It is really unfortunate that Ashtami and Navami thithis, the eighth and ninth days of the lunar fortnight are held inauspicious in popular belief; for, the facts are quite contrary. Both these days mark the auspicious arrival of an Avatar of God, the advent of the Formless, Nameless Timeless, Locationless Absolute as the Formful, Named, living Particular. Shri Krishna was born on the eighth-day, and Shri Ram on the ninth day of the white half of lunar fortnight. Ignoring the sacredness of these days, and imagining them to be fraught with unpredictable dangers if new enterprises are started on those days, is sheer perversity, indeed.

God takes human form, when the Godliness that is inherent in man is submerged, when moral code and the spiritual discipline have been prescribed by the experience of godly seekers are neglected, when man slides into beast form which he rose and become terror to brother man. Krishna is Yogeshvara, unattached to the fruits of His labour; God appeared as Krishna, to charm humanity by His pranks, His play, His song and sweetness, and to instruct and save man by His teachings and Grace. He was born on Janmasthami Day in the prison where His ‘Parents’ were incarcerated by the very evil forces he had come to exterminate. Shri Rama came to lead man into Dharma, and so, he had to be the very embodiment of Right, justice, and integrity. He taught the Dharma that should guide the lives of the son, the brother, the friend, the ruler, the husband.

The stars under which these two incarnations of God descended on the earth are also significant. When Avatars come, they choose the time and place, clan and the family, and they decide and bring the comrades and the co-workers. When Rama came, Sita, Chakra and other inseparable adjuncts of the Lord also incarnated, Deva also came down, in order to taste the sweetness of the Lord’s company and service. Rohini, under which Krishna was born, is related to the attainment of Yogic success and the powers that flow from it. Punarvasu, the star under which Rama was born has a mysterious influence on the authority which accepts all who submit, the Saranagatha-thrana aspect of Rama’s glory.

What man has to do on the auspicious days is to dwell on the elevating thoughts centering round the two Avatars and take the first of further steps in Sadhana. Use these days as starting points for propitiating the Form of Godhead, which you have chosen for offering homage, the Form which appeals to your innermost yearnings. Do not ascribe evil to any day or star. Every day is good, when you spend it for God. Every star is good, provided, its light guides your feet to God. This is my advice to you this day. (SSS Vol.5, pp. 34-35)