JANMASTHAMI IN 2018 – 2nd OR 3rd SEPTEMBER – WHEN TO CELEBRATE, HOW TO CELEBRATE AND REMEDIES TO BE DONE FOR GETTING LORD KRISHNA BLESSINGS

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Krishna Janmashtami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have been born about five thousand years ago in Mathura in 'Dwapar Yuga'. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Krishnashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami and sometimes simply as Janmashtami.

Every year usually there is a conflict as to the day on which Janmashtami should be celebrated. This year is also not an exception as some people are observing it on 2^nd September while some are celebrating it on 3^rd September. Through this post, I would clarify all the doubts and will suggest the date on which it should be celebrated. 

Janmashtami this year is listed for 2^nd and 3^rd September 2018. The first one is for Smartha Sampradaya and other one is for Vaishanava Sampradaya. Vaishanava Sampradaya date is the latter one, i.e. 3^rd September 2018.

First of all you must understand the difference between Smartha and Vaishnava Sampradaya. There are lots of people who do not know the real difference between these two sects and unnecessarily create confusion in the minds of readers about the way festivals have to be celebrated.

Let us first start with “Smartha” (which sometimes is also spelt as “Smarta”) sect. It is a Sanskrit word, which denotes the “smartha sampradayat”, a liberal or nonsectarian tradition or denomination of the Vedic Hindu religion, which accepts all the major Hindu deities as forms of the one Brahman, in contrast to Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism, the other three major Hindu sects, which revere Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti, respectively, as the Supreme Being. The adherents who follow the Vedas and Shastras are, in this regard, called Smarta. Smartas are, therefore, followers and propagators of Smriti or religious texts derived from Vedic scriptures. Smarta religion is practiced by people who believed in the authority of the Vedas as well as the basic premise of puranas. Smartas believe that the worshiper is free to choose a particular aspect of God to worship, to the extent that the worship practices do not contradict the Vedas and the Smritis. Sri Adi Shankara fathered the Smartha sampradayat.

By contrast, the Vaishnavite regards Sri Krishna (or Krsna) or Vishnu as the only true God, who is worthy of worship, and that all other forms as his subordinates. Accordingly, the Vaishnavite, for example, believe that only Krishna or Vishnu can grant the ultimate salvation for mankind, “moksha”.

People who are not the followers of Vaishnavism are followers of Smartism. Hindu religious texts like Dharmasindhu and Nirnaysindhu have well defined rules to decide Janmashtami day and those rules should be followed to decide Janmashtami day if one is not the follower of Vaishnava Sampradaya. In Smartha sect, the preference is given to Nishita or Hindu midnight. It may be either Saptami Tithi or Ashtami Tithi, but it is ensured that Ashtami Tithi prevails during Nishita and further rules are added to include Rohini Nakshatra also. The final consideration is given to the day which has the most auspicious combination of Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra during Nishita time. Janmashtami day according to Smarta rules always fall on Saptami or Ashtami Tithi on Hindu calendar. According to Smartha sect rules, Janmashtami this year should be celebrated on 2^nd September 2018 while Vaishnavs are celebrating it on 3^rd September 2018. The followers of Vaishnavism never observe Janmashtami on Saptami Tithi. Janmashtami day according to Vaishnava rules always fall on Ashtami or Navami Tithi on Hindu calendar.

MY SUGGESTION

I hope you will be able to get the difference between Smartha and Vaishnav and if we look at 2018 panchang, it can be clearly seen that Janmashtami should be celebrated on 2^nd September 2018 as Ashtami Tithi on which Lord Krishna was born and Rohini Nakshatra both are prevailing on 2^nd September while Ashtami tithi will end at 7.19 pm on 3^rd September 2018.  

Nishita Puja Time = 23:57 (11.57 pm) to 24:43+ (12.43 am)

Duration = 0 Hours 46 Mins

Ashtami Tithi Begins = 20:47 (8.47 pm) on 2/Sep/2018
Ashtami Tithi Ends = 19:19 (7:19 pm) on 3/Sep/2018

Fast also has to be kept on 2^nd September because at 12.00 in the night, Lord Krishna was born and we are keeping fast for HIM only. On the contrary if we celebrate Janmashtami on 3^rd September, Ashtami Tithi and Rohini Nakshatra will not be available at 12.00 in the night.

Still I would say that amid the confusion created by so called sects and organizations, you can attain full benefit by celebrating Lord Krishna’s birthday on both dates. It is an opportunity for you to worship Him and to get His blessings. Make the most of it and do not fall in trap of people who create confusion in your mind.

How to Celebrate Janmasthami

Now coming to the point of the way in which this festival should be celebrated. I think the festival is an opportunity for us to thank Him for all that He has given to us. As we enjoy attention and fun on our birthday, so does Lord also enjoys our attention on His appearance day. Worship Him in a way that you can relate yourself with the lord and in this love and devotion you will get immense happiness and satisfaction. People also keep fast on this day and if you want you can keep fast also.

1. First of all you can decorate your home for Lord Krishna. Clean your home thoroughly and invite Lord to come to your house. It would be fun, particularly for children. Encourage them in helping to make garlands, hanging balloons and festoons of leaves, and making the house beautiful for Krishna’s appearance.
2. Listen to Lord Krishna Bhajans and recite Mahamantra of Lord.
3. If you have Radha-Krishna deities, get extra special new outfits for them. Exercise your creativity and pay special attention to decorating their altar. Hold Abhisheka bathing ceremony for your deities. Simply buy different liquids like yogurt, honey, ghee and fruit juices and bathe the deity with them while singing devotional songs.
4. You must cook one special dish for the Lord which should be offered to Lord and then taken as Prasad by you. Imagine that Krishna is actually right near you in your house and you are offering this dish to Him.
5. Meditate as long as possible on this day and you can recite Lord Mahamantra also. Visit any Lord Krishna temple if possible and immerse yourself in the presence of Lord there.
6. You can bring a cake for the lord. It should be an eggless cake. Cut the cake in the midnight at 12 o Clock and have midnight Aarti (worship ceremony) with a kirtan. This is the exact time that Krishna appeared on this planet, so it is most auspicious and spiritually inspiring
7. Krishna has an immense love for cows. On the birthday of Lord Krishna, you must feed cows.

You can offer anything like bread, green grass, chapati or anything which you think would be liked by the cows. This would definitely give you mental peace, satisfaction and happiness and would also improve your planet Venus. 

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HAPPY JANMASHTAMI 2018

 “Hari Om Tat Sat”
“Jai Shree Krishna”

Acharya Vikas Kumar Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
Book phone or personal consultation by visiting our website lalkitabastro.com or lalkitabastrocentre.com