Ram Navami
On the Chaitra Shukla Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated on the land of Ayodhya. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others, and one in whom the sages rejoice. Rama Navami is also celebrated as Vasant Navratri therefore in some regions, the festival is spread over nine days. This day marking the birthday of Lord Rama, is also observed as the marriage day of Rama and Sita and thus many places they also perform Sri Sitarama Kalyanotsavam.
BACKGROUND
Sri Rama revered as the most iconic & ultimate personality as a human being in the whole universe. Through this avatara, Lord Sri Rama showed to the world “The living life of values” (Dharma). During the phase of his like, he overcome many challenges and win over the devils and evils of the society to establish the rule & administration based on dharma in whole Bharatavarha & made the country prosperous. It is still referred as Ramarajaya.
Sri Rama was born as a grace from a Yagna (Putrakamesti yaga) in Suryavamsa to king Dasharata & Kousalya at ayodhya. Young boy Rama studied under the great Rishi’s Sri Vasishta & Vishwamitra & acquired great knowledge & values of life. Sri Rama married Sita the daughter of King Janaka & became the princes of Ayodhya. Due to reasons beyond control Sri Rama along with Sita & Lakshmana went to exile for 14 years during which he visited many Rishi’s like Bharadvaja, Agastya & got their blessings.
He fought with many demons/ rakshasa’s & eliminated them during this period as a process to establish Ramarajaya. He met Hanumantha (Incarnation of Vayudeva) at Kishkinda (near present hampi). Finally at the end of 13th year he went all the way south to Lanka (Present Srilanka) to eliminate Ravana & Kumbhakarana, The chief force of demons to establish dharma. He also brought back the Sita from the Ravana’s capture.
Sri Rama along with Sita & Lakshmana returned back to Ayodhya & become the king of ayodhya & established Dharma all across sapta sindhu. He ruled for many year as a role model for future generations. People belovedly called it Ramarajya till today.
Sri Hanumantha who worshipped and devoted to Sri Rama during his life time in Tretayuga, similarly Sri Madwacharya in kaliyuga (3rd incarnation of Vayudeva) worshiped different roopa’s of Sri Rama during his time through idols & his literatures. Sri Madwacharya passed on those treasures (Idols & Literatures) to many of his disciples which we can see in many different branches of Madhwa parampare even today. We can see different idols which are being worshipped in different mutts which were said to be handed over by Sri Madwacharya to his immediate disciples.
Many Mutts perform annul Maha-abhishekam to these idols on Ramanavami day & worship Lord Sri Rama with great devotion. Since Ramanavami happens in the peak of summer, whole hindu community celebrate ramanavami by sharing different kinds eatables with cooling & heat bearing ingredients ( fruits , Kosambari made of different dals, Different kinds of juices made of Lemon, Belada fruit, Tamarind, Mango , buttermilk…etc). As part of the celebrations chanting of vedas, yagna’s, Traditional music, arts, Harikathe & other events are organized in big way during this period in whole of the country
