Shri Krishna Janmashtami or Shri Krishnaashtami is the day when we
celebrate the birth; birth means manifestation, manifestation of
Ananda, Bliss, Pure and Happiness. It is the occasion of expressing
our happiness in different ways. It is the day when we install that
divine joy in us. It is an occasion that the divine joy became
manifest and evident in us. The name and form given to this joy is
Shri Krishna. One who sees Shri Krishna everywhere, in everyone, and
sees everyone in Krishna is truly loveable to Krishna. One who
recognizes Shri Krishna as the divine joy; the manifestation of Ananda
is truly a wise person. The whole creation is depending upon that
Ananda; divine joy. When one becomes innocent like a child, then one
can realize and understand Shri Krishna.
Shri Krishna, the most loved and colourful manifestation of Isvara.
Kansa, the tyrant ruler of Mathura, vows to kill the sons of his
sister Devaki and husband Vasudev, because he comes to know that
Devaki and Vasudev’s son would kill him. He imprisons the couple and
mercilessly slaughters their newborns. In this way, he kills the seven
sons of Devaki. Then finally, on midnight of the eighth day - ashtami,
the baby Shri Krishna is born in the prison. Shri Krishna finally
kills the cruel Kansa and his associates and liberates Mathura from
his tyranny.
In our Life, there is a war happening on continuous basis between our
‘likes and dislikes’ and values - war between two opposite forces.
Kansa represents the forces of likes and dislikes, which chain us and
torment us for years. Here seven births represent the likes and
dislikes of seven different kinds. At each birth, we find ourselves
caged and overpowered by the Kansa or likes and dislikes and
insecurities of different nature. They are the likes and dislikes of
the fear of survival, the fear of not being good enough; the fear of
being powerless; the fear of not being loved; the fear of comparisons;
the fear of seeing reality and finally the fear of acceptance and lack
of gratitude.
Ultimately, the demonic and complex insecurity forces of Kansa kill
us, until we learn the lessons of overcoming these seven afflictions.
It is only then that we are able to realise the manifestation of Shri
Krishna within us. When we are able to cross all these insecurities,
we become the place of birth and find Shri Krishna in our heart. When
we are one with Shri Krishna in our heart, we know we are the master
and our life becomes a sonnet of Joy and we experience oneness with
the creation and the creator. We have to become emotionally mature to
see and recognize insecurities and ask ourselves, whether we should
align ourselves with the all-loving Shri Krishna inside you, or
insecurities symbolizing Kansa. True love itself kills all kinds of
Kansa. All insecurities are destroyed by true love.
