According to the Vedic calendar, the year 2025 marks the 5252nd birth anniversary of Shri Krishna. This year, Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on August 15 and 16, 2025. The grandest Janmashtami festivals take place in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Dwarka.
The Brahma Purana states that Shri Krishna, the son of Devaki, was born during Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada in the 28th Dwapar Yuga. It is advised that if Rohini Nakshatra is not present during the day or night, then the fast and puja should be observed especially on the night when the moon is visible.
Where was Shri Krishna born?
Shri Krishna was born at midnight, during the Rohini Nakshatra, on the Ashtami Tithi of Bhadrapada’s Krishna Paksha, in Mathura’s prison, from the womb of Devaki. For this reason, each year his birth is celebrated with great devotion and pomp.
On this day, Shri Krishna is worshipped with proper rituals. It is also believed that listening to his birth story brings prosperity, wealth, and happiness.
The Story of Shri Krishna’s Birth:
According to the Bhagavata Purana, during the Dwapar Yuga, the city of Mathura was ruled by a tyrannical king named Kansa, who had overthrown his father Ugrasen to claim the throne. The people of Mathura suffered under his rule.
Despite his cruelty, Kansa deeply loved his sister Devaki, and got her married to his friend Vasudeva. While escorting them to their home, a divine prophecy (akashvani) was heard:
“O Kansa! The eighth child born to your sister will be the cause of your death.”
Enraged, Kansa attempted to kill Vasudeva, but Devaki intervened and promised to hand over each child to him. Kansa imprisoned both of them and killed their first six children after birth. The seventh child, Balram, was mysteriously transferred to Rohini’s womb by divine intervention (Yogmaya), hence also called Sankarshan.
As per the prophecy, Shri Vishnu took birth as Devaki’s eighth son, Krishna. At the same time, Yashoda in Gokul gave birth to a baby girl. A divine light appeared in the prison, and Shri Vishnu revealed himself to Vasudeva, instructing him to carry Krishna to Nand Baba’s house and bring back the girl.
Due to divine grace, the prison guards fell asleep, the gates of the prison opened, and the Yamuna river calmed to allow Vasudeva to cross. He safely exchanged the children and returned.
When Kansa heard that Devaki’s eighth child had been born, he rushed to the prison and tried to kill the girl. But she slipped from his hands and rose into the sky. Revealing her true form as Yogmaya, she warned Kansa that the boy destined to kill him had already been born and was now in Vrindavan.
Thus began the life of Shri Krishna, who would eventually bring an end to Kansa’s tyranny.