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| timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
Among the Hindu festivals the birth of Sri Krishna (god Vishnu) is an important one and Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm across India in places like Guruvayur, Kerala Vrindavan, Barsana, Mathura, M.P, and Dwarka GJ, Udupi, KA etc. According to Hindu mythology the birth of Lord Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu and he took the avatar to annihilate Asura Kamsan, his evil hearted uncle. The festival is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shraavana of Bhadrapad (which overlaps with August or September of the Gregorian calendar). Facing threats from his maternal uncle Kamsa, Vasudeva took baby Krishna to Gokul where he was brought up by Nanda and Yashoda.
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| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Sri krishna idol udipi, KA hindupad.com |
As for Udipi sri Krishna temple, it had been a low key affair for the last two years on account of Covid-19 pandemic and this year it was celebrated yesterday with renewed joy and the festivities would continue the following day.
This famous temple is being run by eight monasteries or mutts by rotation for a period of two years and each mutt has its own tradition. The Paryaya Krishnapura Matt which is looking after the affairs of the temple, made elaborate arrangement for Krishna Ashtami celebrations in Udupi this year.
The Ashta mutts that celebrate Sri Krishna Jayanthi here follow different tradition as to the date of celebration of lord's birth. According to the Mutt pundits well-versed in almanac (panchanga), Janmashtami can be celebrated only with the confluence of Simha Maasa, Krishna Paksha, Rohini Nakshatra and Ashtami Thithi as prescribed by the Souramana (Solar Almanac). This is the accurate ‘ghalige’,” said vedic scholar Gopalacharya.
In other places, such as Guruvayur in the south to Mathura in north, Janmashtami is observed on the basis of ‘Chandramana Panchanga’ (Lunar Alamanac) where only the Ashtami Thithi will suffice. Pundits are of the view that Vedic maths ‘Drugganitha’ calculates the cosmic events in a different perspective. The founder of Dwaitha philosophy, Ashta mutts (8 mutts) and Sri Krishna temple, Sri Madhwacharya (13th century) had used Drugganitha as a guidance to calculate the exact time of birth of Lord Krishna.
So as per Vedic maths, this year Sri Krishna Jayanthi was held yesterday on the 18th of August. On Janmashtami Day, normally the head of the Paryaya Krishnapura Matt Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji would conduct puja. After the Maha Puja, the Swamiji would offer Naivedya (Prasadam/Ladoos) to the devotees. Devotees are allowed in the preparation of ‘laddoos’. After the Puja around midnight (12:21 a.m.) Arghya Pradhana will be offered to Lord Sri Krishna. Arghya Pradhana is a long-held traditional ritual of offering milk and water to the specially-made clay idol of Lord Sri Krishna in the grabagriha - the sanctum of the temple. Normally, this temple ritual is done at midnight.
The Sri Krishna Leelotsava festival, locally known as Vittal Pindi, is scheduled on the 20th of August. The Ratha beedhis - car streets will be decorated with buntings poles, etc The clay idol will be taken out in a colorful procession round the streets and finally immersed in the temple water tank. The procession is accompanied by folk and cultural troupes with tiger dances Pili Vesha/ Huli Vesha marking the day.
Yet another interesting part of Sri Krishna Jayanthi is preparation of Ladoo prasadaam by Mutt workers, numbering roughly 100 to 150. They, with care, prepare ‘Chakkulis’ and ‘laddoos’ (about 5 or 6 varieties) meant for distribution among the devotees during Vittal Pindi. Chakkulis and laddoos will b offered to Sri Krishna first and later they will be served to people on 20 August on the eve of Vittal Pindi. Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji will offer the Arghya followed by special Puja
https://www.mangalorean.com/udupi-gearing-up-for-sri-krishna-janmashtami-and-vittal-pindi-2/
https://blog.summitersadventures.com/hoysala-architectural-splendour-in-stone-hosaholalu
https://www.navrangindia.in/2021/10/sri-krishna-temple-udipi-and-gold.html
