Tithi 8jaya
Ashtami
अष्टमी
Presiding deity: Durga / Bhairava
Tithi Mantra
ॐ दुर्गायै नमः
Om Durgayai Namah
Shukla Paksha (waxing)
Eighth day — Durga Ashtami of Sharad Navratri (Mahashtami). Also Janmashtami = Krishna's birth (Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Bhadrapada).
Krishna Paksha (waning)
Krishna Ashtami — Bhairava worship, Kalashtami monthly fast. Janmashtami falls on Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapada.
Best for
- + Durga worship
- + Bhairava worship
- + Kanya puja
- + Sandhi puja
- + Removing fear
Avoid for
- - Cutting hair
- - Cutting nails
Fasting tradition
Kalashtami / Durga Ashtami — full fast till midnight, perform Bhairava-puja with black sesame; Janmashtami fast till midnight, then krishna-darshan.
Major festivals on this tithi
Krishna Janmashtami, Durga Ashtami (Mahashtami), Kalashtami (monthly), Radha Ashtami