Saturday, March 31, 2012

SRI RAMA NAVAMI

VIKAS THAKUR

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah!
Om Namo Visvaroopaya Visva sthithi anta hetavé
Visvesvaraya Visvaya Sri Ramachandraya namo namaha
Namo Vignana roopaya Paramananda roopiné
Sri Ramaya Seetha Nathaya Raghupati Devaya namo namaha

  Sri Rama Navami is dedicated to remembering Rama, as the most supreme with resolute Bhakti (devotion). It occurs on the ninth day, or navami, beginning count from the "no moon day" or Amavasya, during the waxing moon duration called "Shukla Paksha". Sri Rama Navami generally occurs in the months of March and April.

  Celebrations and festivities begin with prayer to the Surya Deva early in the morning. At midday, when Rama incarnated on that day in Treta Yuga, that duration is special and hence devotional service to him is performed with Bhakti and piety. Gaudiya Vaisnavism introduced a more prominent celebration of the occasion of the holiday with the view of addressing needs of growing native Hindu congregation. It is however always was a notable calendar event on the traditional Gaurabda calendar with a specific additional requirement of fasting by devotees.

  Rama is the seventh incarnation of the power of Krsna, who takes birth on Bhuloka (Earth) when Adharma rules over Dharma. He protects his devotees by vanquishing the roots of Adharma. Rama decided to destroy Asura with demonic and evil intention called Ravana.
Ram Navami also known as Sri Rama Navami (SriRām-navamī) is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Krsna. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the Vivaha Panchami. The sacred marriage of Devi Sita with Lord Rama was held on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana (This occasion is known as Seetha kalyanam).
  
The SreeRama Navami festival falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations.

  In Ramayana, Dasharatha, the Emperor from Ayodhya, had three wives named Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi in the Treta Yuga, which follows the Satya Yuga and is succeeded by Dwapara Yuga. Their greatest worry was that they had no children, and so they had no heir to the throne in the Ikshvaku Kula or royal lineage of great, pious, wonderful Emperors. Rishi Vasistha suggests him to perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna, through which he can have a desired child. He also tells him to invite Maharshi Rishyasringa to perform this yagna for him. Emperor Dasharatha consents and heads to Maharshi Rishyasringa's ashram, to invite him. Maharshi agrees and accompanies Emperor Dasharatha to Ayodhya (Capital of Avadha) and performs the yagna. As the result of this yagna, Yagneshwara appears and provides Dasharatha a bowl of divine rice pudding (Kheer/Payasam) and requests him to give it to his wives. Dasharatha gives 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 conceive. On the ninth day (Navami) of Chaithra Masa (last month in Vedic calendar), at noon Kausalya gives birth to Rama, Kaikeyi gives birth to Bharata, and Sumitra to twin boys, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.

      At some places the festival lasts the whole nine days of the Navratras, thus the period is called 'Sri Rama Navratra'. It is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas, organized several days in advance to culminate on this day, with elaborate bhajan, kirtan and distribution of prasad after the puja and aarti. Images of infant form of Sri Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Since Rama is the 7th incarnation of Krsna having born at noon, temples and family shrines are elaborately decorated and traditional prayers are chanted together by the family in the morning. Also, at temples special havans are organized, along with Vedic chanting of Vedic mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers. Many followers mark this day by Vrata (fasting) through the day followed by satvik feasting in the evening, or at the culmination of celebrations. In South India,in Bhadrachalam the day is also celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Sri Rama and his consort Sita. Sitarama Kalyanam, the ceremonial wedding ceremony of the celestial couple is held at temples throughout the south region, with great fanfare and accompanied by group chanting of name of Rama, (Rama nama smaranam). Whereas the marriage is celebrated in Mithila and Ayodhya during another day on Vivaha Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana.

For the occasion, Followers of Hinduism fast or restrict themselves to a specific diet in accordance to VedaDharma. Vedic temples are decorated and readings of the Ramayana take place. Along with SriRama, people also worship Sita, Rama's wife; Lakshmana, Rama's brother; and Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Rama and the leader of his army in the battle against the asura Ravana.



Lord Ramachandra Glorification Mantra
Om Namo Visvaroopaya Visva sthithi anta hetavé
Visvesvaraya Visvaya Sri Ramachandraya namo namaha
Namo Vignana roopaya Paramananda roopiné
Sri Ramaya Seetha Nathaya Raghupati Devaya namo namaha
(101 times + 101 namaskars)

   

Lord Ramachandra Divine Name Mantras

Om Narayanaya namaha
Om Narayana Ramachandraya namaha
Om Paraya namaha
Om Paraya Ramachandraya namaha
Om Seetha Vallabhaya namaha
Om Seetha Vallabha Ramachandraya namaha
Om Atmaya namaha
Om Atma Ramachandraya namaha
Om Sivaya namaha
Om Siva Ramachandraya namaha
Om Karunakaraya namaha
Om Karunakara Ramachandraya namaha
Om Yagna Moorthayé namaha
Om Yagna Moortha Ramachandraya namaha
Om Sanatanaya namaha
Om Sanatana Ramachandraya namaha
Om Aksharaya namaha
Om Akshara Ramachandraya namaha
Om Nityaya namaha
Om Nitya Ramachandraya namaha
(101 times + 101 namaskars)

 

Lord Ramachandra Mantra to remove obstacles

Kashtath daridriyath mositastaya
dehimé vipulam soukyam kashtan mosaya mosaya
namaste Raghupati Devaya Harayé Paramatmané
pranata klesa nasaya Ramachandraya namo namaha
(101 times + 101 namaskars)


Sita Ramachandra Gayatri Mantra

Om Tat Purushaya Vidmahé
Eka Patni Vrataya Deemahi
Thannas Seetha Ramachandra Prachodayath
(101 times + 101 namaskars)

Ram mantra & Lord Hanuman Gayatri Mantra (He Himself chants)

Om Anjaneyaya Vidmahé
Rama Dhootaya Deemahi
Thanno Maruti Prachodayath.
Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram
Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram
(101 times + 101 namaskars)


Jai Sri Ram
Hare Krsna  Hare Krsna   Krsna Krsna   Hare Hare
Hare Rama  Hare Rama   Rama Rama   Hare Hare