Janmastami, celebrated with outstanding devotion and joy all over Hinduism, is the birth of Lord Krishna; who is known to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight), in the month of Bhadrapada.
The festival has great spiritual significance, denoting the victory of good over evil. A lot of people during this time keep fasts, chant mantras from the Bhagavad Gita and participate in colourful processions and cultural performances; reenacting scenes from Krishna’s life.
During this time of the year, Mathura and Vrindavan are decorated in full swing with natural flowers and countless lights. Devotees (Bhagats) from all over the world come together to celebrate through prayers and rituals. Janmashtami is a festival that does not have any religious boundaries and reunites people in the festivities with Krishna’s teachings of love, compassion and righteousness.
As we proceed onto this blog, let us dig deeper into the unspoken tales and spiritual essence of the rituals. Know about the planetary positions along with the festivals’ astrological importance.
Planetary Positions During Krishna Janmashtami
Astrologically, the birth of the Govinda (श्रीकृष्ण) is of great significance due to the alignment of celestial bodies at that moment. Although it is a little difficult to pinpoint the exact positions of the planets at that point, astrologers have made several efforts to detect the approximate position of the planets.
The Sun (सूरज) signifies the soul and the living life force on earth. Lord Krishna was born at midnight when the Sun was absent. It denotes his divine nature and powerful ability to overcome the limitations of the physical world.
According to Vedic Astrology, the Moon (चंद्रमा) plays an important role during the birth of Krishna. It is known that he was born under the Rohini Nakshatra which is associated with the moon. A strong moon in the birth chart points to emotional intelligence, charisma(charm) and creativity.
Jupiter (बृहस्पति), also known as the Guru or the planet of wisdom, is believed to be at a favourable condition at the time of birth of Krishna. It blessed him with compassion, wisdom and divine knowledge of the universe.
In order to find the Lagna at Krishna’s time of birth astrologers consider Rohini Nakshatra, which was also his birth star. Rohini Nakshatra comes under the Taurus zodiac sign (Vrishabha Rashi). Therefore, Taurus is often associated with Lord Krishna’s Lagna.
While the position of the other planets is on an assumption basis, astrologers take an idea of the position of Mercury, Venus and Mars (मंगल, बुध, शुक्र) in Lord Krishna’s birth chart. These planets effectively influence communication skills, charm and courage.
Astrological Insights of Janmashtami
Lord Krishna’s birth during the midnight is a symbol of his divine purpose to guide humanity from darkness (ignorance) towards light (knowledge and wisdom). This tells us the spiritual significance of Janmashtami, pointing towards the importance of spiritual awakening (आध्यात्मिक जागृति). The favourable planetary positions at the time of Lord Krishna’s birth contributed to his charming personality due to which he was able to attract people, making him a loved idol amongst his followers.
Furthermore, the strong moon in his birth chart reflects his great emotional intelligence, enabling him to connect with people on a meaningful level. However, Jupiter's influence suggests that Lord Krishna was born with an inbuilt wisdom and a great understanding of the universe. He has delivered valuable teachings such as Bhagavad Gita, stressing on the importance of dharma (duty) and spiritual enlightenment.
The Festival Today
Nowadays, Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with great love and passion by millions of people all over the globe. However astrology plays an important role in the celebration of this sacred festival. During this time, people can connect with the vibrant energy of Krishna and receive blessings of their own. Thus we can discover that Janmashtami is not only just a festival, but also a time to explore the celestial aspects of Lord Krishna’s birth through the lens of astrology.
