Janmashtami: Celebrating Krishna’s Appearance Through the Life of Srila Prabhupada | Srila Prabhupada | Iskcon Newtown Kolkata

It is because of Srila Prabhupada that today Janmashtami is celebrated in many countries of the world. The story of Srila Prabhupada’s Janmashtami celebrations reminds us of his deep devotion to Krishna and his determination to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the world.

In this creation, there are so many universes. Just as it is extremely difficult to count how many mustard seeds there are in a bowl, similarly, it is impossible to say how many universes there are in Krishna’s creation. In spite of there being countless universes, Krishna chose to appear in this universe, and in this universe, He appeared in India.

Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Common people say that Krishna is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. But Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that Krishna is avatari, i.e., from Him different avatars come. Lord Vamana, Lord Varaha, Lord Narasimha, Kurmadeva, and other avatars come from Krishna. Just as we cannot count the number of waves in the ocean, similarly, we cannot count the number of incarnations of Krishna.

Brahma-saṁhitā says – īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ. We refer to Krishna as Lila Purushottam or Purna Purushottam.

This year, 2026, we are celebrating Janmashtami on 4th September. Let us discuss this festival in four different ways.

Srila Prabhupada’s Mission to Spread Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada came into this world with a single purpose, and that was to spread the name and teachings of Krishna. Out of many associates of Krishna, the Lord sent Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada appeared in Kolkata.

In 1922, he received an instruction from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura to spread the teachings of Krishna in the Western world. “You are young, educated, so why don’t you preach about Krishna Consciousness in the Western world?”

At that time, Prabhupada was a grihasta, so had many responsibilities. He struggled hard to take care of his family but was also trying to fulfil the order of his spiritual master. He left India on 13th August 1965 for the USA on the Jaladuta, a cargo ship.

In 1964, a year before departing for the USA, Prabhupada celebrated Janmashtami in Vrindavan in 1964.

Srila Prabhupada’s Janmashtami Celebration in Vrindavan in 1964

At that time, he was staying at Radha-Damodara Temple in Vrindavan. Here, he had translated Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Sanskrit to English.

Prabhupada always had connections with great people. In 1964, he invited the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Vishwanath Das, for Janmashtami. Prabhupada always said that if leaders become devotees, then common people will follow them. This is said by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita 3.21 – yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas/tat tad evetaro janaḥ.

The governor was a devotee of Krishna. Prabhupada organized the program very systematically. He printed a booklet in which it was mentioned which song was to be sung during the festival, and other schedules were mentioned. Many people came for the program.

As a grihasta, he was trying to fulfil the instruction of his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.

Srila Prabhupada’s Janmashtami Journey on the Jaladuta

With lots of effort, he finally got a ticket to travel to the USA on the Jaladuta, a cargo ship, in 1965. Right now, going to the USA is not a big thing, but during that time, it was considered a great achievement. Also, Prabhupada was going at an advanced age.

Such a great event was happening, but very few people came to see him off. A small news item came in a newspaper about Prabhupada’s departure to the USA to preach the message of Krishna. He had just Rs 40 with him.

Prabhupada had great faith in the holy name and in the order of his guru. The ship went from Kolkata Port to Sri Lanka and from Sri Lanka to Cochin. At Cochin, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which was translated by Prabhupada, was loaded.

These books, which were difficult to sell in India, he was taking them to the USA. Prabhupada would say that I am not going to the USA, but Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is going, and I am accompanying the books. Prabhupada left on 13th August, and on 20th August there was Janmashtami. He was never discouraged.

On the day of Janmashtami, he called everyone on the ship – the captain, his wife, and the workers. He cooked prasadam and distributed it to all. He even gave katha for one hour. Prabhupada wrote in his diary that today is Janmashtami and I am all alone.

But still, he was happy and satisfied. He never felt discouraged. The next day was his birthday, which went unnoticed. Prabhupada reached the USA on 17th September 1965, after travelling for around 35 days.

In the USA, he initially stayed in Butler, Pennsylvania, which was a small city. Prabhupada had a big dream, so he wanted to go to New York. New York is Maya’s den. In India, people knew who a sadhu was and even helped them. But no one knew how to deal with a sadhu in the USA.

In New York, he knew Dr. Misra, with whom he had some correspondence. Gopal Agarwal, with whom he was staying in Butler, put him on a bus to New York. He told him that in New York, you can stay at the bus stand and even take a bath if required until you find where Dr. Misra lives.

