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II Ram
Navmi II
Ram Navami is a
festival that
celebrates the
birth of Lord
Rama. Rama
Navami falls on
the ninth day of
a Hindu lunar
year or Chaitra
Masa Sukla paksha
Navami, which
usually falls in
March or April.
Lord Rama is an
avatar of Lord
Vishnu who came
down to earth to
battle the
invincible
Ravana in human
form.The story
of Rama was
first written by
Vaalmeeki in
about the 4th
century B.C.
Rama is supposed
to have lived
during the 8th
or 7th century
B.C. The epic
known as the
Ramayana.
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Birth story
of Lord Rama
The country of
Kosal was
situated on the
banks of the
river Sharayu.
Ayodhya was the
capital founded
by the king
rishi Manu.
During the reign
of king Dasarath,
Ayodhya reached
a period of
great
prosperity. But
Dasarath faced a
big problem: he
had no children.
Therefore he
decided to
perform a
sacrifice known
as “ashvamedh”,
or
horse-sacrifice.
Elaborate and
difficult
rituals had to
be observed. A
very holy man,
rishi
Rishyashring,
was chosen to
conduct the
sacrifice with
the utmost
accuracy. The
performance of
this sacrifice
was a great
event in Ayodhya. |
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At the end Rishyashring
recited a mantra
and made an
offering to the
fire. Then the
gods, gandharvas,
siddhas, and
rishis present
arid began to
pray to Brahma.
At that time
Ravan, king of
Lanka, was
terrorizing the
people, and all
were longing for
liberation from
his menace.
Ravan had
acquired great
power because he
had obtained
from god Brahma
the boon that he
would never die
at the hands of
gods, or
gandharvas, or
yakshas
(demigods) or
demons. As he
was not afraid
of men he did
not care to
include men in
the list of his
potential
slayers. So
Brahmadev
declared that
Ravan would die
at the hands of
a man. Then the
gods went to
Vishnu with the
request,
“Dasarath is a
glorious king.
Please, take
birth in the
wombs of his
three queens in
four different
degrees of your
divinity.”
When Dasarath’s
sacrifice came
to an end a
shining figure
appeared over
the sacrificial
kund, and
offered the king
a divine
beverage called
“payasam” to be
given to his
queens Kausalya,
Kaikayi, and
Sumitra. In due
time Kausalya
gave birth to
Rama, Kaikayi to
Bharat and
Sumitra to
Laxman and
Shatrugna. Rama
was born at noon
of the bright
ninth day of
Chaitra. He was
believed to be
the embodiment
of half degree
of Vishnu’s
divinity, (ardha
ounsh).
Celebration :
The festival of
Ramnavami is
celebrated with
great devotion
across the
nation and every
region has its
own regional
significance
behind the
celebration.
Ayodhya is the
focus of great
celebrations. A
huge fair is
organized for
two days. Ratha
yatras or
'chariot
processions' of
Rama and his
wife Sita,
brother
Lakshmana and
devotee Hanuman,
are taken out
from many
temples.
Excerpts from
the
Ramacharitamanas,
extolling the
glory of Rama,
are recited. The
public worship
starts with
morning
ablutions,
chanting Vedic
mantras
dedicated to
Vishnu, and
offering flowers
and fruit to the
god. People keep
a fast
throughout the
day, breaking it
only at midnight
with fruit.
Ceremonies :
The house is
cleaned and
decorated.
Prashada
(Offerings) of
fruit and sweets
are offered to
God Rama at the
temple.
The youngest
female member of
the household
leads the puja
by applying a
red tilak to all
the other
members of the
family. Whole
family chants
Rama Charit
Manas Shaloka
along with Jai
Shree Rama.
Some people
don't eat
certain foods
including meat,
eggs, onions,
garlic, some
spices and wheat
products.
Yogurt, milk,
tea, coffee and
water are also
permitted along
with fruits and
vegetables.
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