Custom is aimed at allowing some deviant fun to maintain social discipline over a long period.
Mitesh Shah, 36, a businessman loves playing teen patti and he tirelessly spends entire nights paying this card game, especially during month of August which is Shravan Maas according to the Hindu calendar. Shah has been playing cards for the last 25 years, primarily a month prior to Janmashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna).
However, he doesn’t know the reason behind this practice of playing this particular card game this time of the year.
“I play teen patti during this month mainly because everyone does,” said Mitesh. “And also because it is fun and thrilling and entertaining too.” But why is it customarily played a month prior to Janmashtami every year? Shah is unable to trace the historical or mythological significance behind this custom.
Many like Shah who tirelessly gamble during this month are simply unaware of the link that exists between gambling and Janmashtami. DNA talked to experts, including sociologists and scholars of Hindu scriptures, to explore the historical connect that exists between the custom and Janmashtami.
In ancient times in Indian history, gambling, drinking, promiscuous relations and exhibition of wealth were not considered a taboo for the elite class of society. And later these practices began to penetrate the higher middle and lower classes. “Lord Krishna came in at this point to curb the proliferation of these practices on a larger scale. And if the social discipline has to be maintained for long period, a few deviants are a must,” said Dr. Leena Badshah, a sociologist.
“In this context, the entire society is given a legitimate leeway to experiment with a few prevalent taboos like gambling during this phase. And hence, once the celebration of the festival is over, the society gets back to routine chores ,” she added.
“Gambling, drinking, promiscuous relations and exhibition of wealth - these four elements first picked up and propelled in our civilisation during the reign of Kansa - king of Mathura,” said Dr. Naresh Ved, ex-vice chancellor of Gujarat University. “And Lord Krishna symbolically destroyed these social evils by killing Kansa.
And this history repeats itself even today. A similar atmosphere of euphoria over gambling and drinking emerges on the social scene prior to Lord Krishna’s birth and it all begins to subside to a non-significant scale once the Janmashtami is celebrated,” Dr. Ved said.
“Lord Krishna is seen as a flow of unrestrained energy which teaches us to break free from social taboos and live life naturally though it may call for aberrations and deviations,” said Dr. Gaurang Jani, a sociologist. “And hence many practices which are usually banned become socially acceptable if they are linked with Krishna,” he stated.
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