Janmashtami is the day when we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna signifies Ananda (bliss, pure happiness). We express any happiness through celebration. So Janmashtami is celebrating the birth of Bliss. It is the day when that (divine) joy became manifested. 

Actually, it is not right to use the word ‘birth’ here. Lord Krishna was never born. That (divine) joy was always present, but it is on this day that it became manifested and evident (in the form of Lord Krishna). 

So, where should you look for Lord Krishna? Everywhere! Lord Krishna says – ‘One who sees Me everywhere, in everyone, and sees everyone in Me is truly intelligent.’ 

Now, no one wants to be foolish in this world. Everyone wants to be intelligent. So, one who recognizes the Parmatma (Supreme soul or all-pervading one Consciousness) as that Anand-tattva (the element of Bliss) that is manifested throughout Creation is truly intelligent. Everything has emerged from that Anand-tattva. This is the special message of Janmashtami. 

What does one need for this? You need to be innocent at heart; you should have that child-like innocence. It is said – ‘Bhole bhaav miley Raghurai’ (One attains the Lord through the innocence and purity of feelings).

Lord Krishna’s birth from a spiritual point of view

Devaki (Lord Krishna’s mother) represents the physical body, while Vasudeva (Lord Krishna’s father) represents the Prana (the vital life force). So when the Prana flows through the body, then Ananda (bliss, represented by Lord Krishna) is born. But at that time, the ego (represented by Kamsa, Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, and an evil King) wants to destroy the bliss. Where there is joy, there cannot be ego.  

And what does Lord Krishna represent? He is the symbol of happiness, love, joy, and being natural. He is the very source of bliss. Love, happiness, and naturalness are the greatest enemies of the ego. This is why there is a war between the ego and love: the ego melts and disappears when love dawns within. 

Kamsa represents the ego, and the ego is born along with the birth of the body. Devaki (the body) is Kamsa’s sister. When Lord Krishna was born in the prison cell, all the prison guards fell asleep. When there is no happiness and joy (Lord Krishna), the body feels like a prison. So when love (Lord Krishna) was born in this prison (body), all the senses (symbolized by the prison guards) fell asleep. The five senses – the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin – are the guards of the body, and they always look outwards for joy. They are actually the guards of Kamsa (ego). So they fall asleep when one turns inwards towards the source of joy, the bliss that is born within (Lord Krishna). 

After being born, Lord Krishna had to be taken to another place for the sake of protection and safety (from Kamsa). So, Lord Krishna went to Vrindavana, to the house of Nanda and Devi Yashoda. When you look deeper into these stories, you will be able to understand their greater spiritual meanings and values.

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