In New York, Prabhupada tried his best to spread Krishna Consciousness. He was staying here and there. With the help of Michael Grant (Mukunda Goswami), he got to stay at 26 Second Avenue.

There, he started Bhagavad-gita classes three days a week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Initially, only hippies would come, and many times they would be drunk. But Prabhupada was always positive and enthusiastic. He would write in his diary – Today three people came. It shows that Americans are interested in Krishna Consciousness. We can see his spirit.

Srila Prabhupada’s First Janmashtami in the USA

In the USA, Prabhupada celebrated his first Janmashtami on September 8, 1966. Devotees at that time did not know how to celebrate the festival. But under the guidance of Prabhupada, they chanted, fasted, read, and did kirtan until 12 midnight.

Prabhupada also revealed his heart for the first time to the devotees about how, in 1922, he had received an instruction from his spiritual master to come to the West to preach Krishna Consciousness.

He then revealed to the devotees who Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was. Prabhupada further said that around 500 years ago, Lord Chaitanya had predicted that His name would be chanted all over the world – pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma/ sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma.

The American devotees came to know that Prabhupada had not come to the West for any personal motive; he had come to fulfil the order of his guru and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In India, people think that Janmashtami is for Hindus. But Krishna says aham bija-pradah pita. So, we can celebrate Janmashtami in any part of the world. Srila Prabhupada showed the devotees that real happiness comes when we take to the path of Krishna Consciousness.

Gradually, these devotees got trained, and then they began celebrating Janmashtami in a grand way.

Today, Janmashtami is celebrated in several countries. This all happened because of Prabhupada; he was a one-man army.

HH Radhanath Swami’s First Janmashtami

Richard Slavin was searching for the highest truth. He wanted to come to India but did not have money. So, he came by hitchhiking. After coming to India, he met many yogis, sannyasis, and spiritual leaders.

Once, he wanted to go to Amarnath. He boarded a train with his friend. At that time, in India, trains had only 3 classes – 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class. People without tickets would travel in 3rd class.

Richard was in 3rd class. The bogey was packed with people; it was even difficult to breathe. At one place, because of rain, the train stopped for 8 hours. Richard and his friend came out through the window. As they came out, the train left. It was 5 am in the morning.

A local sadhu told him that this was Mathura and that today was Janmashtami.

He stayed there, associated with the Brajvasis, and developed love for Krishna. Rchard later took initiation from Srila Prabhupada. He is none other than HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja. He was always a devotee of Krishna. This was also revealed to him when he was in Patna.

In Patna, there was a great devotee of Lord Rama. His name was Ramsevak Swami. He was more than 80 years old. He would tell Ram katha in Hindi, which Richard could not understand. But Ramsevak’s assistant, while translating the story of Lord Rama, would tell him the story of Lord Krishna.

Richard would protest, saying that he could at least understand that the story was of Lord Rama. Then the assistant revealed to him that Lord Rama had appeared in the dream of Ramsevak Swami and had told him that Richard was a devotee of Krishna, so he should tell him only about Krishna.

Reading Krishna Book on Janmashtami in New Vrindavan

In New Vrindavan, USA, Prabhupada was attending the Janmashtami celebration. Many devotees, including several sannyasis and senior devotees, were present. On the day of Janmashtami, Srila Prabhupada said, “Let us read from Krishna Book.”

Devotees were fasting and were tired too because of many services. One devotee began reading the first chapter of Krishna Book – “The Advent of Lord Krishna.” Prabhupada was listening attentively.

But devotees, including sannyasis, were falling asleep. As the devotee completed the first chapter, everyone was relieved. But Prabhupada said, “Read the next chapter,” and it went on.

Prabhupada taught how to remain absorbed in Krishna on the day of Janmashtami.

What We Can Learn from Srila Prabhupada’s Janmashtami Celebrations

From these stories of Janmashtami celebrations, we learn how we should celebrate this glorious festival. Krishna appeared around 5,000 years ago for us. If we celebrate the festival as Prabhupada wanted us to celebrate, then we can experience Krishna.

We should take a vow that at least in this life, we will not accept the false promise of Maya. Real happiness is at Krishna’s lotus feet. So, let us try to serve Krishna. Let us give this life to Krishna.

(This article is based on the Sunday Satsang class given by HG Dwarkadhish Prabhu & HG Visakha Priya Mataji on 16th August 2026 at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata.)