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  1. #1

    New to Krishna Janmashtami

    I would like to do something very small for my first Krishna Janmashtami.

    I am low on money, puja supplies and live on my Universities campus. What are some small rituals I can do to celebrate Krishna's birth? Any simple traditions? What are the bare essentials?
    I am taste in water, son of Kunti,
    I am light in the moon and sun.
    The sacred syllable Om of all the Vedas,
    Sound in ether, manliness in men.
    [vii.8-10]

  2. #2

    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    you bring the good old days of janamshtami celebrations when we were kids.

    on the eve on janamashtami me and my friends used to get a lot of sand and make landscape with hills, rivers (used to place a pipe under and let the water flow to give the effect of water flowing), jail in which Krishna was born over a mountain and place Bal Krishna Idol in it, and adorn it with trees, plastic birds, small statues of men and women to give it village look.put lights around. people would come visit, have a darshan and also donate money. was enough for few goodies

    may be you could try that.believe me its a lot of fun

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    Just visit a Krshna temple where the entry is free

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    I am low on money, puja supplies and live on my Universities campus. What are some small rituals I can do to celebrate Krishna's birth? Any simple traditions? What are the bare essentials?
    Namaste WTyler,

    I can understand how hard it can be to observe these religious festivals when you are away at college with not much money or resources. I remember reading from your other post that you are quite a bit away from any Hindu temple, so that's probably not a feasible option. I know during Janmashtami that devotees observe a 24 hour fast, and hold an all night vigil for the birth of Sri Krishna. A murti of baby Krishna is worshipped, and at midnight after He has been bathed and clothed, He is placed inside a cot and sung to with bhajans and hymns. I assume you have internet connection from being able to post here, so maybe you could use Youtube to play songs with. Read from the Bhagavad Gita on this night, or other tales about the life of Krishna. If you can make a small offering, even as small as lighting a lamp and offering water, then do so. If you're not a diabetic and it's not going to cause you harm, then why not try a water fast? Whatever you do, remember that what's most important is the love you bring before Krishna. All other things pale in comparison with this bhakti you have in your heart for Him.

    "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

    Om namah Shivaya
    "Watch your thoughts, they become words.
    Watch your words, they become actions.
    Watch your actions, they become habits.
    Watch your habits, they become your character.
    Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

    ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
    Om Gam Ganapataye namah

    लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
    Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    I too am looking forward to celebrating Janmashtami. I don't have murti of baby Krishna, but I have one of Him as a child (with a tub of butter, of course ). I have print images of Him as a baby. They are very easy to find.

    Now, as to the fast... the calendar shows August 21 as the holiday. Does that mean that it begins at midnight of Saturday 8/20 into Sunday 8/21? And is the fast from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday? Or is everything forward one day?

    At midnight, I'll at least make an offering of light, water, fruit, flowers, prayers.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    Namaste Minotaur,

    Unless I'm mistaken, devotees fast all day on Janmashtami up until midnight. Unless you plan on breaking your fast then, I guess you'd end up fasting from 00:00 hours on Saturday 21st to after midnight and into the morning of the next day on Sunday 22nd.

    Om namah Shivaya
    "Watch your thoughts, they become words.
    Watch your words, they become actions.
    Watch your actions, they become habits.
    Watch your habits, they become your character.
    Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

    ॐ गं गणपतये नमः
    Om Gam Ganapataye namah

    लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
    Lokaah SamastaaH Sukhino Bhavantu

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    Yes I can keep a fast. It may not be waterless, though I will try. I'm also going to check the temple's calendar.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    namaste WTyler.

    It's not necessary to have a mUrti--idol of child KRShNa; a portrait,--even if it is on the screen of your laptop--will do. Pray to shrIKRShNa on his birthday and offer him incense, flowers, water and possibly some sweet (even a pinch of jaggery, raisins or honey will do). It is the bhakti-bhAvam--mentral frame of devotion, that matters. You can fast if you prefer on the previous day, but janmAShTami is a day of celebration of shrIKRShNa's birthday, preferably treating him as a child and pouring affection on him. Child KRShNa is not any different than any child that you love and relate to. Listen to KRShNa bajans and if possible read end enjoy stories about his bAlya lIlas--boyhood heroics.

    Some more information here:
    http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/sho...0&postcount=33

    Quote Originally Posted by WTyler View Post
    I would like to do something very small for my first Krishna Janmashtami.

    I am low on money, puja supplies and live on my Universities campus. What are some small rituals I can do to celebrate Krishna's birth? Any simple traditions? What are the bare essentials?
    रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
    ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥

    To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.

    --viShNu purANam

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    Re: New to Krishna Janmashtami

    Namaste all.

    Quote Originally Posted by shantiseeker View Post
    TBTL
    As a Westerner too, I can relate to you. I too get into concerns that oh no, I must get it done perfectly, or it's just one big farce. I reckon part of it comes from the going through the motions rituals from our Christian backgrounds, worship is on Sundays, a set "lectionary series" and worship service (for RC and mainline Protestant services). I am speaking for myself-it might be a little different for you, or maybe I'm off base.
    It's absolutely the same way for me. We had rituals we did not knowing why we did them, said prayers we didn't know why we said them, attended services not knowing why we attended them.

    Heaven forfend that you missed Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation! It is a mortal sin. For those unfamiliar with the what Roman Catholicism really is, a mortal sin, if unrepented for (i.e. confession to a priest) would send you straight to Hell for eternity. There's the loving Christian God for you.

    I am beginning to "practice what I preach" from what is in my signature: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

    I am finally starting to settle down and realize I feel connected to God, for me, through his Vishnu avatars, mostly Krishna, but Shiva too, and through Ganesh who I also seek help when I literally am up against a brick wall. (which lately is an awful lot, but I'm seeing results which are making a positive difference).For the first time, I feel authentic in my prayers, and indeed, intent actually is valued in SD.
    Again, I can relate to that. I feel a connection to God I never felt before. Someone told me that based on my devotions (I'm coming to dislike the word 'worship': it's so... so... "Christian"), I hold a variant Smārta view; my Ishta-deva is Krishna, however.

    Quote Originally Posted by devotee View Post
    Namaste all,

    ii) You may take up fast without food but taking water occasionally during the fast
    iii) You may do "falahaaar" (taking only fruit & milk but no cereals/salt)

    b) The fast starts from early in the morning & continues upto midnight i.e. till the birth of Lord Krishna. During this time devotees do bhajan-kirtan & reading Bhagwad Gita
    I already told my boss I am going to take Monday off.

    Myself, I am aiming for fast number ii; my understanding is that it's really a full 24 hour fast, midnight Saturday morning to midnight Sunday at the Lord's birth. Since I'm not a nighttime refrigetator-raider, 8 or 9 hours will have passed already fasting.

    Prasadam must contain Tulsi-leaves unless there is some real difficulty in getting the same. If it is not available then ask for forgiveness from Lord Krishna conveying the helplessness in arranging for the same & request him to accept the Prasadam without that. Let's remember that normally, no offering is given to Lord Vishnu without Tulsi-leaves.
    This is a problem for me. I am looking for a source of a Tulsi plant, aka holy basil. If my local stores don't have ghee, I'll try to make my own. After every puja I ask forgiveness for anything I've done wrong or neglected, or was ignorant of. I don't think one should deliberately "cheapen" or neglect a devotion, but I think the Lord accepts the best we can do. I sent for a panchapatra along with some other puja items. I'll make panchamrita for each offering, as well as the other items, and hopefully find a Tulsi plant.
    śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ

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