SRI RAMA NAVAMI (Significance, Customs & Traditions)

(Image of Lord Sri Rama at Bhadrachalam)

Sri Rama was the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the list of Dasa Avatharas. It is said that Rama Avathara had occurred during the 24th Thretha Yuga of the current Vaivasvatha Manvanthara. He was born in Surya Vamsa, in the lineage of Ikshvaku, Raghu and Bhagiratha. Sun God is said to be the Paramatma amsa of Lord Sri Rama. Lord Sri Rama was a Paripoorna Manushya Avathara of Lord Vishnu.

He was the eldest son of King Dasaratha and his first wife Kausalya. He had two step mothers Kaikeyi, and Sumithra. Sri Rama had three brothers Bharatha, Lakshmana and Sathrughna. Goddess Sita Devi was his consort. He had two sons Lava and Kusa who were bought up in Valmiki Ashram. It is said that Lord Sri Rama ruled this world for 13000 years.

As per Hindu lunar calendar Sri Rama was born on the ninth (Navami) lunar day of sukla paksha in Chaitra Masa. Astrologically he was born under the constellation of Punarvasu, 4th charana in Karkataka Raasi (Cancer Sign) and Karkataka Lagna. At the time of His birth five planets, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn were said to be in exalted position.

What is Sri Rama Navami?

Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Sri Rama that is celebrated across the country irrespective of caste and creed. It is generally celebrated as the birth day of Lord Sri Rama coinciding with the ninth day (Navami thithi) of Chaitra Masa Sukla Paksha as per Hindu Lunar calendar.

What is to be done on this day?

Lord Sri Rama is worshiped on this day along with his consort Goddess Seetha Devi, Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman, and His parents Dasaratha and Kausalya. Arghya to be given to Lord Sri Rama with the following slokas...

Kausalyagharbhasambhootha sadhaa Soumithri Vatsala
Jaanakisahitho Rama Gruhanarghyam Namosthuthe

Kousalyaanandano Veera Ravanasuramardhana
Seethapathe Namasthubhyam Gruhanarghyam Namosthuthe

Recite slokas, sthothras related to Lord Sri Rama, like Rama Raksha Sthothra. Bhajans are conducted praising Lord Sri Rama. Sun (Surya) is also worshiped on this day as He is the Paramatma Amsa of Sri Rama Avathara and Lord Sri Rama was born in Surya Vamsa. People visit Sri Rama temple in the evening and offer prayers.

At some places they also perform Sita Rama Kalyanam (marriage of Lord Sri Rama and Goddess Sita) assuming that it was on this day Lord Sri Rama married Goddess Sita Devi. One such place where Sita Rama Kalyanam is performed on a grand scale on this day is at Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh on the banks of holy river Godavari. Govt. of Andhra Pradesh makes elaborate arrangements on this occasion and lakhs of people participate in this function.

It is also a tradition in some parts of the country  to offer a sweet drink (water mixed with jaggery, cardamom, pepper and lemon juice) called Paanakam and Moong Dal (soaked) called Kosambari as Naivedya to Lord Sri Rama and distribute the same to the devotees at temples.

The festival is celebrated on a grand scale at places like Ayodhya (birth place of Lord Sri Rama), Bhadrachalam (A.P) and in all temples of Lord Sri Rama across the country. Vasantha Navarathri festival ends with Sri Rama Navami.

Some of the places in India connected to Lord Sri Rama are Ayodhya, Kaasi, Gaya, Prayaga, Naimisharanya, Nasik, Bhadrachalam, Hampi, Srisailam, and Rameswaram. In Andhra Pradesh we have apart from Bhadrachalam, temples exclusively dedicated to Lord Sri Rama at Tirupathi and Vayalpad (Near Tirupathi). Perhaps in India you do not find a place without a temple for Lord Sri Rama or Hanuman where Sri Rama is also worshipped.

Brief about Bhadrachalam Temple

As per the legend Lord Vishnu in order to fulfill the promise given to his devotee Bhadra (son of Meru Parvatha) in his avathara as Sri Rama (which he forgot to fulfill during his avatara) came from Vaikunta and gave darshan in the form of Lord Sri Rama along with his consort Goddess Seeta Devi and his brother Lakshmana at this place on the Bhadradri hills and got manifested there at the request of his devotee Bhadra. Thenceforth the place came to be known in the name of Bhadra as Bhadrachala.

