JANMA Ashtmi, which is being observed today, a Hindu festival that marks the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu Bhagwan. Krishna JanmaAshtmi is observed on the eight Tithi of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapad.Baby Krishna was born at midnight to Vasudev and Devki, who were imprisoned by the cruel Kamsa. Lord Krishna put Kamsa to his demise and re-established peace and stability on the face of the earth. For devotees, this important “birthday” marks the triumph of good over evil.

Sweet devotion percolate, permeate, penetrate and saturate the hearts and souls of Lord Krishna’s devotees all over the world as they extoled His wonderful name and sing His praises on the occasion of Janma Ashtmi.
A birthday is always a special occasion, in that it marks out for us on an annual basis, our growth and development as human beings. It is a day every year, especially as we grow older when we are able to look back over the last year in particular and the previous years in general and to honestly ask, how purposefully have we used the gift of human existence. How well have I used the gift of my human existence depends on how I see the value of my being born in the first instance. In the Bhagavad-Gita – C: 4 V: 7-8, Lord Krishna gives purpose for his own incarnation when he says:
“Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, I manifest myself for the protection of the good, for the destruction of the evildoers and for the re-establishment of virtue and righteousness; I am born from age to age.”
Every human being requires an ideal standard against which to judge his/her behaviours and as well his/her purpose. In defining the reason for his birth the Lord also gives us an opportunity to understand the purpose of our births. When we know that purpose we are able to direct the course of our lives accordingly.
Lord Krishna gives the following reasons:

(1) Protection of the good
(2) Destruction of evil
(3) Re-establishing righteousness and a virtuous way of life

These reasons are also given by Shri Ram in the Ramayana:
The quality of life we live and the experiences we have are determined by the vision we have of our purpose. If that vision is one of protection of that which is good, eliminating that which is evil and ensuring that virtue, morality and righteousness prevail, then with such an entrenched and ingrained vision, two things become a reality. Our lives become filled with behaviours that promote and reflect goodness and virtue, and secondly, by being exemplars of goodness and virtue, we provide the model against which others including our children and families would fashion their behaviours.
No one wants to experience unhappiness and sorrow, indeed, we all wish to be joyous and have pleasurable experiences. The reality is that by our choices we are the source of our joys and sorrows. All outcomes are created by us and us alone. How to achieve constant and unbroken happiness, even as we continue to live and work in the world is the major challenge to human existence. Life cannot just be about the satisfaction of wants, needs and desires. If it were, then man would be happy after achieving material abundance.
The fact that human beings continue to be dissatisfied despite material abundance, that the human being continues to suffer and experience an emptiness despite pleasure satisfaction, heralds the existence of a higher purpose of human existence, the discovery of which alone can bring unbroken unhappiness.
Therefore let us use the occasion of Krishna Janma Ashtmi for self-introspection, self-analysis and self-examination and quietly ask ourselves the question, have I lend purpose to my life? Is there a reason why I came on earth? Certainly we will move to construct a society where people of all shades of opinions and estimations can work in a cohesive effort to build a better world.
Lord Krishna’s perpetual grace and blessings.
Happy Janma Ashtmi!

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha in observance of the occasion will be holding special satsangha today at the Rama Krishna Mandir in Barr Street, Kitty, the Shri Krishna Mandir in Campbellville and the Ocean View Mandir on the West Coast Demerara at 20:00hrs, 19:00hrs and 17:00hrs respectively.

(GUYANA HINDU DHARMIC SABHA)