Krishna Ashtami

Krishna Ashtami (Ashtami) — the eighth tithi of the waning moon. By count this is tithi No. 23, and it belongs to the Jaya class — "victorious" days. It mirrors Shukla Ashtami but lies in the descending phase, and its resolve sounds deeper. On this tithi in the month of Shravana (in the amanta reckoning) falls Krishna Janmashtami — the day of Krishna's appearance, one of the largest Hindu festivals.

Place in the system

Tithi is the lunar day, 12° of divergence between the Moon and the Sun. Krishna Ashtami runs eighth in the dark half — krishna paksha, right after Krishna Saptami. This is the third step of the second pentad of descent, and it is strong in tone.

By class, Krishna Ashtami is Jaya. The same class includes Krishna Tritiya and Krishna Trayodashi; their mirror pairs lie in shukla paksha. The Jaya background here works through resolve, and in descent this resolve is aimed inward — at overcoming one's own weaknesses rather than at outward struggle.

Ashtami's deity is the Rudras and Mahadeva (Shiva in his fierce forms).

Practical meaning

By the classical rules of muhurta, Krishna Ashtami is favorable for battles, contests, overcoming obstacles, destroying what is bad. Tradition adds austerity and sadhana, the practice of mantras and fasting, breaking with bad habits and dependencies.

In Indian folk practice, Krishna Ashtami of the month of Shravana in the amanta reckoning (Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami in purnimanta) is Krishna Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, one of the largest Hindu festivals. People fast until midnight, await Krishna's appearance, and after midnight take food and rejoice. In the South Indian tradition this day is also called Ashtami Rohini.

The Jaya background here works through the victory of the divine over attachment.

In daily practice

Krishna Ashtami is a day for resolve. It is good to break an old habit, give up what drags you down, step out from under a burden. The Jaya background here works through an inner victory.

The day also suits spiritual practice — meditation, fasting, repeating mantras. Tradition reads Krishna Ashtami as a time when sadhana runs deeper than usual, especially in the month of Shravana.

Krishna Ashtami also suits honoring Shiva in his fierce forms — with prayer, fasting, a quiet vigil.

How much this day is yours is refined by Tara Bala — the count from your birth nakshatra to the one the day falls under. Jaya sets the background of resolve, and the personal layer shows whether this resolve is on your side right now.