Right Way of Performing Janmashtmi Pooja

Janmashtami, is not very popular festival in India but is equally famous celebration here in Jammu too. This day also marks the birth of Lord Vishnu who incarnated as Lord Krishna which is the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Like all the other festivals in India, Janamashtmi is also about observing fasting, praying, food, fun and celebration. Lord Krishna, wherever he is prayed as Bal Gopal, is often considered a small baby and is treated with a lot of affection and love. So infuse fun and joy into the Janmashtami celebrations.

Here is all you need to know:

RITUALS TO FOLLOW WHILE PRAYING

Offering special prayers to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami is said to appease the Lord immensely due to which he grants one’s wishes and bestows them with wealth and prosperity in life. Here are the rituals that need to be followed to appease Lord Krishna and seek wealth as well as fulfill desires in life before you chant the mantra on Janmashtami:

On the night of Janmashtami, i.e. tonight at 12 AM, sit in your Puja room or a secluded corner used for prayers, wearing red colored clothes.

Place at least 10 Lakshmikarak coins and light a diya. Apply turmeric and Kumkum (vermilion) on each of the coins

Using a hakik rosary or mala (black rudraksha), chant the below mantra at least 5 times for each bead in the mala

Chant the Mantra: ‘Om Hrim Shrim Shriye Fat’

Post chanting of the mantra, place the coins in the locker or a place where you keep your money.

BENEFITS OF JANMASHTAMI PUJA

Janmashtami is a special day to offer salutations to Lord Krishna. It is believed that if one offers special prayers on this day to Shri Krishna, he will deliver them from temptation, evil, negativity and invoke spiritual bliss in their lives. Additionally, offering prayers on Janmashtami ensure individuals are bestowed with wealth & prosperity.

RIGHT FASTING RITUALS FOR JANMASHTAMI

Here is the right way to fast on Janmashtami

Wake up early, bathe and wear clean clothes. Pay obedience to all Gods and take a vow to fast on this day while facing the east or north direction.

Fasting can be decided by the individual, i.e. they can either go without eating the whole day, eat once a day or eat only fruits on Janmashtami.

Take idols of Ma Devaki and Bal Gopal in a cradle (idol can be of metal or clay), offer Panchamrit and Ganga jal

Dress Lord Krishna in new clothes. Worship the lord with 16 upchaars.

Worship Vasudev, Baldev, Nand, Yashoda Ma, Lakshmi and Ma Devaki.

Offer flowers, fruits, kush, Gandha in shankh or conch and water to lord Krishna.

Celebrate the birth of Krishna and offer butter & basil/Tulsi mixed in panchamrit .

Sing bhajans and devotional hymns and aartis.

Chant shlokas from Bhagavad Gita.

Wake up early next day to ensure you break your fast in the same Nakshatra in which the fast began.

RIGHT WAY FOR JANMASHTAMI PARIKRAMA

We all know how important a Parikrama is but we do not know the exact number of Parikramas to be taken to appease different gods and goddesses. On Janmashtami,

- On this day, take half parikrama or ardhaparikrama of Lord Shiva.

- Do three parikramas of Ma Lakshmi .

- 4 parikramas of Lord Vishnu or Shri Krishna or Shri Ram (any avatar of Lord Vishnu).

- Take 3 parikramas of Lord Ganesha and Shri Hanuman.

- Do not stop or talk while doing parikrama .

- Parikrama should end at the same place it started at.