Awakening Sanatan

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Krishna Janmashtami (2021)

Janmashtami is the celebration of the birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, the eighth avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu on Earth. Shri Krishna's birth is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. On the day of Krishna Janmashtami, Krishna devotees offer prayers and various kinds of rituals are held in different parts of the country which are inspired by the life of Baby Krishna.

'Janm' means birth and 'Ashtami' means Eighth. Bhagwan Shri Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu in which He was born as the eighth son of Vasudev and Devaki on the eighth tithi.

• When is Janmashtami celebrated ?

Bhagavan Sri Krishna was born at midnight on Ashtami tithi (8th day) under Rohini Nakshatra. The month of Shri Krishna's birth is Shravan as per Amanta calendar and Bhadrapad in Purnimantha calendar. This corresponding to August - September months on English calendar and the exact date depends on the lunar cycle.

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The original lyrics of Raghupati Raghava Rajaram are attributed to Shri Lakshamanacharya

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The 13th century poet Saint Gyandev created a children's play called Moksha Patam. The British later renamed it Snakes and Ladders and diluted the whole knowledge instead of the original Moksha Patam.

In the original one hundred square game board, the 12th square was confidence, the 51st square was reliability, the 57th square was generosity, the 76th square was wisdom, and the 78th square was tenacity. These were the squares where ladders were found and one could move quickly.

41st class was for disobedience, 44th class for vanity, 49th class for rudeness, 52nd class for stealing, 58th class for lying, 62nd class for drunkenness, 69th class for debt , 84th class for anger, 92nd class for greed, 95th class for pride, 73rd class for murder and 99th class for lust.

These were the squares that waited for the snake to open its mouth. The 100th square represented Nirvana or Moksha.