Sri Rama Navami & Legend

Source: here

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 on various years

2011: April 12, 2011, Tuesday
2010: March 24, 2010, Wednesday
2009: April 3, 2009, Friday
2006: April 7, 2006, Friday

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Navagraha shloka

This is for the Hindus out there -
Came across this and wanted to share.

Navagraha shlokam on each graha

Sun (Soorya/Ravi)

Japa Kusuma Samkaasham Kaashya-peyam Mahaa-dyutim
Tamorim Sarva-papaghnam Pranatosmin Divakaram

Sun (Soorya-Ravi) I pray to the Sun, the day-maker, destroyer of all sins, the enemy of darkness, of great brilliance, the descendent of Kaashyapa, the one who shines like the japaa flower.

MOON (CHANDRA)

Dadhi-shankha Tushaarabham Ksheeror-daarnava sambhavam
Namami Shashinam SomamShambhor-mukuta-bhooshanam

I pray to the Moon who shines coolly like curds or a white shell, who arose from the ocean of milk, who has a hare on him, Soma, who is the ornament of Shiva's hair.



Mars (Kuja -Ankarakan)


Dharani-garba-sampootam Vidyut-kaanti Sama-prabham
Kumaram Shakti-hastam tam Mangalam Pranamamyaham (split as Pranamami aham)

I pray to Mars, born of Earth, who shines with the same brilliance as lightning, the young man who carries a spear.


Mercury (Budhan)

Priyangu-kalika-shyamam Roopenaa-pratimam-budham
Sowmyam-sowmya Gunopetam tam Budham Pranamamyaham

I pray to Mercury, dark like the bud of millet, of unequalled beauty, gentle and agreeable.


Jupiter (Guru)

Devanam cha Rishinaam cha Gurum Kanchana Sannibham
Budhi-bhootam Trilokesham tam Namami Brihaspatim

I pray to Jupiter, the teacher of gods and rishis, intellect incarnate, lord of the three worlds.


Venus (Sukran)

Hima-kunta-mrinaa-laabham Daityaanam-paramam Gurum
Sarva-shastra Pravaktaaram Bhargavam Pranamamyaham

I pray to Venus, the utimate preceptor of demons, promulgator of all learning, he who shines like the fiber of snow-white jasmine.


Saturn (Sani)

Neelanjana Samaabhasam Ravi-putram Yama-agrajam
Chchaya-martaanda Sambhootam tam Namami Shanaiswaram

I pray to Saturn, the slow moving, born of Shade and Sun, the elder brother of Yama, the offspring of Sun, he who has the appearance of black collyrium.


Rahu

Artha-kaayam Mahaa-veeryam Chandra-aditya Vimardanam
Simhika-garbha Sambootam tam Rahum Pranamamyaham

I pray to Rahu, having half a body, of great bravery, the eclipser of the Moon and the Sun, born of Simhikaa.



Kethu

Palaasha-pushpa-samkasham Taaraka-graha-mastakam
Raudram-raudratmakam Ghoram tam Ketum Pranamamyaham

I pray to Ketu, who has the appearance of Palaasha flower, the head of stars and planets, fierce and terrifying.


Iti Vyasa-mukhot-geetam Yah Padeth Su-samaahitaha
Diva-vaa-yadi-vaa-ratro Vigna-shantir-bhavishyati

Those who read the song sung by VyAsa, will be joyous, sovereign and powerful, and will succeed in appeasing obstacles, occurring by day or by night.

Nara-naari-nripaanam cha Bhavet Do:swapna-naashanam
Aishwarya-matulaam tesham Aarogyam Pushti-vardhanam

Bad dreams of men, women and kings alike will be destroyed and they will be endowed with unparalleled riches, good health and enhancing nourishment.

Graha-nakshatraja Peeda Taskaragni-samudbhavaha
Taa-sarvaa-prashamam-yaanti Vyaso-bhrute-na-samshayaha

All the pain, devastation caused by fire, planets and stars will be of the past, so spoke VyAsa, emphatically.

Iti Shree-Vyasa virachitam Navagraha stotram sampoornam.

Thus ends the song of praise of the nine planets composed by Vyasa.

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Life , God and Universe...

I am sure that I am not the only one questioning the life and everything that we see... " What is life, what is universe? what is the begining and ending of all this? ... What is God? What is Super Natural? Where did we begin? How did we begin? etc.. etc...

Every religion has one thing in common - that is there is God, he / she is omnipresent and nothing but love.  From what I understand - according to Hinduism, we are all part of God.  In that what is meant by self is the " inner self" or known as " spirit, Athman".... The "Athman" is part of God and it has no birth or death.  Also,  when we meditate - according to many school of thoughts meditation is concentration - concentrating on something / some object.  However, I was listening to a lecture on Bhagavat Gita - in that the speaker explained meditation from a different point of view which was interesting.  He said -

When we pray - we talk and God Listens... But
When we Meditate - God talks and We Listen...

Well, how does all this tie into the questions I was asking before?  -
What is life?
Well in Hinduism, there is not just one purpose of human life, but four:

Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose
Artha - prosperity
Kama - desire, sexuality, enjoyment
Moksha - enlightenment

I'll try and learn first and then explain these in another post : )

what is universe? what is the begining and ending of all this?, Where did we begin?, How did we begin?
Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite number of deaths and rebirths. This is better explained in this post (Source)

What is God?

As I mentioned before, all religions beleive that there is God and form and method of worship differs religion to religion. In general Hinduism considers God not just as the Supreme All-powerful Gigantic One. For Hindus God, as is, is beyond any attributes of form, color, shapes ... That is, God does not have any specific form or name. In this state God is referred to as nirguNa brahman (attributeless god). However God takes forms as perceived by humans and this perceived form is called saguNa brahman (god with (good) attributes). These forms could range from calm to fierce to yogic (1). Each form has its significance. For example when one is depressed and sees the form of God Strong and Powerful, the seeker feels the moral boost that God would definitely be the support for the right thing. ( source )

Well in my point of view - If God is part of Athman... then He / She is within, within me... So in order to understand God - I need to Understand myself... Correct?

Well, that is what I am trying to understand with this blog - As I learn and understand I'll share my experience with you all ( whoever is reading ) this blog... It is a form of Discipline for my self :)

Well... till my next post - live , love and enjoy life....

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