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Home > Temples of Kerala > Sree krishna Jayanthi Sree krishna JayanthiSree Krishna Jayanthi also known as Ashtami Rohini, Gokulaashtami, and Janmaashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna. He was born in the city of Mathhura (Uttar Pradesh), probably three thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Sree Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated in Kerala when the Ashtami-thithhi in the Mahaalaya-paksha (dark fortnight) is at midnight in the month of Chingam. Rarely Rohini asterisk falls on this day or sometimes with a difference of a day. According to SreemadBhaagavatha puraana on a midnight enveloped with darkness the Lord, the indwellerof all hearts manifested himself in His entirety through Devaki (an incarnation of Adithu) and as son of Vasudeva. Sree Krishna Jayanthi is observed with fast by ardent devotees. On this day, particularly Hindu women, refrain from taking food and devote the day for prayers in Sree Krishna temples till mid-night, which commemorates the time of birth of Sree Krishna. Then they take prasaadams (remnants of things offered to the God) and return home. On this day all temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Vishnu attract large number of devotees and in these temples special poojas and attractive functions are held. The special poojas cover kumbhaabishekam, pushpaabhishekam, bhajan besides staging of performing arts like Krishnanaattam, Ottam-thullal, pathakam, Kathhakali etc. A peculiar celebration known as uriyatti, symbolic of Sree Krishna's love for milk butter etc is conducted in many Sree Krishna temples.Uriyati literally means beating on hanging jars containing sweets, milk, butter etc. This reminds a devotee of the childhood pranks of Sree Krishna. Possessed by the insight into the contents of these swinging pots holes were made at the bottom by Him thus making it easy for him to take the milk or butter and distribute the same to all his friends,(vide Sreemad Maha Bhaagavatha-Puraana 10.8.30). To commemorate this invident uriyati is done so that devout memories are cherished in the hearts of devotes. In many temples Bhaagavatha-paarayana (particularly Dasama-skanda (Tenth Book), Naraayaneeya paarayana, feeding the devotees etc are held besides other elaborate ceremonies like pooja entertainments etc. Large number of devotees assemble in all Sree krishna temples ,for worship and His blessings. Special mention may be made of the festival at the Sree Krishna temple, Guruvayur,and Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple (Thiruvananthapuram). Other important Sree krishna temples where the day is celebrated are the temples at Ananthapura (Kumbla) of Kasaragod district; Katalai and Thricchambaram of Kannur district; Itathhupurath (near Angadippuram) of Malappuram district; Pattambi, Thirumittacode, Vellinezhi-Padinjara matham, Thiruvegappura and Kollengode, of Pal1akkad district; Thiruvambadi in Thrissur district; Thrikkakara, Chennamangalam, Ravipuram, Chittur (Ernakulam), Thrippunithura of Ernakulam district; Thodupuzha and Peermade of Idukki district; Vaasudevapuram, Bharananganam, Kutamaloor, Thiruvaarppu and Thrikkodithanam of Kottayam district; Mavelikkara, Evoor, Mannar, Krishanapuram, Eruva, Ambalapuzha,Thrichittat, Thiru-Puliyoor and Thiruvanvandoor of AIappuzha district; Thiru-Aranmula, Thiruvalla and Kaippuzha of pathianamthitta district; Asramam, Vatayattukotta and Punalur of Kollam district and Varkala, Pirappancode, Peroor, Thrivikramangalam, Malayinkeezhu and Neyyattinkara of Thiruvnanthapuram district. There are innumerable smaller temples where the day is observed, as krishna always lives in the hearts of all ardent devotees.
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