Bhadrapad Krishn Ashtami · About 57 min · 47 steps
Significance:
The birth festival of Lord Shri Krishna, celebrated at midnight.
Timing:
Nishita kaal, around midnight
Vrat:
Fruit-only or waterless fast; parana the next day after Ashtami/Rohini ends (see Panchang)
Pooja Samagri: items to keep ready
0 / 35 items ready
Step-by-step vidhi
Instructions are translated from the Hindi workbook; shlokas are chanted in Sanskrit.
🔥 Fire safety: take care when lighting a diya, camphor, incense or the havan fire. Children should take part only under adult supervision. Never leave a flame unattended, keep water nearby, and keep curtains, cloth and paper away. Perform the havan in an open or well-ventilated place.
Puja muhurat · Wednesday, 25 August 2027
Nishita kaal puja: 12:01 AM – 12:46 AM
For New Delhi. Times in other cities can differ by a few minutes; confirm with your local panchang or purohit.
2-second pause after each shloka · pause, go back or skip at any time
1. Pavitrikaranam
Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gato'pi Va |
Yah Smaret Pundarikaksham Sa Bahyabhyantarah Shuchih ||
Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu | Om Pundarikakshah Punatu ||
Pure or impure, in whatever state — whoever remembers the lotus-eyed Lord becomes pure within and without. May the lotus-eyed Lord purify us.
Take water in the left hand and, with the fingers of the right hand, sprinkle it over yourself, the seat and the puja items.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, Ganga water
2. Achamanam
Om Keshavaya Namah | Om Narayanaya Namah | Om Madhavaya Namah ||
Om Hrishikeshaya Namah | Hastam Prakshalayami ||
Sipping water thrice with salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava for inner purity; hands are washed with Hrishikesha's name.
Take a little water in the right palm (gokarna mudra) and sip it three times, once with each name; then say 'Hrishikeshaya Namah' and wash your hands.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
3. Asana Shuddhi
Om Prithvi Tvaya Dhrita Loka Devi Tvam Vishnuna Dhrita |
Tvam Cha Dharaya Mam Devi Pavitram Kuru Chasanam ||
Om Asanadevatayai Namah ||
O Mother Earth, you uphold the worlds and are upheld by Vishnu; uphold me too and sanctify my seat.
Sprinkle a little water on the ground under the seat and recite the mantra while touching the seat.
Samagri: Seat (kusha grass or wool), water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
4. Deepa Prajvalanam
Shubham Karoti Kalyanamarogyam Dhanasampada |
Shatrubuddhivinashaya Dipajyotirnamo'stu Te ||
Om Dipajyotishe Namah ||
Salutations to the lamp's flame, which brings auspiciousness, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys hostile thoughts.
Light the ghee lamp and place it to the deity's right (your left); an oil lamp goes to the deity's left. Bow to the lamp.
Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick, matchbox
5. Svasti Vachanam
Om Svasti Na Indro Vriddhashravah Svasti Nah Pusha Vishvavedah |
Svasti Nastarkshyo Arishtanemih Svasti No Brihaspatirdadhatu ||
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih ||
AI practice voice — no Vedic svara; confirm pronunciation with your priest
May glorious Indra, all-knowing Pusha, Garuda and Brihaspati grant us well-being. Peace, peace, peace.
Join your hands and recite the auspicious invocation (mangala path).
Say the words in ( ) — the Panchang and your gotra — yourself; ▶ Listen to sankalp asks you for them. Your name and city come from your profile.
I (name, gotra), at this time and place, resolve to perform this puja for the stated purpose.
Take water, akshat, flowers and dakshina in the right hand and read the sankalp (the app fills in your town, tithi, name and gotra); at the end, release the water onto the ground or into a copper plate.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, akshat (unbroken rice), fresh flowers, dakshina (coin/money)
7. Ganesha Smaranam
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha |
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada ||
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah | Gandhakshatapushpani Samarpayami ||
O curved-trunked, mighty Lord, radiant as a million suns — make all my undertakings free of obstacles, always.
Before any puja, meditate on Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and offer akshat and flowers. (In Ganesha Puja this step is part of the main worship.)
