On Janmashtami night, devotees keep vigil until midnight by singing the glories of Lord Krishna in kirtan. The heart of the night is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, joined by beloved bhajans that celebrate Krishna's Vrindavana pastimes — Damodarastakam, Jaya Radha Madhava, Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna and more. Below is a curated collection of Janmashtami bhajans with lyrics, meaning and audio.
Why kirtan is the soul of Janmashtami night
Janmashtami is not merely observed — it is sung. From the evening until the midnight abhisheka, devotees keep an all-night vigil (jagaran) glorifying the Lord, because kirtan is the very heart of Krishna consciousness. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught that in this age of Kali there is no other way, no other way, no other way to attain spiritual perfection than the chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
On this most auspicious night, when the Supreme Lord Himself descends into this world, the singing of His names and pastimes carries a special sweetness. The bhajans below span the full mood of Janmashtami: the great maha-mantra that is the essence of all mantras; songs of baby Krishna's love-filled pastimes in Gokula; and glorifications of Radha and Krishna's eternal Vrindavana lila. Sung with devotion, these keep the mind fixed on Krishna until He appears at midnight, and fill the home with the atmosphere of the spiritual world.
You can sing these alone before your home altar, or together with family and friends as a joyful group kirtan. Each bhajan below opens to the full lyrics, transliteration, word-for-word meaning, and — where available — audio to sing along.
Bhajans to sing on Janmashtami night
Tap any bhajan to open its full lyrics, meaning and audio.
Mangalacharana Prayers
Begin the night's worship with these invocation prayers, offering respects to the guru-parampara, Krishna and the Vaishnavas before you sing.
Jaya Radha Madhava
Srila Prabhupada's beloved bhajan describing Krishna as the lover of Radha and the son of Yashoda in Vrindavana — perfect for Janmashtami.
Damodarastakam
The prayer glorifying baby Krishna bound by mother Yashoda's rope of love — the very sweetness of the Lord's childhood in Gokula.
Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna
A joyful glorification of Radha, Krishna and the holy places of Vrindavana where Krishna performed His pastimes.
Vraja Jana Mana Sukha Kari
Glorifies Krishna as the giver of joy to all the residents of Vraja — the very mood of Nandotsav.
Gopi Geet
The gopis' song of loving separation from Krishna, the pinnacle of pure devotion, from the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Gajendra Moksham
The prayer of the elephant king rescued by the Lord — a reminder that Krishna always protects His surrendered devotees.
Related pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bhajans are sung on Janmashtami?
The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is central, joined by bhajans celebrating Krishna's Vrindavana pastimes — Damodarastakam, Jaya Radha Madhava, Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna, Vraja Jana Mana, Gopi Geet and the Mangalacharana prayers. Devotees keep an all-night kirtan vigil until Krishna's midnight appearance.
Why is kirtan important on Janmashtami?
Kirtan — the congregational chanting of Krishna's names — is the heart of devotional practice in this age. On Janmashtami, when the Lord descends into the world, singing His names and pastimes through the night keeps the mind fixed on Krishna and fills the home with the mood of the spiritual world until His midnight appearance.
What is the best bhajan for baby Krishna on Janmashtami?
Damodarastakam is especially dear on Janmashtami, as it glorifies baby Krishna bound by mother Yashoda's rope of love in Gokula. Jaya Radha Madhava, which describes Krishna as the son of Yashoda, is also a beloved choice.
Can I sing Janmashtami bhajans at home?
Yes. You can sing these bhajans alone before your home altar or together with family and friends as a group kirtan. Each bhajan page offers full lyrics, transliteration, word-for-word meaning and, where available, audio to sing along.
