Sri Rama Navami is an important festival among the Hindus. Ramanavami celebrates the birth of Rama or Ramachandra and falls on Chaitra Shukla Navami. On the ninth day of the first fortnight of Chaitra the birth of Rama is commemorated. Out of the 10 avataras viz., Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parusurama, Rama, Krishna, Budda and Kalki, Sri Rama, believed to be Lord Vishnu's 7th avatar (incarnation) to annihilate the Demon King Raavana, was born on this day.
The story of Rama is not that of a single towering personality dwarfing all others. The other characters like Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Hanuman too shine in their own greatness. All of them are so closely interwoven with Sri Rama’s life and achievements that it is Highly impossible to think of anyone without the other. In fact, the most popular picture of Sri Rama, i.e., of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam includes Sita, Hanuman and all his brothers.
Use the links below to jump directly to the respective sections of this blog.
Sri Rama & Ramanavami
Sri Rama is considered 'Purushothama', the perfect and the ideal being and the embodiment of Dharma (the right virtues), for his righteousness, devotion to his teacher, removal of casteism, shelter to the refugee, brotherhood, devotion to parents, monogamy. The nine days starting from Ugadi are observed as Vasanta Navaratri. Ramayana is read starting from the 1st day culminating with Pattabhisheka (crowning) on the 9th or Navami day. Sri Ramavatar explains guidelines that need to be followed by each and every person in this world. During this Avatar, Sriman Narayanan incarnates as the son for great king, Dasaratha. But in spite of being born to a great king, throughout this Avatar, he led his life as an ordinary person.
According to ancient texts, Sri Rama was born to King Dasaratha and Kausalya on the Chaitra Shukla Navami in Karkataka lagna with Punarvasu fourth pada. This day is being celebrated as Sri Rama Navami. It is the most auspicious day for everyone. According to Valmiki, Sri Rama was born well before BC 2055. As per the Indian Standard Time, he was born in Vyvaswata manvantaram Panchama Tretayugam, forth part i.e. Thirty thousand years equivalent Vilambali year Chaitra sudda Navami, Wednesday.
Sri Rama Nama
It is said that Rama Nama has come into existence much before the birth of Lord Sri Rama. The word Rama is divided into syllables Ra + Aa + Ma; Ra means Rudra; Aa means Brahma; Ma means Vishnu and the confluence of the three trinal Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara is Rama.
The word Rama is a confluence of two letters Ra + Ma. It is believed and said that these two letters are Jivaakshara (life giving letters) carved out of the most significant Mantras the Narayana Astakshari and Shiva Panchakshari - the letter Ra is carved out of Narayana Astakshari (Om! Namo! Narayanaya!) and the letter Ma is carved out of Shiva Panchakshari (Om! Namah Shivaya!).
Legend of Sri Rama's birth
 |
| Dasharatha performs the PutraKameshti yagna to beget sons |
In the epic Ramayana, Dasharatha, the Emperor from Ayodhya, had three wives named Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi in the Treta Yuga, which follows the Satya Yuga and is succeeded by Dwapara Yuga. Their greatest worry was that they had no children, and so they had no heir to the throne in the Ikshvaku Kula or royal lineage of great, pious, wonderful Emperors. Rishi Vasistha suggests him to perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna, through which he can have a desired child. He also tells him to invite Maharshi Rishyasringa to perform this yagna for him. Emperor Dasharatha consents and heads to Maharshi Rishyasringa's ashram, to invite him. Maharshi agrees and accompanies Emperor Dasharatha to Ayodhya (Capital of Avadha) and performs the yagna. As the result of this yagna, Yagneshwara appears and provides Dasharatha a bowl of divine pudding (Kheer/Payasam) and requests him to give it to his wives. Dasharatha gives one half of the payasam to his elder wife Kausalya, and another half to his younger wife Kaikeyi. They both give half of their portions to Sumitra. After few days all three Queens conceive. On the ninth day (Navami) of Chaithra Masa (last month in Vedic calendar), at noon Kausalya gives birth to Rama, Kaikeyi gives birth to Bharata, and Sumitra to twin boys, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
 |
Birth of Four Sons of Dasaratha |
Rama is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, who takes birth by His own will, on Bhuloka (Earth) when Adharma rules over Dharma. He protects all his devotees by vanquishing the roots of Adharma. Rama decided to incarnate to destroy an Asura or person with demonic and evil designs, called Ravana.
