Best wishes for SriRAM Navami

Best wishes for SriRAM Navami   SriRama, Sita, Hanuman  At that time Ravan, king of Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and all were longing for liberation from his menace. Ravan had acquired great power because he had obtained from god Brahma the boon that he would never die at the hands of gods, or gandharvas, or yakshas (demigods) or demons. As he was not afraid of men he did not care to include men in the list of his potential slayers. So Brahmadev declared that Ravan would die at the hands of a man. Then the gods went to Vishnu with the request, “Dasarath is a glorious king. Please, take birth in the wombs of his three queens in four different degrees of your divinity.” 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). Legend: Four storeys - even the original Ravana may not have been so tall. But this is the Kali Yuga, when evil is supposed to assume an even more terrifying form. Ravana has his moments of glory, and that too, on Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama. The effigy of the ten-headed Ravana swaggers through the town, wearing a gaudy crown and exaggerated moustache, with shouting hordes following. But once Ravana reaches the open ground that is his final destination, he is suddenly deserted by most of his "followers" - because the noble Rama has made his appearance. In the end, righteousness does triumph, even in Kali Yuga. Rama engages him in battle, and finally pierces him with a potent arrow. And the huge effigy of Ravana, filled to bursting with firecrackers, is set alight, and explodes into a thousand bits amid loud cheers from the crowd and shouts of Jai Shri Ram. This ritual is an important part of the Rama Navami celebrations in most parts of North India. Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of the shukla paksha, or bright phase of the moon, in the lunar month of Chaitra (April-May). The first day of Chaitra , or Ugadi, also marks the beginning of the Indian year. Rama is one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, and one of the two most popular, along with Krishna. Consequently, Rama Navami is widely celebrated, though not on the scale of festivals like Diwali or Dussehra. According to legend, Rama was born at noon. Rama is the epitome of perfection, the uttama purusha, fulfilling all his duties towards both family and subjects. 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. Significance: Though Rama Navami is a major festival for Vaishnavites, it is widely celebrated by worshippers of Shiva, too. It is considered auspicious to undertake a fast on the day in the name of Rama. The more devout fast for nine days, from Ugadi to Rama Navami. The objective of the fast is not to ask for special favours of the deity but to seek perfection as a human being. Devotees perform elaborate pujas and chant the name of Rama. Temples of Rama have special services and bhajan sessions through the day. One significant and popular element of the celebration is the Ramayana parayana, a discourse on the Ramayana, by a pundit or a professional story-teller. It usually lasts nine days, beginning on Ugadi and ending on Rama Navami. A skilled story-teller who can liven up the event by weaving in contemporary events attracts massive crowds. Since Rama is also one of the most sung-about deities in Indian classical music and literature, week-long (and sometimes, month-long) musical programmes are organised. 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.  The Ram Navami celebrates the joyous birth of Lord Rama. Ayodhya was the cynosure of all eyes, as King Dasharath finally had an heir to the throne. Lord Rama an avatar of lord Vishnu, agreed to come down to earth to fight the mighty Ravana. Rama Mantra Neelambhuj shyamalkomlang Sita Samaropitvambhagam Pano Mahasaikacharoochapam Namame Ramam Raghuvanshnatham Rama Gayatri Mantra Om Daserathaya Vidhmahe Sita Vallabhaya Dheemahe Thanno Rama Prachodayath.   Ram Navami  celebrated in order to commemorate  the birth of Lord Rama.  As Rama was considered  the seventh incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu,  the festival is held in high regard by Hindus  all over the world.  On this day,  he devotees of Ram all over the world observe fast and engage  in the worship of Ram.  It is said that  Ram Navamiis the oldest festival  in the Earth from time immemorial,  Ram Navami is the festival of masses. Apart from God or avtar (incarnation) of God,  Lord Ram is regarded as an ideal king,  ideal son, ideal husband and an ideal brother. It is said that  Ram naam  (the name of Lord Rama)in itself is a divine mantra  and simply chanting this Ram (Ra ma) helps  one to attain salvation.  The Mantra ‘Ra ma’ is called the Thaaraka mantra. It is a combination of 'Namasivaya mantra'  and the'Om Namo Narayanaya maha mantra'  thereby representing the union of Shiva and Narayana.  Another popular mantra of Rama is _,_.__ Sabari,          Sugreeva,& Bali        Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, and 7th avtar of Lord Vishnu. The day is called Rama Navami as it falls on Navami. The birth of Rama on earth is to vanquish the roots of Adharma. Lord rama was born on earth to destroy the demon Ravana. Story behind: Generally hindus will consider Ashtami and Navami day of each month as unaspicious and will not perform any good events on those days. So Ashtami and Navami went to Lord Vishnu and expressed their unhappiness. To make them happy and to make Dharma rule over Adharma Lord Vishu born as Rama on a Navami Day. The same way Lord vishnu born as Krishna on an Ashtami day which is what we celebrate as Krishashtami(Krishna Jayanthi). Ram Navami in 2014 is on 8th April 2014 Tuesday. It is considered auspicious to perform elaborate pujas and chant the name of Rama. It is good for the devotees if they hear Ramayana story on that day and also if they chant Ramar Patabishegam episode of Ramayana on that day. Also devotees should prepare the following recipes as neivedhyam and get the blessings of Lord Rama. Recipes: Panagam Neer Moor Payasam Panagam Ingredients: Grated Jaggery 3 tablespoon Cardamom 4 pieces Ginger powder 1 teaspoon Water 1 Cup Lemon(small size) 1/2 Method: Squeeze the half lemon and extract the juice Crush the cardamom and add it to water To this add grated jaggery, lemon juice, ginger powder and stir well so that the jaggery gets dissolved The panagam is ready for neivedhyam Neer Moor Ingredients: Curd 1/2 Cup Curry Leaves few Salt 1 teaspoon Hing 1/2 teaspoon Water 1 Cup Method: Mix the water with curd and prepare butter milk with thin consistency To this add salt, hing, broken curry leaves and coriander leaves(Optional) Stir well and the neer moor is ready for neivedhyam and for serving     "Shri Ram, Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram".           Greetings to all  OM SAIRAM  VISIT BLOG &FWD TO YOUR FRIENDS GO THROUGH THE I LAND POSTS            ramajayam.rediffiland.com ramajayamgomati.blogspot.com SMILE WITH RAMNATH&FLY