SRI RAMA NAVAMI: Sri Rama Navami is dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama, the 7th Avatar of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama is portrayed as being the ideal man and his wife Sita is the ideal woman. We all know Sri Rama Navami commemorates the divine birth of Sri Rama. This auspicious day is celebrated on Chaitra sukla Navami (9th day of the bright half of the month Chaitra . In the latter years on the same day, Sita Rama Kalyanam (marriage) took place
In the word Rama,’Ra ‘ came from the sacred Mahamantra ‘Aum Namo naRAyana and ‘Ma’ came from the highly sacred Panchakshari mantra of ‘Aum NaMAh Sivaya’ of Mahadeva (Shankara or Shiva). So Rama nama is the Taraka mantra an auspicious and favourite of both Saivites and Vishnanites.’Where ever 4 Hindus live, Rama and Sita will be there’ so said Swami Vivekananda. The reverse is also equally true. Where ever Rama and Sita live, the people there will remain and live as Hindus. In many Northern parts of Bharat, mutual greetings take the form of ‘Jai Ramjee Ki’
The name Ramayana teaches us two lesions; 1.the value of detachment, 2.the need to become aware of the divine in every being. ‘Be in the world but not of it’. When we utter the word Rama, we first open the mouth with the sound ‘Ra’-all our sins go out when our mouth is open. When we utter Ma, by closing our mouth, the entry is barred against the sins that have gone out. We all know the famous sloka,
“ Sree Raama Raama Raamethi
Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasra Naama Thattulyam
Raama Naama Varanane”
If you utter Rama Nama, it is equavalent to chanting Vishnu Sahasranama. Such is the importance of chanting Rama Nama.
Ramayana teaches us, ‘Renunciation leads to the joy and attachment brings about grief.
It is highly believed that reading, watching or at least listening of the sacred Ramayana around Sri Rama Navami is very beneficial. Fortunately for Telugu people, there is an audio version of Ramayana in 9 parts, which is free on the Internet, which took me 5 hours to listen. We can listen for 9 days approaching Rama Navami. It is really high quality narrating with beautiful language and once you start listening, it is very difficult to stop until it is finished. To access this, please go to www.andhravilas.com on the left side click down loads-devotional songs. Then click Srirama to listen Ushasri Ramayanam. Have a go at it and see what you think!
It is also desirable to read or listen, HANUMAN CHALISA and ADITYA HRIDAYAM, the latter not only on this occasion but also on every Sunday before the Sunrise and the former every Tuesday morning and Saturday morning, these two days being the favourite of Sri Hanuman.
The ‘Ramayana’ literally means ‘the march of Rama’ in search of human values. We all owe a lot to the great sage Valmiki (Ratnakar who was a robber transformed into a great sage) who told the story of Rama to the humanity. As we all know Ramayana is written in so many languages in the world but the one who is responsible for its wide popularity goes Rama charita manus by Goswami Tulasidas. In the modern world, the credit goes to late Sri Ramananda Sagar’s Ramayana serial which was shown on the little box in whole (including Uttar Ramayana) for the first time which enabled to appreciate by all sections and by all ages and by all kinds of people, educated or uneducated with English sub titles, that was watched by millions through out the globe. We are very fortunate to witness the modern marvel in front of our eyes sitting in our own homes, with all the family.
Here in England we are very fortunate to witness the Sita-Rama Kalyanam performed by learned Pandits from Andhra Pradesh and even a cook from Andhra who prepares Ramanavami prsadam for the devotees. We look forward for this divine occasion every year. The credit must go to our friends Dr. Hara Gopal, Dr. Chandrasekhar and Dr. Ravi Katamaneni, who were leading members to arrange this divine function for the last number of years, with the dedicated cooperation of their families and of course so many other men and women who dedicate their valuable time behind the scenes. It is more appropriate to remember our beloved friend and good human being late Sri (Dr) Dhanunjaya Rao Kandula who is one of the founder members to initiate the whole thing of celebrating Sri Rama Navami in England. This is one of the occasions even atheists are inclined to attend to share the pleasure of divine birth and Kalyanam of Sita and Sri Rama. We in England are very grateful to the Lord for His divine grace.
We all know this function is shown in Andhra on television live from Bhadrachalam every year. Bhadrachala Rama is special in that, this is the only place one can see Rama with four hands and only here one can see Sita sitting on Sri Rama’s left lap. Such is the significance of Bhadrachala Sri Rama.
MAY LORD RAMA SHOWERS HIS BLESSINGS ON ALL THE HUMANITY
JAI SRI RAM
JAI HANUMAN