Seva, not only puja
Krishna is worshipped above all as a beloved child, Laddu Gopal or Bal Gopal, and many homes care for his small brass murti as a member of the family. That care is called seva: he is woken, bathed, dressed, fed and put to rest each day. If you keep a picture rather than a murti, a morning and evening puja with tulsi, a lamp and his name is complete in itself.
When to do it
- Every day, morning and evening.
- Janmashtami (Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami): the main puja is at midnight, the hour of his birth.
- Ekadashi, sacred to Vishnu and Krishna.
- The month of Kartik, with lamps offered every evening.
What you will need
- A Laddu Gopal murti or a picture of Krishna (with Radha if you like)
- Panchamrit for abhishek: milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar
- Small clothes, a peacock feather, a flute, and a garland
- Tulsi leaves: no bhog is offered to Krishna without tulsi
- Sandal, a ghee lamp, incense
- Naivedya: makhan-mishri, kheer, panjiri or fruit
Daily seva, step by step
- Wake him. After your own bath, gently ring the bell and greet him.
- Bath. Bathe Laddu Gopal with water (panchamrit on special days), then dry him with a soft cloth.
- Dress and adorn. Dress him, put on his peacock feather and garland, and apply a dot of sandal.
- Offer. Flowers, then incense and the lamp.
- Bhog. Offer makhan-mishri or the day's food, always with a tulsi leaf on it. Leave it for a few minutes, then take it as prasad.
- Mantra and kirtan. Chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra on a tulsi mala, or recite Krishnaya Vasudevaya.
- Path. Recite Madhurashtakam or the Krishna Chalisa.
- Aarti. Sing Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki.
- Evening and rest. Light a lamp at dusk, offer a little milk or fruit at night, and lay him to rest on his small bed.
Janmashtami at midnight
On Janmashtami, devotees fast through the day and decorate a swing (jhula). At midnight, Laddu Gopal is bathed with panchamrit, dressed in new clothes, placed in the swing and rocked, and the aarti is sung with conch and bells. Fifty-six dishes (chhappan bhog) are offered in temples; at home, makhan-mishri, panjiri and fruit are traditional. The fast is broken after the midnight puja or the next morning, according to family custom.
Frequently asked questions
Why is tulsi offered with Krishna's bhog?
Tulsi is Vishnupriya, dearest to Vishnu, and tradition holds that Krishna does not accept food offered without a tulsi leaf.
Can I keep Laddu Gopal at home?
Yes, but he is cared for like a child: bathed, dressed and fed every day. If daily seva isn't possible, a picture with a simple morning and evening puja is a good alternative.
Should Radha be worshipped with Krishna?
In the Braj tradition, yes: Radha-Krishna are worshipped together. See the Radha puja vidhi.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.