Contributed by: Pundit Srinivas Khedam
Adau Rama ThapoVandadi GamaNam Hathwaa Mrugam Kanchanam
Vaidehiee Haranam Jataayu Maranam Sugreeva SambhaShanam
Vaalee NigrahaNam SamudraTharaNam LankaaPureeDahanam
PaschaaDraavana KumbaKarna Nidhanam HyeThyadhi Raamaayanam
Appearance Day of the Most Perfect Form of Lord Vishnu - Sri Rama Navami
Among all the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu the incarnation of Lord Rama is considered as the best
of all. When asked by sage Narada Lord Vishnu says that He enjoyed the incarnation of Rama than all
the other incarnations. This is because in this incarnation Lord experienced the joy, love, compassion,
pain and suffering just like human beings. The purpose of this incarnation was not only to kill the
demon Ravana but mainly to demonstrate the qualities of a good son, brother, husband, son-in-law,
king, father, and a friend. There is a powerful message in every verse of the Ramayana, and those who
understand the secrets and apply them in their life, they will be walking in the footsteps of Lord Rama,
and leading a blissful life.
Rama Navami in North India
This day is dedicated to worshipping Lord Rama. All houses are cleaned and decorated nicely with colors
and flowers. People go to the temple to celebrate the life of Lord Rama. Plays on the life of Lord Rama
are enacted in the temples and other places of gathering. Importantly plays cover the most important
aspects of Lord Ramas life: birth, life in guru kulam(school), marriage with Sitha Devi, life in the forest,
friendship with Sugreeva and Hanuman, the war with Ravana, and coronation at Ayodhya. In Ayodhya
(the birth place of Lord Rama) Lord Rama, Sith Devi, Lakshmana, and Hanuman are paraded in the
streets with devotees singing bhajans, dances and songs. Special food is prepared at homes and in the
temples. People wear new clothes, arrange feasts at their places, invite families and friends and share
food with them, distribute food and clothes to the poor people.
Fasting During the Navarathri and Recitation of Ramayana
The day of fasting begins nine days before the Rama Navami(Lord Ramas birth), and in most places this
day is the New Year. People start fasting from the New Year day by abstaining from the staple food of
rice and bread. They eat only fruits and milk for ten days, and spend time reciting a few thousand verses
from Ramayana everyday. The entire Ramayana containing over one hundred thousand verses will be
finished during the nine days of Navarathri. Another reason why people observe Navarathri is because
a divine girl called Vaishno Devi also performed Navarathri vrath(penance) for Lord Ramas victory over
Ravana. Vaishno Devi was a divine girl who started meditating upon Lord Rama at the age of 9 years and
when she expressed an interest to marry Lord Rama, he says that He vowed to be married only to Sitha
Devi in that incarnation, and would marry her in the tenth incarnation of Kalki at the end of Kali Yuga. By
observing Navarathri, devotees of Lord Rama follow the footsteps of Vaishno Devi. Another significance
of observing Navarathri is to perform penance and meditate upon Lord Rama, so that they also lead a
life like Lord Rama, who is an example for a perfect human being.
Rama Navami in South India
During his 14 years of time in forests Lord Rama travelled all the way from Ayodhya to the south tip of
India, Kanyakumari. In His journey Lord Rama spent time at different places in South India. One famous
place is called Bhadrachalam. It is in Andhra Pradesh state and the thatch hut called Panchavati was
built here. It is in the Panchavati that Lord Rama and Sitha Devi spent their time during the vanavasa.
This is the place where Lord Rama went after the golden deer that Sitha Devi wanted, and it is from here
that Sitha Devi was abducted by the demon Ravana. Sri Sitha Rama Kalyanam is performed in a grand
scale at Bhadrachalam every year on Sri Rama Navami day. Millions of people turn up to witness the Sri
Sitha Rama Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam, and also take a dip in the sacred river Godavari.
In South India devotees celebrate Rama Navami by performing the marriage ceremony of Lord Rama
and Sith Devi. On this day people decorate their homes with colors, especially door entrances with
mango leaves which signify the prosperity. People wear new clothes and perform special prayers to
Lord Rama at home. Then they go to the temple to witness the marriage ceremony of Lord Rama and
Sitha Devi. The special food of jaggery water(paanakam) and soaked lentles(Kosambri) are served
along with mago rice. Since this is the very hot time of the summer season, drinking paanakam and
eating kosambri gives cooling effect to the body, and they also have a very important medicinal value.
Sitha Rama Kalyanam
In Hindu tradition there is huge significance for the marriage ceremony of God and Goddess. First of
all marriage is a very sacred ceremony, because it is the unification of man and woman, the two forces
that give meaning to the life on this earth. Marriage is beginning to a new life. It is said in scriptures
that without the presence of woman there is no meaning to the life of a man. Lord Vishnu also says that
without His wife Maha Lakshmi He is incomplete. To emphasize the importance of woman, Lord Shiva
appeared as Ardha Nareeshwara(Half woman and half man).
The marriage of God and Goddess is Two Powers coming together to create an Immense Power.
The word kalyanam(marriage) means well being. That means it is a sacred activity that is done for the
well being of others. It is said in the scriptures that for the well being of the universe, people, and all
the entities of creation kalyanam(marriage) of God and Goddess must be performed regularly. Since
God is our father and Goddess is our mother, they will shower blessings on people every time they are
worshipped, their names are chanted and their marriage is performed.
