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Sri Rama Navami


SRI RAMA NAVAMI

                            

                                                    BHADRACHANAM

Sri Rama Navami is a spring Hindu Festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, who is the Seventh Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The festival is a part of the spring Navaratri and falls on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month of the Hindu Calendar(that is last day of Chaitra Navaratri). This is marked by Ramakatha recital or reading of Rama stories including the hindu sacred epic Ramayana. People visit temples or pray within their homes, and some participate in the Bhajan or Kirtan with music as a part of puja and arti.Charitable events and community meals are also organized.
The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya, and Sita Samahit Sthal ( Uttar Pradesh), Sitamarhi (Bihar), Janakpurdham (Nepal), Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Kodanda Rama Temple, Ontimitta (Andhra Pradesh) and Ramanatha Swamy Temple, Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) and many other temples in Tamil Nadu.
In Bhadrachalam, the highlight is the celebration of Kalyanotsavam of Rama and Sita. The chief minister of the state Carries on his head with reverence ' Pattu Vastram ' and 'Muthyala Thalambralu' and presents them to Lord Rama and Goddess Sita on the wedding Anniversary. It is an annual affair. There will be live telecast of the entire programme on that day with music and songs praising Rama. In the night, there will be Teppotsavam where Rama and Sita are taken on a boat ride in the river Godavari (a decorated and illuminated swan shaped boat).
The festival is marked by the preparation of ' Panakam' and 'Kosambri' (in Telugu 'Vadapappu' and distributed as prasadam. There is a practice of distributing ' bamboo woven hand fans (marking the onset of Summer).
The significance of the festival indicates the victory of Goodness on evil, and establishment Dharma to beat Adharma.
To show Bhakti towards the Lord, our ancestors have shown nine different ways.
1. Listening : just by listening to Keertana of Rama one can show his devotion. Eg. Lord Hanuman. It is said that Hanuman will be present listening wherever Rama Kirtanas are sung.(Yetra yetra Raghunatha kirtanam, Tatra Tatra krutamasta anjalim, Bhaspavari Paripoorna lochanam, Marutim namata Rakshasantakam)
2. Kirtana : i.e., Singing. eg. Valmiki. The great sage wrote and sang the epic of Ramayana.
3. Smaranam : Thinking about Lord Rama.eg. Sita, who always concentrated her thoughts on Rama, which gave her strength, when she was alone imprisoned in Ashoka Vana by Ravana and surrounded by fierce and ugly Rakshasis.
4. Archanam - Praying. eg. Shabari - with her dear love of Rama she spent her old age praying Rama and made him to come to her.
5. Vandanam: eg. Vibhishan. After failing in his attempt to convince his brother Ravan to release Janaki, he approached Rama with reverence and surrendered at his feet and Rama accepted him.
6. Dasyam : Service. Eg. Laxman, who devoted all his energy and time to serve his brother Rama.
7. Sakhyam : Friendship : eg. Sugriva. The Vanara leader Sugriva sought the friendship of Rama and helped him in search of Seetha and offered everything he has to fight Ravana to get back Seeta. He showed what friendship means.
8. Self Sacrifice : Eg. Jatayu, who had promised Rama that he would protect Seeta whenever she was alone. He kept his promise when Sita was abducted by Ravana, and fought with him to get her released, inspite of his old age and lack of weapons and thus sacrificed his life.
9.Padaseva : eg. Bharata : His love towards his brother was so great and he was thinking that he alone was the cause of all troubles of Rama. When he failed to convince Rama to return back to Ayodhya, he took Rama's 'Paduka' and kept them on the throne and acted as his deputy to rule. He lived an ascetic life in Nandigrama till Rama returned. Such was his devotion.

Thus, by following any one of these methods we can get Rama's favour.

With this in mind, I am presenting you a set of songs on Lord Sri Rama, specially picked for you. I have arranged them in four parts.
By listening to these your mind will be filled with the name of 'Rama'. Mere listening is sufficient (the method followed by Hanuman).
Listen to the songs of Sri Rama and get blessed.


Sri Rama Navami - Part 1 - https://youtube.com/playlist


Sri Rama Navami - Part 3 - https://youtube.com/playlist



* JAI SRI RAMA *
TRIVIA: Incidentally, Sri Rama Navami day is also the birthday of my brother-in-law
Sri B. SESHACHALAM, who was also my maths teacher in the high school.
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