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Introduction
Shriram Navami is celebrated to proclaim the birth of Lord Shrirama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. ‘The nineth day (Navami) in the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra is referred to as Ram Navami. On this day, when the five planets and the sun, etc. were in first house of cancer at noon along with the lunar asterism Pushya, Ramachandra was born in Ayodhya. Several temples of Lord Rama celebrate this festival for nine days beginning from the first day (pratipada) of Chaitra. It is celebrated by periodic readings (parayans) of the Ramayan, organising spiritual discourses (kirtans) and beautifully embellishing Lord Rama’s idol. On the ninth day, in the afternoon a spiritual discourse on Lord Rama’s birth is held. At noon, a coconut draped in a hooded cloak is placed in a cradle and the cradle is rocked. Devotees shower a red, fragrant powder (gulal) and flowers onto it.’
Celebrations of Ram Navami start on Gudi padwa, the first day of Chaitra; and continue for 9 days. During this period, devotees do parayans of Ramayan, recite the Ramarakshastotra, sing bhajans-kirtans in His praise and chant His name.
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Attributes of Lord Rama
Name: Lord Rama’s Name was prevalent even before His birth. After His victory at Lanka, that is, upon demonstrating His Godhood, everyone started addressing Him as Shrirama (Lord Rama).
Ideal in All Respects: Lord Rama is an example of the ideal son, brother, husband, king, friend and enemy.
The Follower of Righteousness (Dharma): Lord Rama observed all decorum prescribed by Dharma; that is why He is referred to as ‘Maryadapurushottam’. Also, honoring one’s word (Ekvachani) and needing just one arrow or shot to find the mark (Ekbani) and having only one wife (Ekpatni) are His well-known attributes.
Lord Rama’s Kingdom (Ramrajya): During Lord Rama’s rule, that is, in the Tretayug it was not Lord Rama alone who was wise, His subjects, too, were prudent. Hence, during His reign not a single complaint was brought to His court.
The real kingdom of Lord Rama dwells within oneself. The implied meaning of this is absolute control over the five sense organs, five motor organs, mind, subconscious mind, intellect and ego by the Rama principle (Atmarama - the soul principle).
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Worship of Lord Rama
Once the stage of worship of the divine principle or deity according to one’s religion (that of the family deity for Hindus) is completed, the spiritual practice (worship) of Lord Rama is useful for many seekers to go from many to One. This is because of Lord Rama’s attributes of being true to His word, devoted to only one wife and attaining the target with just one arrow.
Ritualistic Worship (Puja):
Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, He, too, is worshipped like Vishnu in sixteen steps (shodashopachar puja). Tulasi (sacred and medicinal plant found in India) leaves are essential for His worship. Tulasi has the ability to attract the subtlest pure particles (pavitrakas) of Vishnu. It is even better if one can use Lotuses for the worship. Khir (a sweet delicacy made from milk and rice or vermicelli) or shira (a sweet delicacy made from semolina, pure ghee and sugar) is Lord Vishnu’s favorite sacrament (naivedya). Choosing the substances offered in the worship according to the science of Spirituality helps generate divine consciousness (chaitanya) in the statue, so that it aids one’s spiritual progress.
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Celebration of Ram Navami
Shrirama Navami is called a holy festival (sun) when it is celebrated individually, a religious festival (utsav) when celebrated collectively and when performed individually with a resolve (sankalpa) it becomes a vowed observance (vrat). Also, unlike most vowed religious observances, which are practiced individually, Shrirama Navami is a vowed religious observance undertaken by a group.
Several temples of Lord Rama celebrate this festival for nine days, beginning from Gudhipadva (the first day (pratipada) of the month of Chaitra). It is celebrated by periodic readings (parayans) of the Ramayan, organizing and attending spiritual discourses (kirtans) and beautifully embellishing Lord Rama’s statue. During these nine days, reciting the Ramaraksha prayer (stotra) eleven times daily with a resolve (sankalpa) brings the prayer to fruition, yielding benefits like reduction of speech impairment and other ailments, and gaining prosperity. On the ninth day, that is, on Shrirama Navami a spiritual discourse on Lord Rama’s birth is held in the afternoon. At noon, a coconut, draped in a hooded cloak is placed in a cradle and rocked. The coconut signifies the baby Lord Rama. A red, fragrant powder (gulal) and flowers are showered onto it. Many places in North India host fairs in connection with the festival, culminating in spectacular fireworks on Rama Navami.
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Lord Rama: An Ideal
The Ideal son: Always obeyed His parents; at times even advised the elders.
The Ideal brother: Rama-Lakshman’s love is cited as the ideal of brotherly love.
The Ideal husband: Devoted to His one and only wife. Kings, then, use to have many wives.
The Ideal friend: He helped Sugreev, Bibhishan and many others during their difficult times. The Ideal King: Followed all codes of conduct for Kings as laid down in our scriptures.
The Ideal Enemy: Bibhishan refused to perform the last rites of Ravan, his brother. Lord Rama said to him, ‘If you do not do it, I will. He was my brother too!’