Rarity of the temple is that the Lord in his hurry to fulfill the promise given to his devotee came to give darshan carrying his disc Sudarshana Chakra and his Kounch in apasavya position. Generally we find Lord Vishnu holding Sudarshana Chakra in the right hand and his Kounch in the left hand. But here he is seen holding them in a reverse way.

Usually Lord Sri Rama is depicted with only two hands like any other human being with bow and arrow. But here he is seen with Chaturbhuja (four hands) holding disc and kounch in his upper arms; bow and arrow in his lower arms with his lower right hand in abhaya mudra. That is why he is called as Vaikunta Rama or Rama Narayana where the Lord Sri Rama is in his original form ie. Lord Vishnu.

There is also another popular legend attached to this temple. During 17th century Bhakta Rama Das (Kancharla Gopanna) a great devotee of Lord Sri Rama constructed the temple at Bhadrachalam and arranged for ornaments to the Lord. He was working as a Tahsildar under the rulership of Abdul Hassan Thaaneesha, the Nawab of Golkonda under Nizam dynasty. In the process he had arranged for funds from the coffers of Thaaneesha due to which he had to undergo punishment and was kept in Golkonda jail by the Nawab. One can see even today the evidences of his imprisonment in Golkonda fort at Hyderabad and the life spent by Bhakta Ramadas in jail.

Being a staunch devotee of Lord Sri Rama, the money spent by Rama Das was returned to the Nawab by Lord Sri Rama along with his brother Lakshmana in disguise amounting to six lakh golden mohars having the symbol of Rama Pattabhishekam and took a receipt for it from Thaaneesha. The legend goes on to say that the Lord always comes to the rescue of his sincere and true devotees though initially they might suffer due to their Prarabdha Karma.

The temple is located at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh about 300 km from Hyderabad on the banks of sacred river Godavari called Goutami Ganga (Deccan Ganges). It is one of the main pilgrim centers of Andhra Pradesh well connected by Road from Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Warangal, Karimnagar and other main cities of Andhra Pradesh. By rail it is on the Madras – Delhi main line, one has to get down at Khammam or Kothagudem and catch a bus to Bhadrachalam.

Sri Rama Navami festival is conducted at this temple in a grand manner where Seeta Rama Kalyanam is performed on this day attended by lakhs of people from all over the country especially from Andhra Pradesh.

SRI RAMA NAVAMI (Dhyana Slokas) - శ్రీ రామ ధ్యాన శ్లోక౦

Raama, Raam, Sri Raama, Sri Raam,  
Sri Raama Jaya Raama, Jaya Jaya Raama
 
Vaidehi Sahitham Suradhrumathale Haime Mahamantape
Madhye Pushpakamaasane, Manimaye Veerasane Susthitham
Agre Vachayatiprabhanjanasuthe Tatvam Munibhyah Param
Vyakhyam Bharathadhibhih Parivrutham Ramambhajesyamalam

Sree Raama Raama Raamethi Rame Raame Manorame

Sahasra Naama Thatthulyam Raama Naama Varaanane

Aapadaamapa Harthaaram Daatharam Sarva Sampadaam

Lokaabhiraamam Sree Raamam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namaamyaham

Raamaaya raamabadraaya raamachandraaya vedhasae

Ragunaathaaya naathaaya seethaayaah pathayae namah

Sree Raghavam DasarathmajaMaprameyam
Seethapathim Raghukulanvaya Ratnadeepam
AajaanubhahumMaravinda Dalayataksham
Ramam Nisachara Vinasakaram Namami

Yatra Yatra Raghunatha Keerthanam
Tatra Tatra Kruthamasthakanjalim
Bhashpavari Paripoorna Lochanam
Maruthim namatha Rakshasanthakam

Sree Raama Jaya Raama Jaya Jaya Raama

Sree Raama Jaya Raama Jaya Jaya Raama

Sree Raama Jaya Raama Jaya Jaya Raama

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu