Importance of Janmastami ( Padma Purana): Once Narada asked Shiv ji about various Vratas (fasts) which also make one go beyond mundane bonds. In order to explain the effect of certain fasts, Shiva narrated a tab to Narada. Long long ago, there was a ruler of the earth named Raja Harischandra. Once, he spotted the child sage Sanat Kumar perched atop a golden hill. Out of curiosity, the king came near to him and sat before him hand bound. When the sage allowed him to speak, the king said: O sage! I am a chakravarty king. What were my deeds in the consequence of which I received so much property and authority and what should I do so that this kind of riches and power ever remain with me? Sanat Kumar replied : O great king! In your previous life, you were honest and god fearing trader since you had became indifferent to all wealth, your brethren had almost ostracised you. Gradually, you remained alone. Although, your wife tried to be honest with you, there came a stage when she left you also. This made you leave your home in utter penury. Reaching near a pond filled with many lotus flowers, you began to survive by selling off those flowers. Once you reached Kashi with your stock of flowers you have found the ruler of Kashi, Indradyumna celebrating the festival of Janmastami with his daughter. They used to observe strict fast of Janmastami and worship lord Krishna quite frequently. You offered flowers to that Krishna Idol and happened to pass the entire night worshipping lord Krishna by singing devotional songs. The princess was impressed with your unflinching devotion who observed your offering flowers had completed the ritual of her worship. Feeling obliged, she tried to grant you something in return in the form of money and other costly items, but you just refused to accept anything in return. The princess also offered you some royal food. Despite your starving for the day, you refused the food. Since your devotion was not guided by any desire of return, you earned great merit. In return, you become such a great king in this life. Your present position is the result of that worship on that holy day of Vart. King asked, but what should I do now to continue enjoying, all these comforts and benefits? Please tell me in details about the ritual worship the should perform on the day of Janmastami. Sanat Kumar replied: now, I enlighten you on the ritual worship on the day of Janmastami, as ordained by creator Brahma. Then he spelt on the formal worship. On the day of Janmastami which falls on the 8th lunar day of the dark half of the month Shravan, the devotee should bathe early in the morning with water having black sesame( til seeds) soaked overnight. He/ she should bathe with five pitchers of water. Taking a fresh earthen pitcher, clean it with milk and other materials and put five costly gems into the pitcher. Anoint it with the mark of sandalwood paste making a half-moon and the Nakshatra Rohini. The god ( Krishna) on that day should be clad in white clothes. Light incense before the idol and sing devotional songs for the day and night. Celebrate the lords advent to the mortal world at midnight, and offer pancake as the prasad. Concluding the description, Sanat Kumar said: when you did that worship unknowingly, you became a king. Now, if you do it knowingly, you will surely get not only lord Krishnas unflinching devotion, but final release from the cycle of birth and death. You will attain emancipation, if you observe the vrata with full ritual.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:15:21 +0000
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