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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00067 Mar 2003

 
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Sri RAMA NAVAMI IS ON FRIDAY APRIL 11, 2003

Sri Ramanavami, the nine-day long Hindu festival comprises Lord Rama's birth
anniversary and it is always celebrated in the month of March/April. This is
the time when Lord Vishnu took the seventh avtar and Lord Ram was born to
destroy the demon King Ravana. On the ninth lunar day of the month of
Chaitra under the star Punarvasu Lord Rama was born. Ramnavami is a festival
and celebration that brings its devotees worldly happiness and salvation. In
some Hindu groups, prayers on this day start with an invocation to Rama as
well as to Surya (sun God). This is an occasion for great rejoicing
especially for the Vaishnavas who celebrate it with due solemnity all over
the country.

Ramanavami is celebrated on the ninth day of the Navratras. People fast
throughout the day on Ramnavami, which is considered to be one of the five
most important vratas of ancient times. The people wake early in the
morning, to make offerings of flowers and fruits to the God. They also visit
temples, which are decorated with flowers. Jhankis, or tableaus, depicting
various stages of Lord Rama's life, adorn the temples. Satsangs and keertans
are organized, to commemorate the birth of Rama. Ayodhya, the birthplace of
Rama, is the center of activity. People of all castes and creeds participate
in these gatherings to listen to the stories Of Rama and their explanations
offered by the learned.

The Ramnavami festival offers the devotees an opportunity to imbibe at least
some of the ideals enshrined in Shri Rama. On this great day Lord Rama is
worshipped, prayers are offered to him and it is the sure way of drink his
ideals for which he is still fondly remembered. One who approaches his lotus
feet with love, devotion and humility becomes noble, large hearted, pious,
peaceful, master of senses and the beloved of the wise.

The Ramayana means the ways of Shri Rama. This great Indian epic is based on
the life and hardship of Lord Rama. Ramayana receives great reverence till
modern times as the greatest epic because it embodies the best of human
ideals and sums up the character pertaining to Indian reality. In South
India, offerings to the deity include sugar candy, a sweet drink called
Panagam, and a few spring products. Colourful processions are taken out in
some places, which comprise brilliant floats of Rama, his wife Sita, Rama's
loyal younger brother Lakshmana and Hanuman. The people who wish to achieve
something worthwhile in life, should seek the blessings of Lord Rama on the
Ramanavami day, that symbolize the victory of good over the evil.









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