Maryadapurushottam: He represents the Supreme extent of Righteousness.
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Lord Rama’s Human Nature
He displays emotions of happiness & unhappiness just like humans do. (His melancholy at Sita’s abduction is an example.) Hence, we feel closer to Him than we feel towards other deities.
The Ramayana in our lives: While Atmaram is the soul principle, Sita is the Great Illusion. Lakshman alludes to the focus on the soul, instead of the worldly. Bharat signifies a seeker engrossed in worship of radiance. Shatrughna is one who destroys the six foes (Shadripus) of the soul. Rama, Sita and Lakshman together stand for spiritual knowledge, devotion and detachment respectively. Hanuman is the activated Kundalini and Ravana the Desire, anger, greed, attachment, vanity and envy.
Every Incarnation comes to Earth with a specific purpose: The main task of every Incarnation is to destroy evil and establish the Divine Kingdom; but the percentage and proportion of this varies in different Yugas. And, all activities of the Incarnation are centered around this task.
Killing of Ravana: Ravana was highly learned and possessed knowledge of Righteousness (Dharma). Lord Rama had to destroy him, so that He could protect the embodied souls doing spiritual practice. Lord Rama acquired a gross body to help the souls pursue their spiritual aspirations appropriately.
Final Liberation: Many embodied souls completed their individual spiritual practice through the path of Knowledge (Dhyanyoga) but since their spiritual practice for the sake of society (Samashti sadhana) was incomplete, their spiritual practice for Final Liberation remained incomplete. In Satya-yuga there was no way to perform spiritual practice for the sake of society and as a result many embodied souls got stuck midway. For their progress and liberation, they were born as monkeys (vanars) during Lord Rama’s time. Some of the Gods who had been cursed were also born during this period as monkeys. In order to make all these embodied souls practice spirituality for the sake of society and their progress, Lord Rama acquired a gross body.
To set an ideal for the people: Lord Rama set an example through each and every action of His. He explained how an embodied soul can attain Final Liberation by acting in accord-ance with the scriptures.
He set an example of a Divine Kingdom for the people: When Righteousness (Dharma) manifested in the gross, Unrighteousness (Adharma) also manifested in the gross. Many embodied souls started troubling Sages and others who acted in accordance with the scriptures. During that time Lord Rama protected the Sages and set an example through His own deeds for all kings as to how a Divine Kingdom should be. Lord Rama is an ideal of how selfless, free from desire and impartial a King can be!
Reference: Monthly Sanatan Prabhat
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Interesting articles about Lord Ram
Save Ram Setu
Divine Ram Setu
Setu Samudram shipping canal project (SSCP) has been approved by the Government of India and work has been started near Kodand Ram Temple. Setu Samudram [shipping canal project] is based on the notion that it is inevitable to break Shri Ram Setu for easy navigation. This will amount to damaging a monument of both, historical and religious importance. All Ram bhakta should protest against the Congress government who is going to break Shri Ram Setu.
Participate in online protest campaign…
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Defamation of Lord Rama by modern incarnations of Ravan
1. Defamation on Orkut Community
The website ‘Orkut’ of ‘Google’ company has published pictures of Lord Rama. The pictures indicate perverse mentality of the ‘community’ started on the website as the denigration has been done by stooping to a very low level. HJS has therefore, warned the website to immediately withdraw all such ‘communities’.
(Click here for details)
2. Another defamation on Orkut Community
One person named Vineet Bhatawadekar has created one community “Shriram ke fundae” at the this link as reported by proud Hindu Shri Shailesh Vatharkar. Shri Vatharkra has asked him to remove the photo immediately.
(click here for details)
3. Defamation through shoes
Minelli of Italy painted images of Lord Rama on shoes made by them and deliberately advertised this aspect. Hindus protested against this denigration and the company was compelled to withdraw their shoes from market.
See also: The other horrible defamation of Hindu Deities
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Hindus bring back the Ramrajya!
Ramrajya is the only solution to all the problems. It can only be possible if Hindus wake up and destroy the Modern incarnation’s of Ravan’s. The attacks on the Hindu Dharma are growing from the Christian, Muslims, atheists and other all anti-Hindus and yet Hindus are not retaliating to them. If the condition remains as it is then the Hindu Dharma as well as Hindus would be extinct forever. Keep in the mind that changes do not occur by big miracle, but acts within the common man’s reach.
You can serve Dharma with the time, with the strength you have.
1. Protest against any defamation of Hindu Dharma and take efforts to punish the guilty.
2. Start spiritual practice by which you will get blessings of the deities and your mission would succeed.
3. To know the ways you can serve Dharma visit the How to contribute section of our website. - Editor
The divine consciousness emanating during sunrise, absorbed at that time lasts longer. Thus the Gudi should be worshipped within 5-10 minutes after sunrise!
Position of the Gudi: Care should be taken to raise the Gudi next to the main entrance of the house. The spot selected should be on the right side (when sighted from the house) of the entrance. The right side symbolizes active state of the soul.
