Devotee:
Hello viewers. Offering my salutations to Mother Bama Tara of Shantikunjo, I am starting today's episode. We have a piece of good news to share with you today. Today is the 75th birthday of our Gurudev, Shri Shri Shyamakhyapa. On this occasion, we were holding a very modest ceremony here at the temple. Gurudev mentioned that as Janmashtami is approaching, he would like to say a few words about it. So, in today's episode, Gurudev will speak about Janmashtami. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam. Janmashtami means the day Krishna was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the lunar fortnight. The lunar mansion was Rohini Nakshatra. Krishna was born on the Ashtami under the Rohini Nakshatra. In India, the birth of Krishna is not celebrated unless the Rohini Nakshatra prevails. As you all know, Kansa was a tyrannical king. He was the brother of Devaki. It was prophesied that the eighth child of Devaki would be the cause of Kansa's death. Kansa was very vigilant. He killed seven children one after another by slamming them against the ground. Later, he imprisoned Devaki so that she couldn't escape. However, the divine plan cannot be changed. On a stormy and rainy night, Devaki gave birth to her eighth child. Vasudeva (Devaki's husband) immediately took Krishna to Gokul. At the same time, Adyashakti Mahamaya was born in the house of Nanda in Gokul. Vasudeva swapped the babies, leaving Krishna at Nanda's house and bringing Mahamaya back to Kansa's prison. The next morning, Kansa heard that Devaki's eighth child was born. He rushed to the prison and was surprised to see a girl instead of a boy. He thought it was impossible, but he decided to kill the child anyway. As he tried to slam her against the ground, Mahamaya slipped from his hands and vanished into the sky. She prophesied, "He who will kill you is growing up in Gokul." Her body then fell upon the Vindhyachal Mountains. Even today, Mother Mahamaya is worshipped there. There is a temple of Adyashakti Mahamaya near a large Banyan tree, where she is still being worshipped. Kansa had no other choice but to imprison or kill all the boys of Krishna's age in Mathura and surrounding areas. He committed terrible atrocities. However, he couldn't harm Krishna. Kansa then sent a demoness named Putana (Taraka) to kill Krishna. She tried to breastfeed Krishna with poisoned milk. Krishna, sensing her evil intent, sucked her life out with such force that she died on the spot. As Krishna grew up, he performed many miracles, such as the subduing of the serpent Kaliya and the killing of Bakasur. Once, while feeding him, his foster mother Yashoda saw the entire universe inside his mouth. He was also known as 'Noni Chora' (the butter thief) because he loved eating butter made from cow's milk. Eventually, Krishna killed his maternal uncle, Kansa. He then became involved in the Kurukshetra war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. He guided the Pandavas and helped them win the war against the Kauravas through various strategies. After the war, the Pandavas felt guilty for the blood on their hands. They consulted sages who advised them to go to Varanasi and perform an Ashwamedha Yagna at the Dashashwamedh Ghat. However, even after the Yagna, they were not fully at peace. On their journey toward heaven, they reached Kedarnath. Lord Shiva (Kedarnath), seeing them, tried to avoid them as their hands were stained with blood. Bheem caught Shiva, who had taken the form of a bull. Shiva's head fell at Panch Kedar, and the back part of his body remained at Kedarnath. It is said that worshipping five Shivas is equivalent to visiting Kedarnath. The Pandavas then continued their journey toward heaven. Along the way, most of them fell, except for Yudhisthira and a dog that followed him. Yudhisthira was the only one who reached heaven in his mortal body, although he had once uttered a half-truth: "Ashwatthama is dead, the elephant." This was a strategy used during the war to make Dronacharya drop his weapons, as he believed his son Ashwatthama had died. Krishna's life came to an end following a curse from Gandhari. After the Kurukshetra war, Gandhari cursed Krishna, saying that just as he caused the destruction of her family, his own Yadu dynasty would also perish. Krishna was eventually struck by an arrow shot by a hunter named Jara, which hit his foot. It is said he died of gangrene from that wound. When they tried to cremate his body, everything burned except for his heart. A divine voice instructed them to throw the heart into the sea. The heart, still beating, was carried by the waves and eventually reached the shores of Puri. Lord Jagannath appeared in a dream to King Indradyumna of Puri and asked him to rescue his "body" (the heart) from the sea and establish a temple. The King's soldiers couldn't lift the heart because it was too heavy. Jagannath told the King he must lift it himself. The King then established the heart within the idol of Lord Jagannath. Every twelve years, the "Nabakalebara" ritual takes place where the idols are replaced, and the sacred heart is transferred to the new idol. Today, Lord Jagannath is worshipped worldwide. As the Kali Yuga (the current age of darkness) progresses, many signs are appearing in the Jagannath temple, suggesting that the end of this era is near. It is said that Jagannath will eventually leave his current temple and move to a new one called Dignakalnath.
Devotee:
Thank you, Gurudev. We have heard the story of Lord Krishna from his birth to his departure, and even about Lord Jagannath. It was wonderful to hear these stories on your birthday. Pranam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Blessings to all.
Devotee:
Thank you to our viewers as well. Pranam.