Ram Navami Celebrates The Birth Of Shri Ram - The Perfect Man

Ram Navami – Celebrating the Birth Of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, The Perfect Man

• Introduction to Ram Navami

• The Significance of Ram Navami

• Legend of Lord Rama

• Ramayana and Ram Leela

• Celebrations of Ram Navami

• Customs and Traditions of Ram Navami

• Regional Variations in Ram Navami Celebrations

• Conclusion and Takeaways.

Ram Navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals celebrated in India and is dedicated to one of the leading icons of Hindu mythology, namely Lord Shri Rama. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Shri Rama, who is believed to be the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Shri Rama is worshiped as the ideal man by the followers of Hinduism, especially those belonging to the Vaishnavite sect.

Ram Navami also marks the culmination of the 9-day-long festive celebration of Chaitra Navratra. On this day, people perform special poojas to celebrate the birth of Shri Ram and even hold yagnas or make arrangements for Ram Katha recitals along with the singing of devotional songs. All these activities are a way of reflecting the joy and dedication of the devotees of Lord Rama on his birth anniversary.

The Birth Story of Lord Rama

According to legend, King Dashratha of Ayodhya did not have any children despite having three wives. So he went to Rishi Vashisht to seek a boon for having a son. The Rishi advised the king to perform a yagna to please the Gods and seek their blessings for the fulfillment of his wish. The king followed Rishi’s advice and performed the yagna along with his three wives.

At the end of the yagna, the God of fire appeared and gave the kings a bowl of pudding. The king gave the bowl of pudding to his eldest wife Kaushalya, who distributed the pudding into three equal parts giving one each to Sumitra and Kaykai, the other two wives of King Dashratha. Then both Kaushalya and Kaykai gave one-half of their share of the pudding to Sumitra.

Soon, all three queens became pregnant and in due time Kaushlaya gave birth to Shri Ram, followed by Sumitra giving birth to Lakshman. Thereafter, Kaykai gave birth to Bharat and Sumitra gave birth to Shatrughan. Thus, King Dashratha’s palace was filled with great happiness and joy with the arrival of four young princes, with Shri Ram being the eldest of them all.

When Is Ram Navami Celebrated?

The festival of Ram Navami is celebrated on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra. According to the Gregorian calendar, the festival falls sometime in March or April. It is believed that Shri Ram was born on this day around 9000 years ago in Ayodhya at noon, when the five planets and the sun, etc. along with the lunar asterism Pushya, were in the first house of cancer. The celebrations commence on the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra when people start reading the Holy Ramayana intending to complete it by Ram Navami. During this time many people also observe a fast pledging to eat only a single meal or only fruits throughout the day.

How Is Ram Navami Celebrated?

The festival is celebrated with great zeal and fervor in different parts of India with people following different rituals and traditions as per their beliefs. Almost every temple is decorated with flowers, lighting, and other such items. Lord Rama idols are decorated with special embellishments and people offer flowers, sweets, and even money to them in large amounts. Spiritual discourses and bhajan nights are organized in large numbers in almost every street and neighborhood.

On the day of RamNavami, people offer special puja to Shri Ram in their homes and temples. In many communities, people bathe and dress up a miniature idol of Lord Rama and place it in a cradle. They also light a lamp in front of the idol and offer kheer to the idol before doing the aarti. Some devotees also take out chariot processions or Shobha yatras featuring the Ram Darbar and the jhankis depicting the various phases of the life of Shri Rama.

In Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, people consider it auspicious to take a dip in the waters of River Saryu before visiting the Ram temple. The most interesting thing to note is that this festival is celebrated not only in India but also in countries with large Hindu populations. These primarily include the USA and UK, Fiji, Nepal, Trinidad, and Durban.

Key Traits of Shri Ram That Make Him An Ideal Man

Shri Ram is revered by many as the ideal human being because he exhibited the following traits that made him perfect in every respect. He was gentle and free from malice and he was the protector of his people who held sway over the entire world. His sole purpose in taking birth in this world was to prevent the progress of evil in the form of Ravana.

He Was An Ideal Person: Shri Ram was an ideal son, brother, husband, and friend, who showered love and respect on everyone around him. He always obeyed his parents and elders and heeded their advice and guidance. Shri Ram’s relationship with his brothers is considered to be an inspiration for siblings across ages. He was an equally dedicated and loving husband and promised his wife Sita that he would not marry again, irrespective of the fact that it was common for Kings to take on multiple wives in those times.

He Was A Stringent Follower of Dharma: Shri Ram followed the path of righteousness even at the cost of personal pain and loss. He always kept his promises and never uttered a lie. He believed in the equality of human beings and never spoke ill of anyone. He was both brave and humble and observed all the decorum prescribed by dharma even during the most difficult phase of his life. He offered honest advice and guidance to his friends, like Lord Hanuman, Sugriv, and Vibhishan, and even treated his enemies, including Ravana, with respect. It is because of these traits that he came to be known as Maryadapurshottam Shri Ram.

He Established An Ideal Kingdom: When Shri Ram finally became the King of Ayodhya, the kingdom prospered under his rule by leaps and bounds. The people he ruled became more prudent and earned an honest living. There were no fights, no thefts, no beggars, and no criminals in his kingdom. The people followed their King’s footsteps and adhered to a dharmic lifestyle which ensured an era of peace and prosperity in the region.

While celebrating Ram Navami people remember these traits of Shri Ram and seek his blessings to emulate them in their lives. It provides people an opportunity to saturate themselves with the spirit of Shri Rama so that they can grow in their virtues.

Conclusion

Ram Navami is a unique festival in many ways, yet it is woven into the very culture and tradition of India. Irrespective of how people choose to celebrate the festival, the focus should be on developing such virtues that unite them with the Lord.

• Ram Navami is an important Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama.

• Lord Rama is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology, known for his righteousness, bravery, and devotion to his duty.

• The celebrations of Ram Navami include special puja, fasting, and cultural programs, among other things.

• The story of Lord Rama's life and his victory over evil is depicted in the epic Ramayana and is also enacted in Ram Leela performances.

• Ram Navami is celebrated differently in various parts of India, but the core message of righteousness and devotion remains the same.

• Ram Navami provides an opportunity for Hindus to deepen their faith and connect with their cultural heritage.