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. |
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