Janmashtami

O son, the observances of Ekādaśī are of many kinds. Another is the vow called Aśūnyaśayana, and (also) Janmāṣṭamī, the great vow.

The sacred observance connected with Kṛṣṇa’s Janmāṣṭamī is well-known as a destroyer of sins. Indeed, it is equal in merit to tens of millions of sacrifices, and equal to ten thousand holy pilgrimage-sites.

Sūta said: O Brahmin, the man who observes Kṛṣṇa’s Janmāṣṭamī with devotion—at the end (of life) he goes to Viṣṇu’s abode, accompanied by (the merit of) a crore of his family lineages, O twice-born.

Skanda bestowed a name upon it; it is remembered as “Siddhakūpa” (the Well of Attainment). On Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī and on the fourteenth lunar day, a man should himself observe fasting.

A dreadful rākṣasa came, intent on abducting Sītā. This occurred on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of Māgha, at the auspicious time known as Vṛnda.

Having duly worshipped Caṇḍīśvara and observed a fast on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight (Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī), a person is not tainted—even by sorrow—by the grief that arises from transgressing (or disrespecting) the sacred remnants…

Then Hari was transferred into Rohiṇī, and thus (was born as) Rauhiṇeya. And on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight in the month of Nabhas (Bhādrapada), at midnight, He appeared four-armed.

If, at the Sun’s ingress (saṅkrānti), the Sun is ‘śayita’ (in a fallen/recumbent condition) and the lunar factors are: Catuṣpāda (karaṇa), Viṣṭi (karaṇa), and Vāṇijya (karaṇa), and this occurs from just after the dark fortnight’s Aṣṭamī…

The observer of the vow should give cloth, gold, and the like, and should feed brāhmaṇas. One who performs the Janmāṣṭamī observance becomes blessed with sons and attains Viṣṇu’s world.

The Blessed Lord said: “Now I shall describe Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī, the observance that destroys all sins. From it arise peace and liberation—and, especially for men, victory as well.”

On every Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī (the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight), one who is able should duly honor and worship the twice-born (Brahmins), sustaining devoted worshippers of Śiva by gifts of cows, land, gold, and garments.

One should not practice deceit in matters of wealth; if one does, one incurs fault. But by fasting on Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī alone, a man—honoured and worshipped by the gods—attains great eminence in Śiva’s world for three hundred and seven hundred…