ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണാഷ്ടകം ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണതാണ്ഡവസ്തോത്രം ച
ശ്രീ കൃശ്ന ജന്‍മാഷ്ടമീ
നിത്യാനന്ദൈകരസം സച്ചിന്‍മാത്രം സ്വയഞ്ജ്യോതിഃ ।
പുരുഷോത്തമമജമീശം വന്ദേ ശ്രീയാദവാധീശം ॥
I adore Krishna, the Supreme Person, the Unborn Lord, the Self-effulgent One, the Supreme Lord of the descendants of Yadu, Whose nature is that of existence and consciousness, and Whose essence is entirely that of eternal bliss.
From Prabodha sudhakara of shrI shankaracharya The birthday of shri Krishna is usually taken to be the Shravana Krishna Ashtami, but is sometimes assigned to the month Bhadrapada, especially in Northern India.
According to traditional sources, the Janmashtami is observed on the day when the ashtami tithi occurs at midnight . If the ashtami tithi AND the Rohini nakshatra occur on the same day, then the observance is considered to be doubly sacred; otherwise the observance is held on the day on which the ashtami prevails at midnight.
The vrata mainly consists of fasting, spending the whole night in the worship of Krishna, reciting hymns of praise and Krishna’s pastimes, reciting prayers from the Bhagavata, offering arghya to Krishna, and the parana or the ceremonial breaking of the fast . The next day is celebrated as Krishna Jayanti.
Celebrations are held on a grand scale in all Krishna temples, especially the ones in Vrindavan, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Dvaraka (Gujarat), and other regionally famous temples. Although, the great Vedantin Adi shankara preached the path of knowledge (Jnana), fiercely criticizing and routing various schools of philosophy, he did not decry the path of devotion (Bhakti). On the contrary, one is able to discern from his writings that he had a soft-corner for Bhakti . shankara did not only believe in the efficacy of Bhakti in the realization of Brahman, but he also actually composed many stotras or hymns in praise of Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganapati, Skanda, etc.
One such hymn is the shri Krishna Ashtaka or eight verses in praise of shri Krishna . This stotra, like many of shankara’s stotras, has a musical effect and may be easily set to music . It is, therefore, recommended that the stotra be sung, not just recited . For Lord Vishnu has promised to be present wherever His devotees sing His glories.
യത്ര ഗായന്തി മദ്ഭക്താഃ തത്ര തിഷ്ഠാമി നാരദ ।
ശ്രീ കൃഷ്ണാഷ്ടകം
ഭജേ വ്രജൈകമണ്ഡനം സമസ്തപാപഖണ്ഡനം
സ്വഭക്തചിത്തരംജനം സദൈവ നന്ദനന്ദനം ।
സുപിച്ഛഗുച്ഛമസ്തകം സുനാദവേണുഹസ്തകം
അനംഗരംഗസാഗരം നമാമി കൃഷ്ണനാഗരം ॥ 1॥
I worship the naughty Krishna, the sole ornament of Vraja, Who destroys all the sins (of His devotees), Who delights the minds of His devotees, the joy of Nanda, Whose head is adorned with peacock feathers, Who holds a sweet-sounding flute in His hand, and Who is the ocean of the art of love.
മനോജഗര്‍വമോചനം വിശാലലോലലോചനം
വിധൂതഗോപശോചനം നമാമി പദ്മലോചനം ।
കരാരവിന്ദഭൂധരം സ്മിതാവലോകസുന്ദരം
മഹേന്ദ്രമാനദാരണം നമാമി കൃഷ്ണാവാരണം ॥ 2॥
I bow to Krishna Who rid Kama deva of his pride, Who has beautiful, large eyes, Who takes away the sorrows of the Gopas (cowherds), the lotus-eyed One . I bow to Krishna Who lifted the (Govardhana) hill with His hand, Whose smile and glance are extremely attractive, Who destroyed the pride of Indra, and Who is like the King of elephants.
കദംബസൂനകുണ്ഡലം സുചാരുഗണ്ഡമണ്ഡലം
വ്രജാംഗനൈകവല്ലഭം നമാമി കൃഷ്ണദുര്ലഭം ।
യശോദയാ സമോദയാ സഗോപയാ സനന്ദയാ
യുതം സുഖൈകദായകം നമാമി ഗോപനായകം ॥ 3॥
I bow to that Krishna Who wears earrings made of Kadamba flowers, Who has beautiful cheeks, Who is the only darling of the Gopikas of Vraja, and Who is very difficult to attain (by any means other than Bhakti). I bow to Krishna Who is accompanied by Gopas (cowherds), Nanda, and an overjoyed Yashoda,Who gives (His devotees) nothing but happiness, and Who is the Lord of the Gopas.
