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| LORD RAM |
What is Ram Navami
Ram Navami, is a Spring time, Hindu festival which marks the birth of Lord Rama. It is celebrated on the, ninth day of Shukla Paksha in Chaitra month.
Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, in Treta Yuga to King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya.
Ram Navami mean's ?
The birthday of Lord Rama is, Celebrated as Ram Navami festival in India. It also marks the end of the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri.
Lord, Shree Ram born, on the auspicious day of Ram Navami is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The life activities, of Shri Ram are explained in detail by the great, Sage Valmiki in the great Sanskrit epic Ramayana. The story of Ram Navami is, also called the Vratha Katha.
It describes, how King Dasharath and his three Queen's Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra performed, the Putra Kameshti Yagna on the advice, of Maha Rishi Vasishtha. When neither of King Dasharatha's wives, was able to bear him an Hier, after the Yagna the three Queen's were given Prasad, which was blessed by Yagna, Lord of Yagna, With the blessings Queen's conceived soon, after they consumed the Prasad and on the ninth day of Chaitra month, Queen Kaushalya gave birth to Lord Ram, Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat and Queen Sumitra gave birth to the twins Lakshman and Shatrughan.
The Hindu scriptures, have announced the incarnation of Lord , in the universal scriptures that narrate the history and tradition of our Religion.
Lord Brahma in his scriptural, treatise Brahma Samhita, prays to the Lord reciting.
" ramadi-murtishu kala-niyamena
tishthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvaneshu kintu
krishnah svayam samabhavat paramah
punam yo
govindam adi-purushamtam aham
bhajami"
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| LORD VISHNU |
Here, Lord Brahma offer prayer to Lord Govinda the Primeval Lord, who personally appeared as Lord Ram for the protection of the devotees. The incarnation is compared to the waves, of a river. The verse states that as the waves, of river or the waves of the ocean, cannot be counted. Similarly it is impossible, to count the the incarnation of the Supreme Lord.
The prayers of Lord Brahma confirm the fact that the Lord appears in his various incarnations like Matsya-the fish, Varaha the boar, Narsimha, the half-man, half-Lion to protect his devotees, out of which the Lord Ram incarnation personifies, justice, ethics and victory over vices.
Spiritual Significance of Ram Navami
When we say Rama ( ra and ma) 'Ra' means light, 'Ma' means within. The Divine light within us is Rama.
The purpose of Lord Rama's birth, was to defeat the evil spirit, of demon king Ravana and bring back the Goddess Sita. Hence the Celebration, of Ram Navami glorifies the power of religion.
Ram Navami indicates the significance of the arrival of Divine power on the Earth. It was when Lord Vishnu was born as Lord Rama, the elder son of Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya.
King Dashratha (dasa and ratha) Lord Rama's father, 'Dasha' means Ten, 'Ratha' means Chariot. Ten Chariots mean five working senses or active senses (Karmendriya) and Knowledge acquiring senses (Gyanendriya). The active senses include the ability to talk, the hands, the legs, the evacuating part, and the genitals. The Knowledge, acquiring senses include eyes, ears, nose, tongue and sense of touch.
Queen Kaushalya, Rama's Mother Kaushalya, it means "Skill". Hence Lord Rama has all the, skill to ride the ten Chariots of active senses and knowledge acquiring senses.
Ayodhya, birth place, and the Capital City of Lord Rama, 'A' is the negative prefix to 'Yodhya', which means war, so a place where there is no war, but prosperity and justice is called Ayodhya.
The purpose of Rama's birth was to defeat the evil spirit of Ravana. The story of Ram Navami begins, with the king of Lanka the mighty Ravana. As Ravana, was a cruel ruler the population, was mercilessly terrorized and people wish to attain, freedom from the demon king. However no simple man could defeat,the demon King as Ravana had acquired the blessings of Lord Brahma, which meant that, he would never get killed by the Gods, or Yakshas (demigod) therefore Ravana had become, the most powerful demon king in the world.
God's made their way, to the eternal Saviour Lord Vishnu, to save the humankind from the menace of Ravana. Hence the Supreme Lord incarnated, as Lord Ram and he went on to defeat, the demon King Ravana, and bring back the, Goddess Sita and free the people from his Clutches.
Celebration's of Ram Navami
The importance of the festival, is to celebrate the triumph, of good over evil, as well as the establishment, of the Dharma to defeat the Adharma.
Fasting on this day signifies, purification of body and mind, and thus seeks perfection as a human being. On the day of Ram Navami devotees get up, early and after bathing offer water to the Sun God, as the Sun God is believed to, be the ancestor of Lord Rama.
Temple's, of Lord Rama are beautifully decorated and image's of baby Rama are placed in a small Cradle. Special Havan (Homa) are, also organised, Shree Rama CharitaManas, starts a day earlier and culminate at Madhyahana (noon) on, Ram Navami, which is considered auspicious time of the birth time of Lord Rama. At the time of Madhyahana (noon) a Conch is blown to mark the birth, of the Lord Rama, flowers, and fruits are, offered while chanting the, Vedic Mantras. Prayers are offered, and the Lord Rama's birthday is celebrated with, a huge religious pomp.
Some people, also conduct fasting on this festival, as it is believed to bring the blessings of Shree Rama. The fasting time begins in the morning and end's the next morning of Ram Navami.
In, Ayodhya ( Uttar Pradesh) , which is believed to be the birth place of Lord Rama devotees bathe, in the Sarayu River, which is believed, that purify the body and soul of the devotee. Huge Rathyatra is also taken out with the idols, of Lord Rama, Godess Sita, brother Laxmana and Lord Hanuman from many temple's from all over Ayodhya.
Special commemorative, celebration's are held in the cities, which are also referenced in the epic Ramayana associated with Lord Rama's life are Ayodhya (Utter Pradesh) Rameshwaram (Tamilnadu), Bhadrachalam (Telengana), and Sitamarhi (Bihar).
As we know, the Life and journey of Lord Rama is an, example for all of us. We can attain, salvation and happiness, if we follow the virtues, exemplified by the Lord in our lives. He is truly, an embodiment of noble qualities. It was because, of these characteristics, Lord Rama was called Maryada Purushottam.
In the end, Lord Rama, means "Bliss" signifying, the happiness that Lord Rama bestow on all of us, who remembers, and worship him. Also Lord Rama teaches us to walk on the path of Dharma and Righteousness and goodness, by showing his own example as an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal friend, and ideal King.
During Lord Rama's rule, the Earth was prosperous, and happy, it was called as "Ram Rajya", which embodies, justice, happiness, harmony and prosperity for all humans.
As we Celebrate, the auspicious day of Ram Navami in the month of April, this year.
I pray Lord Rama to accord, all of us with his Grace so, we can walk on his chosen path.
I wish you all, Happy Ram Navami!
By Viinod Baherani
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