Janmashtami Puja
Krishna's birth at midnight: cradle, abhishek and makhan-mishri
Common way — most homes
Janmashtami, Krishna Ashtami of Shravana (Amanta), with the main worship at midnight, in Nishita Kaal. Muhurtha shows the time on the festival card.
About 45 minutes around midnight; decorating is extra
Krishna was born at midnight, so the home waits up for him. A small cradle is decorated, the baby Krishna is bathed, dressed and rocked, and butter and sugar are offered, the sweets he is said to have stolen as a child. If a mantra is hard, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›Krishnaya Vasudevaya ›Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ›Achyutam Keshavam ›Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki ›
Get ready
A day or two before
- Decorate a small cradle (jhula) with flowers and cloth; children enjoy this part.
- Buy tulasi, and a small set of clothes for Laddu Gopal if you do not have one.
On the day
- Make the panjiri and makhan-mishri ahead, and keep the panchamrit items ready.
- Keep the fast from the morning if you wish, and rest in the afternoon so you can stay up.
What you need
For Krishna
- 1Small idol of baby Krishna (Laddu Gopal), or a picture
- 1Cradle (jhula), with flowers and clothA decorated basket or small swing works too.
- A little of eachPanchamrit: milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar
- 1 setNew clothes, a small flute and a peacock feather
- A handfulTulasi leavesKrishna's naivedya is offered with tulasi.
- 1 plate eachMakhan-mishri, panjiri and fruit
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
- A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Set up the cradle
Place the decorated cradle near the puja place, with a soft cloth in it. Keep the idol covered or aside until midnight.
Settle in
Sit facing east or north before the deity on a mat or folded cloth. Keep the plate on your right. Take a breath and let the day wait for a few minutes.
Achamana — sip water three times
Pour a little water into your right palm and sip it three times, saying the first three names, one with each sip. Then wash your right hand with a little water while saying the fourth.
ōm kēśavāya namaḥ. ōm nārāyaṇāya namaḥ. ōm mādhavāya namaḥ. ōm gōvindāya namaḥ.Salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava; salutations to Govinda.Purify yourself and the place
Hold a flower dipped in water and sprinkle a few drops on yourself, the plate and the altar while saying this verse.
ōm apavitraḥ pavitrō vā sarvāvasthāṁ gatō'pi vā. yaḥ smarēt puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ.Whether pure or impure, in whatever state, one who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord is pure within and without.Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Dhyana — invite the deity
Close your eyes and picture the deity before you. Offer a pinch of akshat as you invite them to be present.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya. dhyāyāmi, āvāhayāmi.Midnight — the birth
As Nishita Kaal arrives, gather everyone. Ring a bell or blow a conch and say "Nanda ke anand bhayo" or simply call out his name with joy. Bring out the baby Krishna.
Abhishek with panchamrit
Place the idol on a plate. Pour milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar over him, one at a time, then clean water, while chanting.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya.Dress him
Pat him dry with a soft cloth. Dress him in the new clothes, put on the crown or peacock feather, and place the small flute by his hand.
Gandha — sandal paste
Apply a dot of chandan or kumkum to the deity with your ring finger.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya. gandhaṁ samarpayāmi.Pushpa — flowers
Offer the flowers at the deity's feet, one or a few at a time.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya. puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi.Dhupa — incense
Light the incense and wave it gently before the deity three times, clockwise. Ring the bell with your left hand if you have one.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya. dhūpam āghrāpayāmi.Deepa — the lamp
Lift the lamp and show it to the deity, circling it clockwise three times.
ōm namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya. dīpaṁ darśayāmi.Naivedya — makhan-mishri
Place the makhan-mishri, panjiri and fruit before him, with a tulasi leaf on each. Sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with folded hands.
Rock the cradle
Place him in the cradle and let everyone take a turn rocking it gently. Say this verse together, or sing any bhajan you know.
kr̥ṣṇāya vāsudēvāya harayē paramātmanē. praṇataklēśanāśāya gōvindāya namō namaḥ.To Krishna, son of Vasudeva, Hari, the highest self, who removes the troubles of those who bow to him, to Govinda, salutations again and again.Krishnaya Vasudevaya ›Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ›Achyutam Keshavam ›
Aarti
Light the lamp and sing Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki with the family, circling the flame clockwise.
Pradakshina — circle in reverence
Turn around clockwise in your place three times (or walk around the altar if there is room), saying this verse.
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakr̥tāni ca. tāni tāni vinaśyanti pradakṣiṇapadē padē.Whatever wrongs were done in past lives are destroyed with every step taken around the Lord.Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.Parana — break the fast
Many break the fast after the midnight puja with the prasad. Others wait until the next morning, within the time shown on the fast card. Follow your family's way.
Fasting
Many keep a fast from morning until the midnight puja, with fruit and milk if needed. Elders, children, the unwell and those who are pregnant should eat as they need; the fast is not worth harm.
Good to do
- Let children decorate, rock the cradle and sing; this is a festival for them too.
- Share the panjiri and makhan-mishri with neighbours the next day.
Tradition avoids
- Offer the naivedya with tulasi, but tradition does not pluck tulasi after dark, so pick it during the day.
- Do not hurry the midnight moment; if everyone is tired, keep it short but keep it joyful.
The whole puja is the welcome of a child. Do it the way you would welcome a baby into your own home.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.