The Momma Clan

Ram Navami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Sri Ram and is, therefore, a significant festival for the Hindus across the world. It falls on the 9th day of the Chaitra Navratri, that is, in the month of March-April. The Vaishnava sect amongst the Hindus mentions this day with enormous devotion. 

Lord Sri Ram is believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe. The celebrations commence on the first day of the Chaitra month, which is called the Gudi Padwa or Ugadi. This celebration then continues for nine days. 

On the night of Ram Navami, a spiritual discourse is organized in the honor of Lord Sri Ram and his life. The devotees then do the chanting of the mantras and sing Bhajans and Kirtans, that’s participated by the entire community. Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ fill the air and the festival is celebrated with the tremendous pomp in Ayodhya, considered to be the birthplace of Lord Sri Ram. 

The essence of Ram Navami’s celebration lies in being aware and knowing the beliefs and perfections that Lord Sri Ram stands for. People try to fulfill and vow that they will lead an ethical life with righteousness. The traits of being honest and being true to one’s word, complete devotion to one’s wife, and the ability to accomplish the target with a single arrow are the ones that signify Lord Sri Ram.

Lord Sri Ram was born into the Suryavanshi Ikshvaku empire in Ayodhya, to King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya. Ram Navami is of prime importance for the devotees of Shri Ram, who celebrate this auspicious day with great zeal and dedication.

People clean and decorate their houses and their Puja Ghar even more so. The ‘Ram Sabha’ which has Lord Sri Ram, Devi Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman (with folded hands at Shri Ram’s feet) is adorned with clothes and jewels; and devotees offer fruits, flowers, and prasad knowing well in the heart that what is being offered, belongs to Him only.

Shri Ram is rooted deep into the Indian consciousness. He is the spirit of ecstasy. Losing His kingdom on the day of his coronation did not bother him. He moved on with a smile. As an authority, Shri Ram was the ideal king. He was the caretaker of dharma and the destroyer of adharmis. 

Demons who thought they were indestructible were demolished easily. As King, he put the welfare of his people before his personal joy. He didn’t seek vengeance from the cruel and foolish Praja that had offended terribly but governed his country lawfully. 

His countrymen were safe, affluent, and pleased and there was not a single occurrence of robbery or hunger in his regime. Thus, Ram Rajya became a symbol of an excellent Rajya. And Ram, the beloved of his people became Maryada Purushottam — the One who does what is proper and follows the holy laws, even if doing so causes him anguish.

Shri Ram’s values are almost unbelievable to impersonate fully. But on special days like the birth anniversaries of the incarnations, their aspects show a heightened power and existence in the universe. 

And so, during the highly charged muhurta of the Ram Navami, the devotees pray to consume the raj tattva. It is believed that by fasting on Ram Navami, one can be freed of guilt and the entire universe can be helped from this prayer.

Across India and the world, the execution of the Ramayana is a righteous and sentimental journey. A cry of agony is felt within our souls at the injustice faced by Shri Ram about 7,700 years ago. And in that cry of distress lies a message—while we cannot change what happened over seven millennia ago, we can improve ourselves and seek to be better human beings.

Ram has always been an inherent part of Indian thought, religion, and beliefs. Despite deliberate attempts to distort our history and culture, the spirit of Ram remains deeply entrenched in the national intellect. The theory of Dharma, as articulated by Shri Ram is the crucial bond to achieve an even and developed society. 

This can be reinforced by gaining knowledge of the original texts. The first-ever Ramayan, the original, written by Sage Valmiki in Sanskrit, is an honest and incredibly detailed record that has 24,000 shlokas. Then we have Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, written in Awadhi which brings out the bhakti bhav. 

Sri Ram is praised with words like, ‘karuna sukh saga’ (pool of compassion and joy). Tulsidas calls Shri Ram, ‘ati balwaan’ (extremely strong), ‘shreshth dhanurdhar’ (the best archer in the world), the one who loves and nurtures cows and sages and the guardian and defender of dharma. 

Through such reading, we come to understand what the Ramayana tells us and why Shri Ram personifies the very soul of India, and why He has been given the name Maryada Purushottam. 

Why the stimulating chant of JAI SHRI RAM is so divine and a purifying mantra in itself, only then we will understand.

Isn’t there a lesson here for the leaders of the present time? Can’t they strive to pursue the superior ways of morality? Shouldn’t they, too, think of society and obligations first, before their kin and self? That is the essence of Ram Rajya.