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Snanam Samarpayami ||
The auspicious, sin-removing water of the Mandakini is presented for your bath — please accept.
Bathe the murti with pure water. For a picture, sprinkle water on it with a flower.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, Ganga water
18. Nishita Janma Abhisheka
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Panchamritabhishekam Samarpayami ||
Om Devakinandanaya Namah ||
I offer the birth-abhisheka of panchamrit to Shri Krishna, son of Devaki.
At midnight (Nishita kaal), with the sound of conch and bell, bathe Bal Gopal with milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar and Ganga water; keep chanting 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya'.
Samagri: Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar), Ganga water, conch
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Dipam Darshayami | Hastaprakshalanam ||
A lamp of ghee and wick, lit with fire, that dispels the darkness of the three worlds — please accept.
Show the ghee lamp to the deity, then wash your hands.
Samagri: Ghee lamp with cotton wick
33. Naivedyam
Sharkarakhandakhadyani Dadhikshiraghritani Cha |
Aharam Bhakshyabhojyam Cha Naivedyam Pratigrihyatam ||
Om Pranaya Svaha | Om Apanaya Svaha | Om Vyanaya Svaha | Om Udanaya Svaha | Om Samanaya Svaha ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Naivedyam Nivedayami ||
Accept this food offering of sugar, sweets, curd, milk, ghee and dishes. It is offered to the five vital breaths.
Place the plate of bhog before the deity and circle it with water (for Vishnu, Krishna and Rama, place a tulsi leaf on it), then recite the pancha-pranahuti mantra.
Samagri: Naivedya (sweets/bhog), water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
34. Uttarapashana Achamaniyam
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Naivedyante Achamaniyam Jalam Samarpayami ||
Water is offered for sipping after the meal.
After the naivedya, offer water for achamana.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
35. Rituphalam
Idam Phalam Maya Deva Sthapitam Puratastava |
Tena Me Saphalavaptirbhavejjanmani Janmani ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Rituphalam Samarpayami ||
O Lord, I place this fruit before you; through it may I attain fulfilment in every life.
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Mukhavasarthe Tambulam Samarpayami ||
Accept this tambula — betel leaves with sacred areca nut and cardamom — to freshen the mouth.
Place betel nut, clove and cardamom on a betel leaf and offer it.
Samagri: Betel leaves, betel nut, cloves and cardamom
37. Dakshina
Hiranyagarbhagarbhastham Hemabijam Vibhavasoh |
Anantapunyaphaladamatah Shantim Prayachchha Me ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Dakshinam Samarpayami ||
This offering of gold — seed of fire, born of the cosmic golden womb, giver of endless merit — grant me peace.
Place a coin/money before the deity as dakshina.
Samagri: Dakshina (coin/money)
38. Mantra Japa
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Repetition of the deity's root mantra.
Chant the deity's mool mantra on a japa mala — Short mode 11, Medium 21, Full 108 times.
Samagri: Japa mala (108 beads)
39. Katha / Path
Listening to the katha or reciting the stotra completes the fruit of the puja.
Read or listen to the katha: the birth of Shri Krishna (Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10) — summary in Sheet 19.
Samagri: Sacred book
श्रीकृष्ण जन्म कथा (श्रीमद्भागवत, दशम स्कन्ध)
कंस के कारागार में देवकी-वसुदेव की आठवीं संतान के रूप में भाद्रपद कृष्ण अष्टमी की अर्धरात्रि, रोहिणी नक्षत्र में श्रीकृष्ण का जन्म हुआ।
वसुदेव उन्हें यमुना पार गोकुल में नंद-यशोदा के यहां छोड़ आए और योगमाया को ले आए; कंस के हाथ से छूटकर योगमाया ने कंस के विनाशक के जन्म की घोषणा की।
40. Aarti / Nirajanam
Kadaligarbhasambhutam Karpuram Tu Pradipitam |
Arartikyamaham Kurve Pashya Me Varado Bhava ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Arartikyam Samarpayami ||
With lighted camphor I perform the aarti — look upon me and be the giver of boons.
Wave the aarti plate of camphor or ghee 4 times at the deity's feet, 2 times at the navel, once at the face and 7 times over the whole form; sing the aarti while ringing the bell.
