Krishna Puja Vidhi (Janmashtami and Daily Puja)

In brief

Krishna is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu, as the playful child of Gokul, and as the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita. Home worship takes two common forms. The first is a short daily puja before a picture or a small idol of Krishna. The second is the Janmashtami puja, which celebrates his birth at midnight.

Many families keep a small idol of the child Krishna, called Bal Gopal or Laddu Gopal (Krishna as a baby holding butter), and care for him each day like a young family member. A picture and a lamp are enough if you do not have an idol.

When to do it

Daily puja is usually done in the morning after a bath, and again briefly in the evening. Krishna Janmashtami is kept on Ashtami (the eighth lunar day) of the dark half of the month, and the main puja is at Nishita, the midnight moment of his birth. Smarta and Vaishnava traditions sometimes keep Janmashtami on different days, so follow your family or temple. The festival page on this site shows the date and the midnight time for your city.

Many people fast on Janmashtami until midnight, with fruit, milk or a grain-free meal. Fasting is a personal choice. People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.

What you need

• A picture or idol of Krishna, and a small cradle (jhula) for Janmashtami if you have one
• Ingredients for panchamrit (a sacred mix of milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar), and clean water
• Sandal paste, flowers, and fresh or dried tulsi (holy basil) leaves
• A ghee lamp and incense
• Clean clothes for the idol, and ornaments such as a crown or flute if you wish
• Offerings: white butter with mishri (rock sugar), fruit, panjiri (a roasted whole-wheat sweet), or kheer, prepared without onion or garlic

Puja vidhi (steps)

1. Bathe, wear clean clothes, and clean the space. Wash your hands before touching the idol.
2. Light the lamp and incense. Make a short sankalpa (spoken intention), and on Janmashtami say that you are keeping the day's fast.
3. If you keep an idol, wake him gently in the morning and offer a little water.
4. Bathe the idol with panchamrit, then with clean water, and dry him with a soft cloth. On Janmashtami many families do this at midnight, and others do it in the evening.
5. Dress him in fresh clothes and apply a small sandal tilak. Add a flute, crown or flowers if you wish.
6. Offer flowers and tulsi leaves. Many Vaishnava families place a tulsi leaf on each food offering.
7. Chant "ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय" (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya) or the Hare Krishna maha mantra, a few times or on a mala (prayer beads). Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
8. Offer the food (bhog) and keep it before him for a few minutes without tasting it first.
9. Sing the aarti, moving the lamp clockwise.
10. On Janmashtami, at the midnight moment, open the curtain, ring a bell or blow a conch, and gently rock the cradle with the baby Krishna. Then sing the aarti.
11. Share the prasad and break your fast. On ordinary days, close with a bow and let the idol rest in the evening.

Mantras and aarti

• Aarti: "Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki" is the most commonly sung Krishna aarti.
• Namavali: the 108 names of Krishna.
• Mantras: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" and the Hare Krishna maha mantra are the most widely chanted.
• Readings: the story of Krishna's birth from the Bhagavata Purana, or a chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, are read by many families on Janmashtami.

The full texts are on their own pages.

Doing it in the USA

The midnight puja can be hard on a work night. Many American temples hold the main celebration late in the evening or on the weekend. At home, you can do the abhishek in the evening and the cradle and aarti at the midnight moment for your own city. If you cannot stay up, ask your priest whether a shorter puja at your usual evening time is acceptable in your tradition.

Panchamrit ingredients come from any supermarket. Mishri, panjiri flour and Ganga water are sold at Indian grocery stores. Use fresh unsalted butter if you cannot find white butter. A potted tulsi plant lasts longest, and many families accept dried tulsi leaves in winter, though customs differ.

Check your lease and smoke alarm before lighting a lamp or incense. A small ghee lamp on a steel plate is safest, and an electric lamp is a fine substitute where open flames are not allowed.