KṚṢṆA JANMĀṢṬAMĪ
Today we celebrate Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī, the birth day of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Janma means birth and aṣṭamī means "eighth". Kṛṣṇa was born during the 8th phase of the waning Moon and was the 8th son of his parents, Devakī and Vasudeva, although he was raised by his adoptive parents Nanda and Yaśodā. The name "Krishna" originates from Sanskrit Kṛṣṇa, an adjective meaning "black", "dark", or "dark blue".
Kṛṣṇa was born at midnight during the 8th day of the waning moon in the month of Bhādrapada (rainy season) while the Sun was in Leo and the Moon was in its favorite constellation Rohiṇī. This is dated by most scholars to 3228 BCE. Today we celebrate the 5251st year since Śrī Kṛṣṇa's appearance on earth.
Kṛṣṇa's birth took place in Mathurā, Uttara Pradeśa, India during a rain storm that caused the Yamunā river to flood. In his birth chart this is indicated by the Tattva Doṣa, or elemental imbalance, caused by birth in Rohiṇī nakṣatra and Bālava Karaṇa, both ruled by the Moon.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa's birth chart
Kṛṣṇa is one of the ten primary incarnations of Viṣṇu, the all-pervading force of "is-ness" that exists everywhere in all things eternally. The ten incarnations have different names, forms, and objectives during their stay on earth and all contribute to the religious history and heritage of ancient India. Kṛṣṇa is the 9th form of Viṣṇu, preceded by Matsya, Kūrma, Varāha, Nṛsiṃha, Vāmana, Paraśurāma, and Rāma, and followed by Buddha and, in the future, Kalki.
Kṛṣṇa is also the Yuga Avatāra of Kali Yuga, the current epoch that began in 3102 BCE. Kali means contention, quarrel, and discord. This age of mankind is characterized by materialism, vanity, and a loss of moral compass. The Bhagavad Gītā, the most famous teaching of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, offers protection from the intricate web of materialism (saṃsāra) by accepting one's karma or fate and completely surrendering the results of one's actions to the will of God.
Each of the forms of Viṣṇu is connected to one of the nine planets. Kṛṣṇa is the avatāra of the Moon and therefore of compassion, tenderness, and love like the pure-hearted mother who tends to her baby. Those who worship him take on these qualities and in turn Kṛṣṇa can be worshipped to overcome challenging Moon karma. Worshipping Kṛṣṇa purifies the Moon (mind), just like his adoptive parents Nanda (happiness) and Yaśodā (glory) saved him from being killed by his maternal uncle Kaṃsa.
The most famous story of Kṛṣṇa tells of the beheading of this demon king Kaṃsa. Kaṃsa lived in the royal house of Bhoja (enjoyment) and was known as Bhojapati, the lord of enjoyment. Kaṃsa had murdered the previous six children of his sister Devakī, but prophecy held that the eighth son Kṛṣṇa would in turn destroy him. According to some traditions, Devakī's womb represents bhakti (devotion) and only after the six enemies of devotion have been vanquished can Kṛṣṇa take birth in our hearts. These six are namely lust (kama), anger (krodha), greed (lobha), illusion (moha), pride (mada), and envy (matsara) and are connected to the sadripus, or great enemies seen in the 6th house of the birth chart.
The circumstances of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's birth, birth chart, behavior, and life story can all be observed and studied as a remedial anecdote for the often chaotic lives of those born in Kali Yuga. Even the simple fact that he was born in a dungeon and raised by adoptive parents serves as a guiding light to those who may come from compromised childhoods or broken families.
Happy Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī!