Understanding Lord Krishna on Janmashtami

Janmashtami is a festival celebrated all over India and across the globe to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna, who dispelled evil. Lord Krishna is the epitome of true love, victory of good over evil. Ultimately, Lord Krishna represents the state that exists when one goes beyond both good and evil.

Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki was born at midnight and that’s when the prison doors opened.
All mythological stories have great relevance to life as a whole. The stories associated with Lord Krishna hold deep meaning to the nuances of human life.

Lord Krishna signifies the Consciousness within each of us. His birth at midnight symbolizes the shift of human consciousness from darkness to light. It heralds the raising of consciousness.

After his birth, the prison doors opened automatically and he was safely taken out. This represents liberation of human life from the prison of self-beliefs, tendencies and all forms of karmic bondage.

When one understands who Lord Krishna is through one’s own direct experience, one can understand the Leela – the divine game – that is being played out in life.

One of the popular stories of Lord Krishna is His Rasleela.

In the Rasleela, Lord Krishna is seen dancing with the Gop (boys) and the Gopis (girls). After a while, He’s seen dancing individually with each one at the same time. How is this possible?

We see the moon on a rainy night in numerous water puddles. Does that mean that there are numerous moons? No. It is just that each puddle comes alive with the reflection of that one moon. In the same way, each devotee experiences the Lord’s presence individually in their own way, depending on their level of devotion and surrender to His will. When one surrenders to the will of God, one experiences true liberation.

So what are the ways in which we can worship Lord Krishna in the right sense.

Upasna is the way of worshipping Lord Krishna. It means being available in His presence. Such veneration leads to an elevation of one’s consciousness.

The path of Upasna involves giving a response filled with devotion in every life situation. Such a response can arise only when one truly understands that God is present in every individual. When we practice Upasna, our conviction in this truth increases.

This conviction helps us plant the seeds of faith by ensuring that our karma is based on devotion, instead of the ego. Whenever we help someone or receive help, the feeling within is that whatever we give or take, we are dealing with the Lord. Real Upasna of the Lord begins only when this understanding deepens.