The eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra, or Bhadrapada, during Rohini Naksatra, is the appearance of Svayam Bhagavan Brajendranandan Shyamasundar, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the source of everything, He appeared in Gokul, Vraja, as the son of mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja. At the same time Vasudeva Krishna, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki appeared in Mathura, in the prison house of Kamsa. Vasudeva brought Krishna to Gokul and put Him next to Yasoda, who was fast asleep, due to exhaustion, after the appearance of Krishna. Vasudeva, due to the influence of the internal potency was not able to notice that Krishna. After putting his son there he took the younger sister of Krishna, Yogamaya, and brought Her to Mathura. When Kamsa tried to kill Her, She manifested Her external form of Mahamaya and after telling Kamsa that Krishna was somewhere else, She disappeared. As Krishna’s appearance is divine and full of transcendental mysteries so is the appearance of Sri Balarama and Srimati Radharani.
Everything about Them is amazing and wonderful. By the mercy of Their pure devotees They also appear as the arca-vigraha, the Deity form. So we celebrate this most auspicious day very opulently and wonderfully. For mangal aarti the Deities have a new nightdress, followed by a wonderful new day dress and then there is Krishna-katha for a couple of hours. After Rajbhoga offering and Aarti the Deities take rest, for a short while. Afterwards a 2nd Day dress is offered. In the evening at 10pm the Deities bathing ceremony is performed with panchamrita (as for Lord Balaram). Both Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama and Sri Sri Radha-Shyamasundar are bathed. By the desires and efforts of various devotees one more night dress is offered to Them. Before midnight hundreds and hundreds of bhoga items are offered. Devotees from all over India and the world cook all these items which include specialties from their places and all varieties of salty, sweet, sour preparations. Finally at midnight, the actual appearance time of Lord Sri Krishna, Maha aarti is performed, attended by thousands and thousands of very enthusiastic devotees. Shortly after that the pujaris put Krishna to rest; for only about two and a half hours. Then it is time to get up again for Krishna and be ready for Mangal aarti.
Jaya Gaur-Nitai, Jaya Krishna-Balarama, Jaya Radha-Shyamasundar.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.
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