Shri Krishna Janmashtami today

Shri Krishna Janmashtami today

Shri Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated tonight. The puja shall be performed at Nishita Kaal (at around 12 AM) because Shri Krishna was born to Devaki on Ashtami Tithi in the month of Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha when Rohini Nakshatra prevailed at midnight. People observe a day-long fast and break it only after completing the puja or until Ashtami Tithi ends.

Krishna Janmashtami Puja Muhurat
Shri Krishna was born at midnight. Therefore, the puja is performed during Nishita Kaal. This year's puja's timings are between 11:59 PM on August 30 to 12:44 AM on August 31.

Krishna Janmashtami Puja Vidhi
For the puja, you would need Tulsi leaves, white unsalted butter, Chandan etc. Click here to check out the complete list of Puja Samagri.

Here's the Puja Vidhi:

Dhaynam - Connect your inner self with Lord Krishna by meditating and chanting his name.

Asana - Respectfully place the idol of Lord Krishna on the palna/jhoola. Those who do not have a palna/jhoola can place the idol on a wooden platform (chowki) decorated with Rangoli.

Padya - Offer water to the Lord's feet.

Arghya - Offer water to the Lord.

Achaman- Drink water from your palm after offering it to God.

Snana - Offer water to the Lord for bathing.

Vastra - Offer a fresh piece of cloth/ dress to baby Krishna. Make the idol of Baby Krishna wear the new dress.

Yagnopaveeth - Offer the sacred Janeu. Put it diagonally over the left shoulder and under the right arm.

Gandha - Offer Chandan paste

Abharanam Hastabhushan - Offer jewellery, mor mukut and the flute.

Pushpa - Offer flowers and Tulsi leaves.

Dhoop - Offer incense sticks and dhoop

Deep - Offer an oil lamp

Naivedhya - Offer Bhog to God and Makhan

Tambulam - Offer a platter that consists of fruits, a whole coconut, paan and supari, haldi and kumkum.

Dakshina - Offer currency notes or coins

Aarti - Sing the "Kunj Bihari Aarti".

Pradakshina or Parikrama/ Circumambulate - Stand up on your feet and turn around from your right.

Pushpanjali - Offer flowers and do pranam.

Namaskar - Bow before the deity

Kshama Yachana - Seek forgiveness for any mistake that you may have committed while performing the puja.

Krishna Janmashtami Vrat Katha
The birth of Lord Krishna is one of the fascinating and captivating tales. His birth anniversary is observed on the Ashtami Tithi, Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon), when Rohini Nakshatra in the month of Bhadrapada.

For the unversed, Lord Vishnu appears on Earth every time Adharma rises and causes massive devastation. Therefore, he incarnates time and again to reinstate Dharma. Lord Krishna eliminated tyrant Kansa, his maternal uncle. He also presented the Bhagavad Gita for the benefit of humanity.

This year, ahead of Shri Krishna Janmashtami, read on to know more about Krishna's birth. Here's how the story unfolds...

Before the birth of Lord Krishna, Shri Vishnu asked Goddess Yogmaya (a manifestation of Mother Goddess) to help him in his mission. Therefore, Goddess Yogmaya took birth at Yashoda and Nanda's house in Gokul. At the same time, in Mathura, Shri Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudev (a couple held captive in a dark prison by Kansa).

With divine intervention, Vasudev (mentally in an unconscious state), carried baby Krishna to Gokul. Rains lashed Mathura and the adjoining Braj region on an eventful night. Vasudev put the baby in a basket, held it on top of his head and crossed the river Yamuna to visit his friend Nanda's house in Gokul. Meanwhile, Shesh Nag, Shri Vishnu's loyal servant, appeared to protect the baby from the rains by spreading its five-headed hood. After reaching Nanda's house, Vasudev exchanged the babies.

Subsequently, when Kansa learnt about the birth of Devaki's eighth child, he took the baby away. Oblivious that the baby girl was not Devaki and Vasudev's eighth child, Kansa went on to kill it. And as he raised his weapon in the air to kill it, the baby slipped off his hands and appeared in the sky to reveal her true form. Eventually, Kansa made several attempts to trace baby Krishna's whereabouts, but in the end, he got punished for all his wrongdoings.

Krishna Mantras and Slokas

Krishna Mantras
Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari

Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva

Krishna Moola Mantra

OM Krishnaya Namah

I bow before you, O Krishna!

Krishna Maha Mantra
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

By chanting this Mantra, you can seek the blessings of Shri Rama as well as Shri Krishna, the two avatars of Shri Vishnu.

Krishna Gayatri Mantra
OM Devaki Nandaya Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dheemahi Tanno Krishna Prachodayat

Salutations to one son of Devaki and Vasudeva, bless me with wisdom so that I can gain higher intellect

Another version of the Krishna Gayatri Mantra -