made at home) and few tulsi leaves from my backyard.

Betel leaf and nut , coconut and fruits!

The pooja is done in the evening (since krishna was born at midnight) by chanting few krishna shlokas.

A simple pooja at my house :

May this Krishna Janmashtami bring happiness in your life! Let him come inside your house and take away all worries and sorrows..! Enjoy the festival with LOVE in your heart..!