സദൈവ പാദപംകജം മദീയ മാനസേ നിജം
ദധാനമുക്തമാലകം നമാമി നന്ദബാലകം ।
സമസ്തദോഷശോഷണം സമസ്തലോകപോഷണം
സമസ്തഗോപമാനസം നമാമി നന്ദലാലസം ॥ 4॥
I bow to the son of Nanda, Who has placed His lotus feet in my mind and Who has beautiful curls of hair . I adore Krishna Who removes all defects, Who nourishes all the worlds and Who is desired by all the Gopas and Nanda.
ഭുവോ ഭരാവതാരകം ഭവാബ്ധികര്‍ണധാരകം
യശോമതീകിശോരകം നമാമി ചിത്തചോരകം ।
ദൃഗന്തകാന്തഭംഗിനം സദാ സദാലിസംഗിനം
ദിനേ ദിനേ നവം നവം നമാമി നന്ദസംഭവം ॥ 5॥
I bow to Krishna Who relieves the burden of the earth (by vanquishing innumerable demons and other evil forces), Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries, Who is the son of Yasoda, and Who steals the hearts of everyone . I bow to Nanda’s son Who has extremely attractive eyes, Who is always accompanied by saintly devotees, and Whose (pastimes and form) appear newer and newer, day by day.
ഗുണാകരം സുഖാകരം കൃപാകരം കൃപാപരം
സുരദ്വിഷന്നികന്ദനം നമാമി ഗോപനന്ദനം ।
നവീനഗോപനാഗരം നവീനകേലിലമ്പടം
നമാമി മേഘസുന്ദരം തഡിത്പ്രഭാലസത്പടം ॥ 6॥
Krishna is the repository of all good qualities, all happiness, and grace . He destroys the enemies of the gods and delights the Gopas . I bow to the mischievous cowherd Krishna, Who is attached to His exploits, which (appear) new (every day), Who has the handsome complexion of a dark cloud, and Who wears a yellow garment (pitambara) that shines likes lightning.
സമസ്തഗോപനന്ദനം ഹൃദംബുജൈകമോദനം
നമാമി കുംജമധ്യഗം പ്രസന്നഭാനുശോഭനം ।
നികാമകാമദായകം ദൃഗന്തചാരുസായകം
രസാലവേണുഗായകം നമാമി കുംജനായകം ॥ 7॥
Krishna delights all the Gopas and (plays with them) in the center of the grove (kunja). He is appears as
resplendent and pleasing as the sun and causes the lotus that is the heart (of the devotee) to blossom
with joy . I bow to that Lord of the grove of creepers Who completely fulfills the desires (of the devotees), Whose beautiful glances are like arrows, and Who plays melodious tunes on the flute.
വിദഗ്ധഗോപികാമനോമനോജ്ഞതല്‍പശായിനം
നമാമി കുംജകാനനേ പ്രവ്രദ്ധവന്‍ഹിപായിനം ।
കിശോരകാന്തിരംജിതം ദൃഅഗംജനം സുശോഭിതം
ഗജേന്ദ്രമോക്ഷകാരിണം നമാമി ശ്രീവിഹാരിണം ॥ 8॥
Krishna lies down on the bed that is the minds of the intelligent Gopis who always think of Him . I adore Him Who drank the spreading forest-fire (in order to protect the cowherd community). I bow to Krishna Who has eyes which are made attractive by His boyhood charm and a black unguent (anjan), Who liberated the elephant Gajendra (from the jaws of the crocodile), and Who is the consort of Lakshmi (shri).
യദാ തദാ യഥാ തഥാ തഥൈവ കൃഷ്ണസത്കഥാ
മയാ സദൈവ ഗീയതാം തഥാ കൃപാ വിധീയതാം ।
പ്രമാണികാഷ്ടകദ്വയം ജപത്യധീത്യ യഃ പുമാന
ഭവേത്സ നന്ദനന്ദനേ ഭവേ ഭവേ സുഭക്തിമാന ॥ 9॥
O Lord Krishna! Please bless me so that I may sing your glories and pastimes, regardless of the position I am in. Anyone who studies or recites these two authoritative ashtakas will be blessed with devotion to Krishna in every rebirth.
Note: The two ashtakas referred to above are the shri Krishna Ashtaka and the Krishna Ashtaka.
ഇതി ശ്രീമച്ഛംകരാചാര്യകൃതം ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണാഷ്ടകം
കൃഷ്ണകൃപാകടാക്ഷസ്തോത്രം ച സമ്പൂര്‍ണം ॥
ശ്രീ കൃഷ്ണാര്‍പണമസ്തു ॥