Wishes for Krishna Janmashtami(Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark moon phase)
Srimad Bhagavadgita, Chapter 4: 7-9
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥ 7
O descendant of Bharata, whenever there is a decline in dharma and an abundance of unrighteousness, at that time I take form.
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् | धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥8
I appear in every Yuga(age) to protect the virtuous and pious, to annihilate evildoers, and to establish dharma.
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वत: | त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन॥9
One who is fully aware of the divine nature of my birth and activities does not take birth again in the material world, but attains me, O Arjuna.
Krishna: the eighth avatar of Vishnu:the observer and preserver of the universe, who has to take upon himself the job of protecting and guiding mankind whenever evil gets out of control.
On the eighth day of the dark moon phase(Krishna Paksha) of the month of Shravan/Bhado(Indians follow either a full moon or dark moon start of month calendar as per different regions): Amidst a raging storm with much thunder, rain and lightning was a divine child born. His parents Devaki and Vasudeva had been imprisoned by his evil uncle Kamsa, due to the prediction that their child would be the death of his evil reign. Kamsa hadmercilessly slayed their previous seven children with impunity and they feared for this one as well.
The Gods had planned well. YogaMaya, the divine goddess of the illusory power, who can induce even Vishnu into deep sleep, yoga nidra was asked to help. At the very same time that Krishna was born in a prison in Mathura, in the not so faraway village of Gokul, YogaMaya was born to Nand, friend of Vasudev. Her father, Nand, carried her across the raging overflowing Yamuna towards the prison in Mathura where Devaki and Vasudev were imprisoned. Magically, the river parted, all the palace guards were induced into deep slumber and the locks of the prison opened up. The swap completed by replacing Krishna with Yogamaya, Nand returned back to his village with Krishna.
When Kamsa came to kill the eighth child, whom he had specifically awaited, he laughed as he took the child by its feet and readied to swing it through the air to whack to death onto a slab of stone in the same manner that he had to the previous seven. YogaMaya slipped from his grip and soared into the air to take on her form as Durga. As she went through the apparition, a celestial announcement was made: the child that will kill you is very much alive.
Krishna had an enchanting childhood with Yashoda as his foster mother whose boundless love for him is legend. His character gave to butter stealing, playfulness, valour and he managed many a play of his leela with the help of YogaMaya and half brother balarama(avatar of Adisesha). Baby Krishna, fondly called Kanha is much adored and loved: grandmothers' stories abound with details about childhood pranks and divine powers. A cowherd, who could get the cows and the Gopis into trance with a play of his flute mixed with the sweet stories of his divine love Radha, whose is known as the purest form of eternal love.
Krishna is known most widely for his discourse delivered to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the beginning of the Mahabharata(the Great War): the Bhagavad Gita, which contains spiritual wisdom for all humanity.
The Gita – Chapter 7 – Shloka 25
नाहं प्रकाश: सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृत:।
मूढ़ोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम् ॥25॥
Shrouded by My own Yogmaya (divine powers), I am not visible to everybody. Those who are ignorant, however, do not know Me as unborn and indestructible (eternal). They will never be able to see Me, O Arjuna. Only those who are dear and devoted to Me, see Me.
YogaMaya creates maya on the gods and teaches them what to do and not to do. It is her power with which she folds Vishnu into yoga nidra: It is required by yogis, sages and devout seekers so that they can be connected to the divine. She is superior to Mahamaya who leads to satvik attributes to gain physical power and health. Mahamaya in turn is superior to Maya, whose function is to delude mankind into greed, anger and arrogance.
YogaMaya is the manifestation of the original feminine force of the universe Adi-Shakti. Creation, sustenance and destruction are not possible without her active participation. She is the counterpoint, the negative charge, the electron, the unified force field pervading the entire universe. Everything is null and void without her participation.
Throughout the Bhagwad Gita, Krishna refers to Prakriti(the divine feminine principle) which is as much a part of himself. The words YogaMaya and Prakriti are synonymous. The Gita is one of the best sources of yoga philosophy and integral to a student of yoga.
Note: it is always a very rainy day in India on Janamasthami. This is the Leela of Sri Krishna played out through YogaMaya Prakriti, nature.