SREE RAMA NAVAMI!!!

OM SREE RAMA JAYAM!

23rd,March,2010

Tuesday

7p.m

Dear Friends,

Rama Rama Jaya Raja Ram,

Rama Rama Jaya Sita Ram!

The birth of Lord Sree Rama is celebrated as Sree Rama Navami,on 24th,March,Wednesday.The ninth day of Chaitra month celebrates Sree Rama Navami,the last day day of Vasantha Navaratri.Lord Rama is considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu,who is known for his compassion for human beings.Sree Rama is born to King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya.The festival falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami,ninth day of the Chaitra month of Hindu Calendar.Thus it is also known as Chiatra Shukla Paksha Navami and marks the end of nine-day Chiatra Navratri celebartions.

At some places,the festival lasts the whole nine days of N avratras,thus the period is called,'Sree Rama Navaratra'.It is marked by continuous recitals,Akhand Paath,mostly of the Ramacharitamanas,organised several days before to culminate on this day,with elaborate bhajan,keertan and distribution of prasad after pooja and aarti.Images of infant Lord Sree Rama are placed in cradles and rocked by the devotees.Sree Rama is teh seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.Sree Rama was born at noon.Temples and family shrines are well decorated and traditional prayers are chanted by teh family members together in the morning.Special havans are organised in temples along with Vedic chanting of Vedic Mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers.Many followers mark this day by vrata[fasting] through the day followed by the feasting in the evening.In South India,the day is also celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Sree Rama and Sita Devi.SitaRama Kalyanam,the ceremonial wedding ceremony of the celestial couple is celebrated in temples throughout the region with great fanfare and accompanied by group chanting of name of Lord Sree Rama[Rama Nama Smaranam].

The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya[Uttar Pradesh],Bhadrachalam[Andhra Pradesh] and Rameswaram[Chennai],thronged by thousands of devotees.Rathayatra,the chariot processions,also known as Sobha Yatras of Sree Rama,Sita,Lakshmana and Hanuman will be taken out at several places including thousands of people take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu.

Right from childhood,I used to listen to the stories of Ramayana,the great epic of Hindus. I am sure, you all will be fondly remember the much popular television serial Ramayana which made people glued to the screen so religiously.It narrated the story of Sree Rama,his consort SIta,his strong and sincere devotee Hanuman and his loyal brother Lakshman.Sree Rama played all his roles-that of a son,a student,a desciple,a husband,a brother to utmost perfection.Praying to Lord Sree Rama invokes the divine energies to all our relationships.Devotees celebrate this festival with great pleasure and enthusiasm.We always used to enjoy the comic books on Sree Rama.

'Ra-ma' is an unparallel name which attracts wealth and protects us from all evils.Even the mighty Lord Shiva told his consort,Parvati taht the easiest way to attain the highest in spiritua;l and material is by praying to Lord Sree Rama and chanting his name.Lord Shiva went to the extent of saying that this is equivalent to even chanting the sacred Vishnu Sahasranama.Rama is referred to as Maryada Purushotama,The Perfect Man or Lord Of Self Control or Lord Of Virtue.Rama is the huband of Sita, whom Hindus consider to be an avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of complete womanhood.Rama's younger brothers namely Lakshma,Shatrughna and Bharata strongly complement his piety,virtue and strength.According to legend,Kusha and Lava are the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita.

People prepare a sweet drink called panakam with jaggery and pepper.procession takes place in the eveings.This is an auspicious day!My friend Asha is fasting for nine days;having fruits and sabudana[sago].

We have a Sree Rama Temple near Sree Ayyappa Temple and the temples are located near my office.Generally we used to get a holiday on Sree Rama Navami.The temple will be crowded and the chanting of Rama,Rama......will be going on..........Remember the most important muhurt is at noon by 12.30.Sree Rama Swami is born on Punartham star.Nanda's star is also punartham.

May Lord Sree Rama Bless one and all.

During summer vacation,my parents used to take us on pilgrimage. to different temples.I enjoy those memories.Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple is very famous.Amma has written devotional poems on Lord Sree Rama and we chant them.

Wishing you all the very best,

It's Anu signing off......

Sree Rama's life and journey is one of the perfect adherence to dharma despite harsh tests of life and time.

Let me remind you,surrender at the lotus feet.Nothing else helps us to regain peace and happiness.

Wishing you a wonderful and auspicious SREE RAMA NAVAMI,

Loving you sincerely as always,

Sasneham,
Anu