Krishna Janmashtami
History & Mythology
A prophecy foretold that Devaki's eighth child would slay her tyrant brother King Kansa of Mathura. Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva on their wedding day, methodically killing each child as it was born. When the eighth child—Krishna—arrived at midnight during a raging storm, the prison doors flew open by divine will and the guards fell into a deep sleep.
Vasudeva placed the newborn in a basket and waded across the flooded Yamuna. The river, recognizing the divine child, parted to let him pass, touching the baby's feet as though in worship. Vasudeva exchanged the infant with a baby girl born to Yashoda in Gokul and returned to prison before dawn. When Kansa tried to kill this girl-child, she transformed into Goddess Yogamaya and warned him that his destroyer had already been born elsewhere.
Krishna's childhood in Gokul and Vrindavan is one of the most beloved of all sacred narratives—the butter thief, the Rasa Lila dances, the lifting of Govardhan hill on one finger to shelter villagers from Indra's rain, and his eventual slaying of Kansa. The Bhagavad Gita—spoken to the warrior Arjuna before the Kurukshetra war—is Krishna's eternal gift of wisdom to humanity, addressing the fundamental human struggle between duty and attachment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.