Significance of Ramanavami Celebration

Dr. Sapam Nabakishore Singh *

Lord Rama

The Birth Anniversary of Lord Rama is known as Ramanavami. Rama is also known to be the Seventh Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Not only in India which has majority of Hindus, the Rama Navami Festival is also celebrating in other places with Indians spread all over the world, so, the festival of Ramnavami is celebrated almost everywhere in the world! It is considered as one of the five, most sacred festivals of the Hindu religion.

Even those who do not celebrate would have definitely heard of famous 'Rama Leela'. It is a musical dance drama that depicts the life of Rama. Temples and idols of Rama are beautifully decorated. Some of the devotees observe rigorous fasts for all the nine days and eat only fruit and milk once a day. Devotees believe fasting and chanting will please Lord Rama and bring blessings upon them.

History of the Birth of Lord Rama:

In the epic Ramayana of Valmiki Muni, Dasharatha, the Emperor of Ayodhya had three wives named Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi in the Treta Yuga. (The Four Yugas, Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga ). The Emperor and the Queens were so worried as they had no children, and so they had no heir to the throne in the Ikshvaku Kula (Dynasty) or royal lineage of great, pious, wonderful Emperors. Rishi Vasistha suggested him to perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna, through which he could have a desired child. He also told him to invite Maharishi Rishyasringa to perform this Yajna(Homage-fire sacrifice) for him. Emperor Dasharatha performed the Yajna.

Dhasharatha receiving the bowl of payasam

Putrakameshti Yajna performed by the Emperor Dhasharatha.Rishyashringa Muni performed the holy sacrifice and the final day of the event, a dark skinned deity, Yagneshwara (the Lord of Yajna) appeared through Yajna-kunda and blessed the Emperor Dasharatha with a bowl of divine pudding (Payasam) and the Lord advised him to give it to his three wives. Dasharatha gave one half of the payasam to his elder wife Kausalya, and another half to his younger wife Kaikeyi. They both give half of their portions to Sumitra.

After few days all three Queens conceived. On the ninth day (Navami) of Chaithra Masa (last month in Vedic calendar), at noon Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata, and Sumitra to twin boys, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.

RAMANAVAMI COMMONLY CELEBRATED:

According the Hindu or the Lunar calendar, Ramnavami is celebrated on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra. This date usually falls somewhere between April and March as per the Gregorian or the western calendar. It is celebrated in all parts of the country. The major spots for the celebration are at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh (Ram's birth place), Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. Innumerable devotees come from short and long distances to join in the festivities.

Rama-Navami or Navaratri bears a special significance. The present day celebration of Durga worship (puja) and Dasshera are related to Rama's life. The traditional Durga worship was performed in the spring season now known as Basanti puja. Rama worshiped the divine mother Durga and prayed to her to give him the strength to slay Ravana. Ravana was slain on the day of Dasshera, the tenth day of Navaratri. The coronation of Rama was held on the Diwali day, the following New moon day, that comes about three weeks after Dasshera.

As of today, the celebrations of Navaratri, Dasshera and Diwali come sequentially. Navaratri marks the beginning of Rama's prayer to Goddess Durga to obtain the divine power to kill Ravana. Then Rama received the divine power on the eighth day of Navaratri (Ashthami). Finally, Ravana was killed on the day of Dasshera. Diwali celebrates Rama's triumphant return to Ayodhya and his coronation.

RAMAYAN OF VALMIKI MUNI DESCRIBES THE BIRTH OF RAMA

“On completion of the ritual six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra month [March–April], when the presiding deity of ruling star of the day is Aditi, where the ruling star of day is Punarvasu Nakshatra, the asterism is in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets viz., Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are at their highest position, when Jupiter with Moon is ascendant in Cancer, and when day is advancing, then Queen Kaushalya gave birth to a son with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate lips, voice like drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshwaku dynasty, who is adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome of Vishnu namely Rama.”- RAMAYANA: BALA KANDA, Chapter (Sarga)18 Verses: 8:8:10 and 11

Valmiki

Valmiki, the son of Sumali, ( the earlier name is Ratnakara) is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. the great epic RAMAYANA. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the firsti.e. first verse, which set the base and defined the form to Sanskrit poetry.At least by the 1st century AD, Valmiki's reputation as the Father of Sanskrit classical poetry seems to have been legendary.

CELEBRATION AND RITUALS:

Most people fast On this occasion, many people fast for nine days, while some fast only on the day upto mid-day. During these fasts they do not have anything made in salt, turmeric, garlic, ginger or onion. Potatoes, fruits and any root vegetable can be consumed. Celebrations also vary from place to place.

In some places, devotees organize the celebrations for complete nine days, while some places the celebration is only on the day of Rama Navami. Rama Bhajans (Devotional songs ) and Rama Katha (hearing the pastimes of Lord Rama) are organized to commemorate the event. Idols of the Rama, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman are placed and worshipped.

Lord Rama

The pooja thali is prepared and consists of roli, aipun, rice, water, flower, bell, and a conch. During this time events of Rama's life are narrated as per the Ramayana by Valmiki and Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas. The entire family gets together to worship and they begin with the youngest female putting teeka on the male members of the family.

Other than the pooja, the fast and the bhajans, there is also the Rath Yatra. A huge fair is organized in Ayodhya and Rath yatras or 'chariot processions' of the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman are taken out on streets as part of the Ramanavami celebrations. The places for worship are filled with fervor of religious people showing their love towards Lord Rama


Dr. Sapam Nabakishore Singh ,M.A.,Ph.D is a member and initiated devotee of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and popularly known as Dr. Bhakta Nabakishore in ISKCON Worldwide. He is one of the Recipients of the Prestigious Academy Award, 1988 for his genuine research topics on Sacred Philosophy and also the Recipient of SEVA MEDAL AWARD, 2007 for his dedicated services towards mankind. Currently he is establishing a unique Man Making Education and Socio Economic Development Project in North Eastern India for the upliftment of young generations. He is the author of many research topics, and many reference books.