Samagri: Aarti plate, camphor, bell
41. Chandra Arghya (optional)
Om Somaya Namah | Arghyam Samarpayami ||
I offer arghya to the Moon god.
As per local tradition, at moonrise offer arghya to the moon with water mixed with milk and akshat.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon, akshat (unbroken rice)
42. Mantra Pushpanjali
Nanasugandhapushpani Yathakalodbhavani Cha |
Pushpanjalirmaya Datto Grihana Parameshvara ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Mantrapushpanjalim Samarpayami ||
This handful of many fragrant seasonal flowers I offer — O Supreme, accept it.
Standing, take flowers in joined palms and offer them at the deity's feet.
Samagri: Fresh flowers
43. Pradakshina
Yani Kani Cha Papani Janmantarakritani Cha |
Tani Sarvani Nashyantu Pradakshinapade Pade ||
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Pradakshinam Samarpayami ||
Whatever sins were committed in past lives, may they be destroyed with every step of this circumambulation.
Turn clockwise in your place (or walk around the murti) in pradakshina — count: 4 (Vishnu avatars).
Om Shribalakrishnaya Namah | Namaskaran Samarpayami ||
Salutations to you who are for the welfare of all and the support of the world — this full prostration I make with effort.
Bow in full prostration (sashtanga), or bow your head with joined hands.
45. Kshama Prarthana
Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Visarjanam |
Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Parameshvara ||
Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshvara |
Yatpujitam Maya Deva Paripurnam Tadastu Me ||
Anena Pujanena Shrikrishnah Priyatam, Na Mama ||
I know not how to invoke, bid farewell, or worship properly — forgive me. Though lacking in mantra, rite and devotion, may my worship be complete. May the deity be pleased; the fruit is theirs, not mine.
With joined hands ask forgiveness for any mistakes in the puja; finally, releasing water, offer the fruit of the puja to the deity.
Samagri: Water vessel (lota) and achamani spoon
46. Prasada
Akalamrityuharanam Sarvavyadhivinashanam |
Vishnupadodakam Pitva Punarjanma Na Vidyate ||
Receiving the sanctified offering.
Take the charanamrit/prasad yourself and share it with the family.
Samagri: Naivedya (sweets/bhog)
47. Visarjanam
Yantu Devaganah Sarve Pujamadaya Mamakim |
Ishtakamasamriddhyartham Punaragamanaya Cha ||
May all the gods accept my worship and depart — to fulfil my wishes and to return again.
Releasing akshat, respectfully bid farewell to the invoked deities. (An installed murti is not immersed — only the invoked presence is sent off.)
Samagri: Akshat (unbroken rice)
This text is from the workbook edition; the vidhi can differ by family and regional tradition.
॥ Shri Krishna Aarti ॥
Arti Kunjbihari Ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||
Gale Men Baijanti Mala, Bajavai Murli Madhur Bala|
Shravan Men Kundal Jhalkala, Nand Ke Anand Nandlala|
Gagan Sam Ang Kanti Kali, Radhika Chamak Rahi Ali|
Latan Men Tharhe Banmali,
Bhramar Si Alak, Kasturi Tilak, Chandr Si Jhalak,
Lalit Chhavi Shyama Pyari Ki|| Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||
Arti Kunjbihari Ki...
Kanakmay Mor Mukut Bilsai, Devta Darsan Ko Tarsain|
Gagan Son Suman Rasi Barsai,
Baje Murchang, Madhur Mirdang, Gvalin Sang,
Atul Rati Gop Kumari Ki|| Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||
Arti Kunjbihari Ki...
Jahan Te Prakat Bhai Ganga, Sakal Man Harini Shri Ganga|
Smaran Te Hot Moh Bhanga,
Basi Shiv Sis, Jata Ke Bich, Harai Agh Kich,
Charan Chhavi Shribanvari Ki|| Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||
Arti Kunjbihari Ki...
Chamakti Ujjval Tat Renu, Baj Rahi Vrindavan Benu|
Chahun Disi Gopi Gval Dhenu,
Hansat Mridu Mand, Chandni Chand, Katat Bhav Phand,
Ter Sun Din Dukhari Ki|| Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||
Arti Kunjbihari Ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari Ki||