How fortunate were Devaki and Vasudeva — to have Sri Krishna appear as their beloved son!

But perhaps there is a deeper mystery behind their fortune.

Before they became Devaki and Vasudeva, they were Prishni and Sutapa. Before that, Aditi and Kashyapa. Across three consecutive births, they performed great austerities and offered themselves in sincere devotion, desiring only that the Supreme Lord would become their child.

We see their fortune in the moment of Krishna’s appearance, but we may not always see the many lifetimes of dedicated effort that came before it.

And perhaps that is one beautiful reminder for us this Janmashtami.

Whatever service we are engaged in, let us continue with strong, continuous and sincere effort, without becoming discouraged by what we cannot yet see. When our hearts are genuinely directed toward serving Krishna, we can trust His promise in the Bhagavad-gita: He will give us the knowledge by which we can come to Him.

And today, in Sri Dhama Mayapur, we celebrate that promise in the sweetest possible way — welcoming Krishna as a child.

Janmashtami here is never simply a festival marked on a calendar. It is a living experience, when the whole community gathers in the mood of welcoming the Supreme Lord into the world as a tender child.

One of the most touching moments is the samskara performed for baby Krishna, when a family is chosen to lovingly take the roles of Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda Maiya. Through prayers, mantras and yajna, devotees are drawn into the mood of caring for the Lord of the universe as their own beloved child.

The abhishek, the kirtan, the recitations, the dramas, and the children dressed as gopis and cowherd boys all come together to create something that feels far beyond a celebration.

For a moment, it feels as though Mayapur itself has become Nanda-gram, and Krishna is truly among us.

Every Janmashtami brings a new glimpse, a new feeling, a new opportunity to remember Him.

Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2026 — may this day awaken within us the determination to serve Him with greater sincerity, patience and devotion.

Jai Sri Krishna Janmashtami Ki Jai!
Hare Krishna!