What is Krishna Ashtami or Janmashtami

The stage of Dharmic development in each individual when the lower desires and nature is destroyed is called Krishna - Ashtami. 

Krishna-Ashtami also refers to the rise of the half-moon at midnight after all the  wickedness of man is destroyed or reduced to complete darkness or nothingness. The various tendencies of the mind ( Kuru's) should be destroyed until they vanish together . 

Who is Krishna ? 

The  Kurukshetra war will continue as long as the plexus and Nadis exist in man. The Kurus( lower  desires)  can be destroyed only by Arjuna ( Satwik wisdom) guided by the Yogeeshwara ( Krishna). 

Krishna thus refers to the practical process of removing the sins of man. 'Krishi' means ' total' and 'na' means seed. The Brahman/Atma/Ishwara/Bhagwan which is the seed for everything is known as Krishna.

Where does Krishna reside ?

Krishna  resides in Mathura. 

Where is Mathura?

Mathura refers to our heart  and the Atma  resides within us and directs our brain based on our Karma. Basically we are the Atma.

Who was Devaki and Vasudeva ?

“Devaki praised by the Vedas is the daughter of Brahma. Vasudeva is Veda itself. The meaning of Veda is Krishna and Balarama.”

Devaki here refers to the Satvik Guna in man and Vasudeva denotes the knowledge of the Vedas. The quotation from the Bhagavatham pertaining to the Avatara of Sri-Krishna signifies in plain language that man should first study the Vedas and understand their real contents. That will give him the status of the Itihasic ( technical) Vasudeva.

vsu @eñy¡ dIVyte àkaZyte #it vsudev>,

That in which the wealth of knowledge is found, is Vasudeva.

Similarly dIVyte àkaZyte,

Devaki represents the purified Buddhi ( the nearest english equivalent is 'Intelligence' ) fit to receive the knowledge of the Vedas and retain it. Buddhi in Sanskrit is feminine gender and hence Itihasically described as goddess Devaki. The heart of this goddess is thus certainly the place for the Avatara to appear in. Vide Bramha Vaivartha Purana 

äüvEvtRpura[mœ,ùTpTmkaezaÎevKya hirraivbR-Uv h. 

Just after the thickest darkness of midnight, is said to be the proper time for the Avatara of Krishna.

inzIwe tm %ÑUte jaymane jnadRne. 

This Itihasically (technically) points to a stage of dharmic development in each man when his wicked nature becomes invisible by total destruction

This time is Itihasically pointed out as Krishna-Ashtami or the 8^th day of the dark fortnight when the moon rises after midnight. Vide äüvEvtRpura[mœ,

AxRraÇe smuTpÚe raeih{yamòmIitwaE, jyiNtyaegs<yu−e caxRcNÔaedye mune.

Those who are prepared to understand the Hindu religious ( read Dharmic) literature need to know that the divine Krishna is no human character in the ancient history of India, but the Brahman/Atman within us and around  us.

Chandogya Upanishad and Purusha Sooktha ( Rg Veda) says: Aham Evam Idham Sarvam. I am that Brahman. All that is here is Brahman/Iswara and you are THAT Eswara. Thatvamasi.

Wishing you a happy Krishnaashtami 

Adapted from the book- Inside-Out, An Enquiry of Hindu Dharma ( now available in Amazon, Notionpress, googleplay)

Source: 

1. Bramha Vaivartha Purana

2. Gopala Uttaratapi Upanishad