On the other hand, God is the only Man(Purusha) and everyone else is a woman. Everyone must
be desirous of marrying Him spiritually. That means winning the heart of the God, and becoming
dearer to Him. Lord Vishnu says that His devotees are dearer to Him, and He can only be bound by
His devotees. One can win the heart of God only by surrendering oneself to Him, love Him with
utmost sincerity, worship Him, chant His name all the time, dream of Him and think about Him always.
Kalyanam(marriage) of God and Goddess is a reminder for us of our goal - getting married to God with
devotion, juts like 16000 gopikas(cowgirls) were married to Lord Krishna.
The Meaning and the Power of the word Rama
It said in the scripture that the word RAMA is so powerful that by uttering the first syllable
of RA people get rid of all their sins, and by uttering the second syllable of MA, people attain
Moksham(salvation). Ra means the universe, Ma means master(Eeshwara). That means
Rama is the master of the universe. In the word RAMA the syllable RA eliminates all sins, the
syllable AA takes out the ignorance, and the syllable MA gives peace and happiness. RA means
paramaathma(supreme soul), AA means nature, and MA means Jeevathma(the earthly soul).
The scriptures say that the most powerful OM and Rama are one and same. Further, when the
sound RA from the Ashtakshari Manthram Om Namo Narayanaya and the sound MA from
the Panchakshari Mantharm Namashivaya are joined it becomes Rama Tharaka Manthram
called RAMA. Thus it becomes a universal manthra for people of all traditions.
It is because of such an immense power it is said that chanting the name of Rama will liberate one
from the birth and death cycle. Further, there are many stories in Ramayana to indicate how Lord Rama
gave Moksham(salvation) to all those who surrendered to Him. Shabari(the old lady belonging to a
low caste) and Jataayu(the eagle who tried to stop Ravana from abducting Sitha Devi) are two good
examples to show us that anyone who surrenders to Lord Rama gets moksham(salvation).
Hanuman Jayanthi
Hanuman Jayanthi falls on the full moon day of Chaitra maasa. It is the day on which Lord Hanuman
was born. Lord Hanuman, who surrendered completely to Lord Rama, is a perfect example for a great
devotee. The qualities that make Lord Hanuman great are: Pure heart, obedience to his master, courage,
enthusiasms to serve his lord, self control, intelligence, Vedic qualifications, ability to speak in an
articulate manner, etc. Several stories are there to say who the Lord Hanuman is. One among them
is that Lord Hanuman was born with the amsha(power) of Lord Shiva. He is the son of Vayu, the wind
god. Lord Hanuman was instrumental in finding out Lanka, the place where Sitha Devi was hidden by
Ravana. Lord Hanuman was a humble devotee who never claimed that it was him who did great things
like crossing the great ocean, defeating Ravanas demon warriors, located Sitha Devi, etc. but he always
admitted sincerely that it is Lord Ramas grace that enabled him to do all great activities.
Lord Hanuman is such a great devotee that Lord Rama, Sitha Devi, and Lakshmana are in his heart all
the time. After the coronation ceremony Lord Hanuman tears his heart and shows to everyone how
Lord Rama, Sitha Devi and Lakshmana are in his heart. For his devotion and service to Lord Rama, he
was given the boon of living until the name of Rama exists in this universe. Since the name of Lord Rama
can never disappear from this universe, Lord Hanuman will live eternally. It is strongly believed that lord
Hanuman still lives in the Himalayas chanting the name of Lord Rama.
In Kali Yuga chanting the name of Lord Rama just like lord hanuman will help us to overcome day to day
challenges and pave the way towards Sri Vaikuntam, the abode of Lord Rama who is the incarnation of
Lord Vishnu Himself.
Chant the following manthra everyday to overcome day to day challenges, receive spiritual wealth and
peace in your life. Important of all Lord Ramas blessings will be with you. Also, lord Hanuman will
continue to protect those who chant the sacred name of Lord Rama, because he will be with those who
chant the name of Lord Rama.
ApadaamapHartharam Daathaaram Sarva Sampadaam|
LokabhiRamama SreeRamam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namamyaham||
Rama Navami (Smartha) dates for 2013
- Hawaii: April 19th 2013
- USA/PST: April 19th 2013
- USA/MST: April 19th 2013
- USA/CST: April 19th 2013
- USA/EST: April 19th 2013
- UK: April 11th 1913
- India: April 19th 2013
- Malaysia: April 19th 2013
- Australia -- WAU: April 19th 2013
- Australia -- SAU: April 19th 2013
- Australia -- NT: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- QSLND: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- NSW: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- ACT: April 20th 2013
- Newzeland: April 20th 2013
- Fiji: April 20th 2013
Rama Navami (Vaishnava Sampradaya) dates for 2013
- Hawaii: April 19th 2013
- USA/PST: April 19th 2013
- USA/MST: April 19th 2013
- USA/CST: April 19th 2013
- USA/EST: April 19th 2013
- UK: April 11th 1913
- India: April 19th 2013
- Malaysia: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- WAU: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- SAU: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- NT: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- QSLND: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- NSW: April 20th 2013
- Australia -- ACT: April 20th 2013
- Newzeland: April 20th 2013
- Fiji: April 20th 2013
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