The first importance of Janmashtami is to observe dharma. Since we humans are all imprisoned in samsara, the Lord incarnates in this prison with us, establishes dharma and redeems us from maya. We can only win over maya if we seek the Lord’s aid, as did Arjuna during the battle of Mahabharat. As sage Ved Vyas ordains:

“Yato Krishnastato dharmaha, Yato dharmastato Jayaha.”

i.e. Where there is krishna, there is dharma, where there is dharma, there is victory. Since Duryodhana, leader of the Kauravs did not observe dharma, he did not have Krishna. No Krishna, no victory.

During the battle Shri Krishna uttered 700 shloks in the form of the ‘Bhagvad Gita’ to convince the reluctant Arjun to fight. The Lord finally uttered the essence of his sermons in the following verse (18/66):

“Sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja,

aham twaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shuchaha.”

i.e. O Arjun! Forsake all your personal beliefs and surrender to me. Do not lament for I shall deliver you from all sins.

Therefore a true spirit of Janmashtami is for devotees to implicitly surrender at the Lord’s lotus-feet, while staunchly observing dharma.

Ideal Devotee
In the Gita (18/54), the Lord stipulates:

“Brahma bhootaha prasannaatmaa na shochati na kaankshati,

Samaha sarveshu bhuteshu madbhaktim labhate param.”

i.e. One who becomes ‘Brahmarup’ and offers devotion to Parabrahma (God), he forever remains blissful and attains the highest glory of God. ‘Brahmarup’ simply means to become the ideal devotee like Arjun who represents ‘Nar’ to then worship Krishna – Narayan. Hence the murtis of Nar-Narayan. Similarly, Shri Krishna played the ‘Maha Raas’ traditional (stick folk dance) with the Gopis of Vrundavan because of their unalloyed love for him. Radha was the foremost among them. Therefore devotees should develop ‘Gopi-bhav’, to become Radha-rup (like Radha) to worship Shri Krishna. Hence devotees everywhere also consecrate murtis of ‘Radha-Krishna’ in mandirs, worshipping the Lord with his consort or choicest devotee.

In addition to such surrenderance, how should the devotee strive to attain ‘Gopi-bhav’ to please the Lord?

In the Srimad Bhagwat (11/12/1,2), Shri Krishna himself propounds ‘Satsang’, which is another important principle in celebrating Janmashtami

“I am not as pleased by endeavors such as: Yoga, Sankhya, scriptural study, austerities, renunciation, altruistic social deeds, donation, fasting, yagna, study of Vedic scriptures, observance of the laws of Dharma and Yama (part of yoga), as I am by Satsang.”

‘Satsang’ means associating with a God realised Sadhu. This was exemplified by King Parikshit when he was cursed to die in seven days, by surrendering to Shukdevji, who was a God-realised sadhu.

Finally, after Shri Krishna’s departure from earth, how did the Lord continue his manifestation? This question was posed by Shaunak and other rishis to Suta Purani (in the Bhagwat). He replied, “Dharma resided in the Lord’s true sadhu who is the true beholder of Dharma.” In the Bhagwat, Shri Krishna supports this when he revealed to Uddhavji: “O Uddhav! You are not any the lesser than me.” Thus the Lord revealed Bhagwat Dharma to Uddhavji and since then propagated it through him. The true spirit then, in celebrating Janmashtami is for devotees to do Satsang through the Satpurush who is the beholder of Bhagwat Dharma – in order to realize God within.