Shri Rama Navami is one of the most
popular festivals in India. It is a celebration of the manifestation of Lord Vishnu on earth as Shri Rama. It celebrates the birth of Shri Rama, son of King
Dashrath of Ayodhya. Shri Rama was the
seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This festival starts from the first day of
Chaitra (Hindu month) which is the Gudhi Padwa or Yugaadi – the Hindu new year
and continues for 9 days. The name
‘Rama’ existed before the incarnation of Lord Vishnu on earth. It is a very
powerful sacred vibration which means ‘the power of God which beguiles the mind
and keeps it in control’. Only the power
of God can keep the mind under control – not man. As only the Lord Himself was
worthy of this name and He took an avatar and was named Rama. Shri Rama is worshiped in all households in India and is venerated not just as a Divine
Being but also as an ideal example of how to live life in various roles a
person lives through in his lifetime.
Traditionally, Shri Rama Navami is
celebrated by the parayana (daily reading of an allotted number of pages or
chapters) of the Holy Scripture – the Ramayana. Worship is offered at homes in
the traditional manner with mantras, fragrant flowers, sandal wood paste, turmeric,
kumkum – the red powder used for marking
the forehead and tulsi leaf. The tulsi plant is considered holy by Hindus and the tulsi leaf is special in worship of Lord
Vishnu and His many avatars. The tulsi leaf has ability to attract the subtle
energies of Lord Vishnu. Lotus flowers are also offered as they are special to
worship of Lord Vishnu. Freshly cooked rice, savouries, sweet (pudding) made of
milk, rice and sugar are offered as naivedya(offering) to the Lord and
distributed as prasad (sanctified food). Many people also do the chanting of
the Ramaraksha Strotra – hymns glorying Shri Rama. Regular bhajans or keertans
or devotional songs on Shri Rama are sung at homes and temples. At the temples,
at noon, the birth of Shri Rama is celebrated in traditional manner with
singing of hymns and worship. After the traditional worship, the portion of
Ramayan dealing with the birth of Shri Rama is chanted or told in form of story
or katha.
Celebration of Shri Rama Navami takes
on many forms. When it is celebrated individually, it is a holy festival. When
it is celebrated collectively as a group of people worshipping or at temples,
it is a religious festival or utsav. When an individual makes a serious intent
(sankalp) of worship in a particular manner it is called a vrat or vowed
observance. The anustans of mantra japa done by disciples of the Kundalini Maha
Yoga are vrats. The reading of the Ramayana is done individually or at public
places and temples. The chanting of the Rama Nama is also done at homes and
temples. Many places in India have fairs along with the nine day festival which
have spectacular fireworks at the end.
Shri Rama never showed his divine
powers or persona anywhere in the Ramayana. He lived as a man and showed how to
live an ideal life. He was an ideal son,
brother, husband, friend, king and enemy. He followed all codes of
righteousness or dharma. That is why he is called Maryada Purushottam. He is
also famed for honouring his given word (ekvachan) using one arrow (ekbaan) and
having only one wife (ekpatni).
Many worship Shri Rama as the Eternal
Principle, as the Sublime Truth and Light of the Universe and not as King Rama,
son of Dashrath. Those who follow the story of Shri Rama of Ayodhya learn from
Him the lessons of life, right behaviour, right conduct and right speech from
the various incidents of His life. Shri Rama is worshipped both as the Avatar
and the Absolute. Worshipping of the Avatar – the son of King Dashrath, teaches
us morals, ethics and principles which leads
us on the path of the Universal Form of Shri Rama. Worshipping the Absolute
form of Shri Rama as the Universal Power helps us to appreciate His life on
earth and how we can emulate Him. His very name chanted with or without love
leads us to higher dimensions and finally to the Supreme Knowledge and Wisdom
of Universe. The worship of the Form leads us to the Formless and worship of the Formless helps us to appreciation and love for the Form! Jai Shri Rama!