Rama Navami
Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the Vivaha Panchami. The sacred marriage of Devi Sita with Lord Rama was held on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana (This occasion is known as Seetha Kalyana).
Significance & Celebrations
This festival is celebrated for nine days starting from Chaitra sudda Padyami and ends with Navami day, the Jayanti of Lord Rama. During these nine days, Sri Rama Parayana is recited and Rama Nama is recited in temples and Sri Rama mandirs. According to ancient texts, Sri Rama Navami is celebrated at noon.
This festival is being celebrated in different ways across the country. In Maharastra, the celebrations begin right from the morning 9 AM and proceed till 12 noon. People keep a fast throughout the day, breaking it only at midnight with fruit.
In Northern India, an event that draws popular participation is the Rama Navami procession, also called Ratha Yatra. The main attraction in this procession is a gaily decorated chariot in which four persons enact the divine pastimes of Rama, His brother Lakshmana, His queen Sita and His pure devotee, Hanuman. The chariot is accompanied by several other persons dressed up in ancient costumes as Rama's soldiers. The procession is a gusty affair with the participants praising echoing the blissful days of Rama's rule as the Supreme Emperor on Bhuloka (Earth).
Ayodhya, the birthplace of Sri Rama, a big fair is held on this day. In South India the Sri Ramnavami Utsavam is celebrated for nine days with great fervour and devotion. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, public gatherings called satsangs are organised to commemorate the birth of Rama. Excerpts from the Ramacharitamanas, extolling the glory of Rama, are recited.
During this day, we clean our house, put the Kolam and place a photo of Sri Ramar Pattabhishekam on top of a wooden plate (Manai). Decorate the photo with various flowers. And now you can perform Archanai for Sri Ramar and after that you can chant some of the slokams from Sri Ramayanam.
In Karnataka, Sri Rama-Sita Kalyana is celebrated on Navami day. Devotees witness the wedding celebrations of Lord Rama with Sita. According to ancient texts, Sri Rama Vanavasa was done in this State. The , the ceremonial wedding ceremony of the celestial couple is held at temples throughout the south region, with great fanfare. the festival is celebrated for five days ie., Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, and Trayodasi. During these days, devotees chant Sri Rama Nama.
At some places the festival lasts the whole nine days of the Navratras, thus the period is called 'Sri Rama Navratra'. It is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas, organized several days in advance to culminate on this day, with elaborate bhajan, kirtan and distribution of prasad after the puja and aarti. Images of infant form of Sri Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Since Rama is the 7th incarnation of Vishnu having born at noon, temples and family shrines are elaborately decorated and traditional prayers are chanted together by the family in the morning. Also, at temples special havans are organized, along with Vedic chanting of Vedic mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers. Many followers mark this day by Vrata (fasting) through the day followed by feasting in the evening, or at the culmination of celebrations.
The marriage is celebrated in Mithila and Ayodhya during another day on Vivaha Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana.
The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) Sita Samahit Sthal (Sitamarhi) (Bihar), Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), thronged by thousands of devotees. Rathayatras, the chariot processions, also known as Shobha yatras of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, are taken out at several places, including Ayodhya where thousands of people take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu.
Observances
Some highlights of this day include Kalyanam - a ceremonial wedding performed by temple priests, Panaka - a sweet drink prepared on this day with jaggery and pepper, Procession of murtis in the evening, accompanied by playing with water and colours.
For the occasion, Followers of Hinduism fast or restrict themselves to a specific diet in accordance to VedaDharma. Vedic temples are decorated and readings of the Ramayana take place. Along with SriRama, people also worship Sita, Rama's wife; Lakshmana, Rama's brother; and Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Rama and the leader of his army in the battle against the asura Ravana.
SriRama Navami is dedicated to remembering Rama, as the most supreme with resolute Bhakti (devotion) and festivities begin with prayer to the Surya Deva early in the morning. At midday, when Rama incarnated on that day in Treta Yuga, that duration is special and hence devotional service to him is performed with Bhakti and piety.
A number of ISKCON temples introduced a more prominent celebration of the occasion of the holiday with the view of addressing needs of growing native Hindu congregation. It is however always was a notable calendar event on the traditional Gaurabda calendar with a specific additional requirement of fasting by devotees.
Rama Rajya, the reign of Sri Rama, is a rare period of peace and prosperity bestowed by him alone. This festival commemorates the birth of Sri Rama who is remembered for his prosperous and righteous reign.
happy sri rama navami
ReplyDeleteHappy Sri Rama Navami
ReplyDelete