Capt Purushottam Sharma
Rama Navmi is the most auspicious and widely celebrated Holy Day, for on this Day was born Lord Rama, the Almighty Lord of the Universe. It is a day of culmination of Navratras, the most sacred period of ‘aaradhaana’ of ‘shakti’ (the Mother of the Universe). Every pore of us is Rama. King Dasratha of Ayodhya was the son of King Aja of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. He had three wives but was still childless. He , on the advice of his Perceptor, performed sacred ‘yaga’ called ‘Puttarkameshti. Sage Rshyasrnga, was invited to imperial capital Ayodhya and installed ‘Brahma’ (the Chief Organizer) to conduct the ‘yaga’. After the final oblations, the God was pleased and a Divine Person appeared out of the sacrificial fire. He had a shining vessel in his hands which contained sweet pudding. The Divine person placed the vessel in the hands of King Dasratha and during the process of handling over, a voice was also heard by all present saying ‘O King! deliver the pudding to your queens for partaking and you will be blessed with sons. Half of it, he gave to Kaushalya, one quarter to Kaikeyi and one quarter to Sumitra. It is also said that the king had given half of it each to Kaushalya and Kaikeyi and these two queens further shared it to Sumitra out of their halves and that’s why she had two sons, Lakshmana and Shatrugana. It is also believed that the sweet pudding was put in three golden cups. Each queen was given a cup by the king. Kaushalya and Kaikeyi kept their cups in a safe place before going to dry their hair. Sumitra kept the cup on the parapet wall. To her horrow, she found that an eagle just pounced in and whisked the cup far far away. Sumitra immediately rushed to Kaushalya to narrate the calamity. Both the queens shared their divine pudding with Sumitra who deliverd twins. The Divine essence existed in the four brothers as per the quantity of pudding their mothers had consumed.
Birth of child to Kaushalya was on most propitious time. It was Monday, the Ninth Day, Punarvasu Star, bright fortnight of ‘Chaitra’ month, ‘Uttarayan’, ‘Simhalagna’ (the zodiacal sign of the lion), the ‘abhijit’ (the period of victory). Nature was on its peak of magnificence and weather extremely pleasant. Kaikeyi gave birth to the child the next day, that is, on Tuesday, the Tenth Day, ‘gandhayayoga’. On the eleventh day were born the twins to Sumitra, Ashlesha Star, Vriddhiyoga. The news of birth of four babies to the three queens brought joys and happiness all over. King performed charitable acts by gifting land and houses to the poor, food to the hungry and gifts to Brahmins. Subject expressed their gratitude to the God for His mercy of blessing the king with four sons in his declining age to assure lineage to the Kingdom. City of Ayodhaya was beautifully decorated and music filled the air.
Naming ceremony of all the four newly born took place on eleventh day after the birth of child to Kaushalya. The plays (‘leelas’) of the divine babies were blissfully enjoyed by the family members particularly the king, queens and the maids. They were educated in the Gurukul and learnt soon whatever was taught. They were full of wisdom and practiced human values. Rama was role model indeed.
Once Sage Vishwamitra came to Ayodhaya to seek help of Rama to protect the ‘yajna’ he had to perform as the demons had let loose rein of terror in the forests. Dasratha very reluctantly sent Rama and Lakshmana with Vishwamitra. Both of them killed many demons including Taraka and wounded demons Maricha and Subhahu. Vishwamitra also took them to Mithila where Rama broke the old bow that belonged to Lord Siva. Rama was married to Sita, Lakshmana to Urmila (Sita’s younger sister), Mandvi and Srutakirti were married to Bharata and Shatrughana respectively.
After the marriage of his sons, Dasratha made up his mind to coronate Rama, his eldest son, his successor. But Kaiykei sought the fulfillment of two boons she had received from the King. She demanded coronation of Bharata and 14 years exile to Rama, Rama immediately left for forest for the sake of Truth with Sita and Lakshmana.
Bharata persuaded Rama to return to Ayodhaya but He declined to do so. Bharata carried Rama’s ‘charanpaduka’ (foot-wear made of wood) to symbolize Rama’s sovereignty over the kingdom. After 10 years of exile, Rama made Dandakarnya forest on the banks of Godavari his abode where he killed 14000 demons. This news of killing reached Ravana through Shoorpnakha whose nose and ears were chopped off by Lakshmana when she cast lustful look and behaviour on both the princes. The news enraged Ravana, the king of Lanka, and he (in the disguise of an ascetic) abducted Sita, Rama’s consort, and took her to Lanka. During his search operation, Rama, came into contact with Sugriva at Kishkanda, the king of monkeys and befriended him. After forming an alliance, they prepared to attack Lanka with Army of monkeys and apes where Sita was held in confinement by Ravana. Fierce war took place between the two Armies in which Ravana was killed with his brothers and their sons. After the death of Ravana, Vabhishna was installed the king of Lanka. Rama returned to Ayodhaya in Pushpak Viman with his consort after taking leave from his comrades in the war and all the sages and seers. On arrival in Ayodhaya, Bharata surrendered the kingdom in his favour. Rama’s region was glorious. He performed many Ashwamedhya Yajnas.
‘‘Samar Bijya Raghubir Ke Charit Je Sunih Sujaan
Bijay Bivek Bibhuti Nit Tinhin Dehin Bhagewan
Yeh Kali Kaal Malayatan Man Kari Dekhu Vichar
Shri Raghunath Naam Tajee Nahin Aan Adhaar’’ (121 a&b, Lanka Kand)
‘Sri Rama rewards with everlasting victory, wisdom and worldly prosperity to those persons of good understanding who attentively hear the accounts of His Victory in the field of battle. Think well and see for yourself O my mind; this age of Kali is full of impurities. There is nothing to take refuge in this age except the name of the illustrious Lord of the Raghus.’
We celebrate the Ramnavmi Festival with religious fervour and gaiety. Sri Ram Charitmanas is recited and it is known as ‘akhandpaath’. Temples and shrines are tastefully decorated and devotees feel Ram’s presence every where. Hearts are filled with Ram Naam. Mass feeding in ‘bhandaras’ is organized.
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