Sri Rama Navami

Sri Rama Navami

Sri Raghavam Dasaradhatmajama Prameyam
Seehapatim Raghuvarnvayaratna deeepam
Aajanubhahumaravidha Dhallayataatkshayam
Ramam nisacharavinasakaram Navami

Sri Rama Navami, the most auspicious festival after the Telugu New Year Ugadi. Sri Rama Navami usually falls on Chaitra sudda Navami.

Lord Sri Rama is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu out of the ten jayanties viz., Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parusurama, Rama, Krishna, Budda and Kalki. It is to be noted that out of these ten jayanties, three of them falls during Chaitra maasam.

According to ancient texts, Sri Rama was born to King Dasarada and Kausalya on the Chaitra sudda Navami in Karkataka lagna with Punarvasu fourth pada. This day is being celebrated as Sri Rama Navami. It is the most auspicious day for everyone. According to Valmiki, Sri Rama was born well before BC 2055. As per Indian Standard Time, he was born in Vyvaswata manvantaram Panchama Tretayugam, forth part i.e. Thirty thousand years equivalent Vilambali year Chaitra sudda Navami, Wednesday. He is an historic person with the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The Legends

Sri Rama's story, Ramayana, has been sung in all the languages and dialects of Bharat. The tradition of writing epics centering round the saga of Rama's achievements started by Valmiki in Sanskrit and was continued by Tulasidas in Hindi, by Kamban in Tamil, by Ramanujan in Malayalam, by Krittivasa in Bengali and Madhav Kambali in Assamia and in fact, in almost every Bharatiya language. The tradition is being continued up to the present day. The enchanting Geet Ramayana composed in Marathi by G.D. Madgulkar and set to tune by Sudhir Phadke is now thrilling the hearts of millions in Maharashtra. The various tribal groups too have sung the story of Ramayana in their dialects. Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Janaki mirror the ideals for millions of tribal boys and girls. The Khamati tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, which is Buddhist, depicts Ramayana as the story narrated by Buddha to his first disciple, Ananda, and carries the universal message of Buddha. How deeply significant that every group and sect even in distant and far-flung parts of Bharatavarsha should have found a radiant reflection of its own ideals in the form of Sri Rama!

Lord Rama is called Maryaada-Purushottama - the great one who never deviated from the norms set by Dharma. In the eyes of the Hindu, the touchstone of human excellence is Dharma. Devotion to Dharma came first in Rama's life and considerations of his personal joys and sorrows came last. It was his supreme commitment to putra-dharma that made Rama smilingly depart to the forest for fourteen years at the bidding of his father. And this he did on the very day he was to be anointed as the future emperor of Bharat. He would not budge from the path of Dharma - righteousness - even when his own preceptor, his parents, his brothers and the whole body of his subjects tried to dissuade him. He upheld the supremacy of Dharma in every one of his human relationships and hence became an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal disciple, an ideal friend, an ideal kind and even an ideal foe. The one and supreme concern of Sri Rama's life was the welfare of his subjects. He would forsake everything else to uphold his kingly duties - the Rajadharma. The story of Rama is not that of a single towering personality dwarfing all others. The other characters like Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata and Hanuman too shine in their own greatness. All of them are so closely interwoven with Sri Rama's life and achievements that it is well-nigh impossible to think of any one without the other. In fact, the most popular picture of Sri Rama, i.e., of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam includes Sita, Hanuman and all his brothers. And in the bringing out of the greatness of all these partners of his life-drama, Rama's instinctive recognition of their merit and virtues played no mean part. He would always be the first to openly appreciate the unique and noble traits in others' character. Even for Kaikeyi, who was responsible for his banishment to forest, Rama had only words of kindness. And as for Ravana, the abductor of his wife, Rama's unstinted praise of his erudition and prowess at once lifts the story of Ramayana to heights unsurpassed in the annals of human history.
Dasavatara Jayantulu

1. Matsya Jayanti: Chaitra Bahula Panchami

2. Kurma Jayanti: Vaisakha Sudda Poornima

3. Varaha Jayanti: Chaitra Bahula Trayodasi

4. Narasimha Jayanti: Vaisakha sudda Dwadasi

5. Vamana Jayanti: Bhadrapada Sudda Chaturdasi

6. Parusurama Jayanti: Vaisakha sudda Dwadasi

7. Rama Jayanti: Chaitra sudda Navami

8. Krishna Jayanti: Sravana Sudda Astami

9. Buddha Jayanti: Vaisakha sudda Poornima

10. Kalki Jayanti: Bhadrapada sudda Vidiya
Garbhavanavartrulu

This festival is celebrated for nine days starting from Chaitra sudda Padyami and ends with Navami day, the Jayanti of Lord Rama. During these nine days, Sri Rama Parayanam is recited and Rama Nama is recited in temples and Sri Rama mandirs. According to ancient texts, Sri Rama Navami is celebrated at noon. This festival is being celebrated in different ways across the country. In Maharastra, the celebrate begin right from the morning 9 AM and proceed till 12 noon.
Sri Rama Kalyanam

In Andhra Pradesh, Sri Rama Kalyanam is celebrated on Navami day. Devotees witness the wedding celebrations of Lord Rama with Sita. According to ancient texts, Sri Rama Vanavasam was done in this State. The Kalyanotsavam is being celebrated with utmost glory and pomp at Sri Bhadrachalam temple. Devotees from various parts of the country will throng the temple to witness the Kalyanotsavam. The Government of Andhra Pradesh will present pearls and wedding dress material to Lord Rama and Sita. In this temple, the festival is celebrated for five days ie., Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, and Trayodasi. During these days, devotees chant Sri Rama Nama.
Preparation of Panakam

Panakam is considered the preferred food item on the Sri Rama Navami day.

Ingredients

Jaggery
Water
Lemon
Dried ginger
Cardamom
Pepper and Salt
Procedure to prepare Panakam

Mix the jaggery in water and dissolve it well. Filter the ingredients in a cloth. Add lemon juice, dried ginger powder, Cardamom, Pepper and Salt. Mix this well and serve chilled. This can be served as a welcome drink to quench the thirst the devotees who visit the temple in hot summer.
Sri Rama Kalyanotsavam

When we come to discuss about Sri Rama Kalyanotsavam, according to purans, Sri Rama was born in Tretayuga with Punarvasu star in Karkataka lagna Navami day. He was born as the avatara of Lord Vishnu to Kausalya Devi. The Kalyanam was celebrated in the place of Janaka Maharaju on Phalguna sudda Poornima day. As per Panchratragama custom, the Kalyanam of God has to be celebrated on the day he was born. Accordingly, Sri Rama Kalyanam is celebrated on Navami day itself.
Mangalam Kosalandreya Mahaneeya Gunatmane
Chakravati Tanujuya Saarvabhowmaaya Mangalam
Sri Rama Navami