|
|
hotgurgaon Trivia Collection
Shri Ram Navami marks the birth of Lord Rama. Lord
Rama, the famous hero of the epic RAMAYANA.
One of the most important festivals of the Hindus, particularly the Vaishnava sect
of the Hindus. It is celebrated all over the country. This year it is on 14th April
2008
It is enthusiastically celebrated on the ninth day of the first fortnight of the
Chaitra which usually falls in March or April, coinciding with the Vasanta Navaratri,
dedicated to the female force better known as Durga or Shakti.
Lord Rama
was a legendary king of Ayodhya in ancient India.
Rama
or Ramachandra which means 'one who permeates and
who is present in everything and everyone' is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu.
He was a legendary king of Ayodhya in ancient India. 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.
Rama is Maryada Purushottama, which means the perfect man and the
symbol of courtesy and virtue, a man of values and morals. Rama is also known as
Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc.
|
Celebration:
On Ram Navami, the celebrations begin with a prayer to the Sun early in the morning,
chanting Vedic mantras dedicated to Vishnu, and offering flowers and fruit to the
god. At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a special prayer is
performed. People keep a fast throughout the day, breaking it only at midnight with
fruit.
Ram Navami is festival and celebration and brings its devotees worldly happiness
and salvation. It gives them the strength and courage to fight against all odds
of life.
It is a celebration of goodness and its victory against all evils. Sacred places
associated with Rama, like Ayodhya, Ujjain and Rameshwaram, draw tens of thousands
of devotees. In Rameshwaram, thousands take a ritual bath in the sea before worshipping
at the Ramanathaswamy temple.
Many places in North India host fairs in connection with the festival, culminating
in spectacular fireworks on Rama Navami.
Rathyatras or chariot processions of Ram, his wife Seeta, brother Lakshman and devotee
Hanuman are held from many temples. People gather in thousands on the banks of the
sacred river Sarayu for a dip.
Temples are decorated and the image of Lord Rama is richly adorned. The holy 'Ramayana'
is read in the temples. In Ayodhya, the birthplace of
Sri Rama, a big fair is held
on this day. In the south of India the "Sri Ramnavami Utsavam" is celebrated for
nine days with great fervor and devotion.
Significance
The main significance behind the celebration of this festival is that the
character of Lord Ram signifies an ideal son, an upright husband, a righteous King,
and a loving brother and even an ideal man, someone who follow the right path against
all odds in life. He was also the true embodiment of humanity. So celebration of
Ramnavami is some way special reminder of all the noble deeds or ideals for which
Lord Ram symbolizes.
|
 |
Rama' Birth
According to the legends in the place called Kosal, which
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 had one 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.
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).
Legends:
Rama was the first of the four sons of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. When it was time
for Rama to be made crown-prince, his stepmother, Kaikeyi, got Dasharatha to send
him to the forest for 14 years. His wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana also accompanied
him. In the forest, Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama,
together with Hanuman and the monkey army, built a bridge to Lanka, killed Ravana,
and brought Sita back.
It is believed that listening to the story of Rama cleanses the soul. Meditating
on the noble Rama and chanting his name is believed to ease the pains of life and
lead one to moksha, or liberation. It is also common practice to chant the name
of Rama while rocking babies to sleep.
|
|