Today is KRISHNA JANAMASHTAMI, the birthday of Krishna, who was born 5248 years ago. Krishna is said to be the 8th avatar of Vishnu, the Protector god in Hinduism. Born an imprisoned prince and raised as a cowherd, Krishna became one of the most powerful and noble kings of ancient India. The Mahabharata, India’s great epic, tells his story and that of his cousins the Pandavas and Kauravas, and how a mighty war was fought in the 10th century BCE involving India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tibet, Nepal and Sri Lanka. During this war, Krishna counsels his cousin Arjuna on the philosophy of life — this discourse is called the Bhagavad Gīta, “the Song of God”. It is the most famous of Hindu scriptures and one of the three starting points for the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.
”When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were his own, he has attained the highest state of spiritual union.” — Bhagavad Gīta
Nous célébrons aujourd’hui KRISHNA JANAMASHTAMI, l’anniversaire de Krishna, né il y a 5248 ans. Il est dit que Krishna est le 8ème avatar de Vishnu, le dieu protecteur de l’Hindouisme. Né prince emprisonné et élevé comme vacher, Krishna devint l’un des rois les plus puissants et nobles de l’Inde ancienne. La grande épopée indienne du Mahabharata raconte son histoire et celle de ses cousins, les Pandavas et les Kauravas, et comment une puissante guerre au 10ème siècle avant notre ère impliqua l’Inde, le Pakistan, l’Afghanistan, l’Iran, le Tadjikistan, le Turkménistan, l’Irak, le Kirghizistan, le Bangladesh, le Myanmar, le Tibet, le Népal et Sri Lanka. Au cours de cette guerre, Krishna conseille son cousin Arjuna sur la philosophie de la vie — ce discours s’appelle la Bhagavad Gīta, le “Chant de Dieu”. C’est la plus célèbre des écritures hindoues, et l’un des trois points de départ de l’école de philosophie hindoue Vedanta.