Ram Navami History
Indian land has always been a holy land, according to history, many gods and goddesses have incarnated here. If we focus on this history, then when Ravana's atrocities increased a lot and people got upset, then again a great man was born on Indian soil to get rid of these atrocities. The name of this great man was Lord Rama, who got freedom from the atrocities of Ravana and saved the people at that time. The birthday of Lord Rama, who was born in Treta Yuga, is celebrated as Ram Navami.
Significance of Ram Navami
Every Hindu festival has its own importance, in the same way, this festival of Ram Navami is considered a symbol of God's own arrival to bring down the evil forces from the earth and liberate ordinary people from atrocities here. On this day, Lord Vishnu himself incarnated on earth to end the atrocities of the Asuras from the earth. Ram Navami is a special festival for all Hindus, which he celebrates with full enthusiasm. Born on this day, Shri Ram ended the tyranny of Ravana from the earth and established the kingdom of Rama here, and explained the importance of divine power.
This day is also the last day of Navratri, so the simultaneous occurrence of two major Hindu festivals adds to the importance of this festival. It is said that the Ram Charit Manas was composed by Shri Goswami Tulsidas Ji, he also started from this day.
Ram Janam History:
In Treta Yuga, when the terror of demons like Ravana and Tadka increased on the earth, the incarnations of Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi themselves arrived on the earth and they saved their devotees. According to old stories, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had 3 wives in Treta Yuga, but still, they were deprived of child happiness. Maharaj Dasaratha had adopted his only daughter Shanta, after which he did not have any children for many years. Distressed by this, King Dasharatha was ordered by sage Vashistha to conduct Kameshthi Yagya. As a result of this yajna, the three queens got son Ratna from King Dasharatha and Lord Rama was born from the womb of his first wife Kaushalya. King Dasharatha had three other sons Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna.
Rama's Guru:
Brahm Rishi Vashistha was the guru of Lord Rama, who perfected him in Vedic knowledge as well as weaponry. Brahma sage Vishwamitra also imparted weaponry to Rama and under his guidance, Rama killed and delivered Ahilya early in the morning and took part in Sita Swayamvar, and married Sita.
Ram Vanvas Story
King Dasaratha wanted his eldest son Rama to be his successor, but his other wife, Kaikeyi, intended that her son Bharata ascend the throne, so she asked King Dasharatha for two of her boons (these were the boons promised by King Dasharatha at the time). When Queen Kaikeyi had saved the life of King Dasharatha during the war), in which she asked for Bharata's consecration and exile for Rama and thus Lord Rama got exiled for fourteen years. In this exile, Sita and his brother Lakshman also accepted to go with their brother. At the same time, Bharat also put brotherly love at the top and like a forest dweller, accepted Ayodhya as a trust for fourteen years.
Vanvas period:
In this exile, Lord Rama killed many demons. Perhaps Kaikeyi's words were only the basis because destiny was something like this. Lord Rama found a servant like Hanuman and a friend like Sugriva during his exile. Destiny killed Ravana by making Sita's kidnapping a reason. The purpose of Sita's birth was the destruction of Ravana, which Shri Ram accomplished and saved the human race.
Ram Rajya:
Shri completed his exile period and Bharat handed over the royal text of Ayodhya to his elder brother. Maryada Purushottam Ram established such a Ram Rajya. Which was always seen as ideal. Ram abandoned Sita in the interest of the people. For his duties, he gave second place to self-interest and thus established the kingdom of Rama.
Ram's Luv Kush:
Sita accepted abandonment for the sake of Prajahit and spent her life in Valmiki Ashram at that time Sita gave birth to two sons, whose name was Luv Kush. Both of them were as brilliant as their fathers. In the hands of these, Rama handed over his kingdom and himself left his human life by assuming his Vishnu avatar.
Why We Celebrate Ram Navami
In Treta Yuga, the atrocities of a demon named Ravana increased a lot and people got upset. Ravana was a great scholar and a mighty man, he was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He also had boons, his end was not in the control of any ordinary man. Then Lord Vishnu himself incarnated on earth in order to liberate the people from his atrocities. He was born on the ninth day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha from the womb of Queen Kaushalya. That's why this day is special for all the people of India, which is celebrated with special enthusiasm all over the country.
But killing Ravana is not the reason for worshiping Shri Ram, but the whole life of Shri Ram is an example. Due to his life character, Shri Ram was called Maryada Purshottam. He had accepted the forest life by giving up the pleasures of the palace, only on the orders of his father. In this way, presenting their life as an ideal life and passing this message to the coming generations is also an objective of celebrating this day.
How to Celebrate Ram Navami
Ram Navami is a festival celebrated by the people of the Hindu religion, which is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. As the name suggests, this festival falls on Navami Tithi and its month is Chaitra. Maa Durga is also worshiped in the month of Chaitra and Navratri is celebrated. Meanwhile, on the ninth day of Navratri, Ram Navami takes place. In Hinduism, on this day various religious texts are recited, havan worship, hymns, etc. On this day many people also worship the idol of Lord Rama in the form of an infant.
On this day the temples of Ram Lalla are the center of attraction, as well as the distribution of prasad here is also special. Some people keep fast for nine days during Navratri at this time and after worshiping Lord Rama on the last day they break the fast and seek blessings. As we know, there are many variations in India, so there is some variation to be seen in some of the beliefs prevalent here. People of South India consider this festival as the wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, but according to Ramayana, the people of Ayodhya celebrate their marriage on Panchami.
The way of celebrating this festival is also different in different regions. Where in Ayodhya and Banaras, a dip is taken on this day after bathing in the Ganges and Saryu, and the Rath Yatra of Lord Rama, Sita, and Hanuman is organized, the same places like Ayodhya, Sitamani, Bihar Rameshwaram, etc. are grand on the Navami of Chaitra Paksha. Events are organized. This day is special for all Hindus, just the way of celebrating everyone is different.
In many places, the idol of Lord Rama is also established in the pandals on this day. This day is specially celebrated in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, but the temple of Lord Rama is yet to be built here.
Ram was born in Abhijit Nakshatra at twelve o'clock in the afternoon on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Navami, in many places on this day all the devotees complete their Chaitra Nav Ratri fast at 12 noon. Kheer, puri, and halwa are made in homes. At many places, Ram Stotra, Ram Baan, Akhand Ramayana, etc. are recited, Rath Yatras are taken out, and fairs are decorated.
Poojan Samagri and Poojan Vidhi
According to Indian belief, Lord Rama was the descendant of Surya, so this day started with a sunrise by offering water to the sun. Apart from this, people also recite Akhand Ramayana at many places on this day and at the time of Ram's birth, special anointing of his idol is offered to him, Tilak material is offered to him and then Bhog is offered to him by applying incense, etc. After this, aarti is performed by offering rice to the Lord. On this day, Bhandara is organized in the form of Prasad for the devotees of God.
The whole life of Lord Rama is an example, his life is a symbol of sacrifice, tenacity, respect, and peace. His life is also an example of family love, he had immense love for his brothers, which did not diminish even after the discrimination of Mother Kaikeyi. With this, even after their wrong decision of Kaikeyi, he had equal respect and love for his mother Kaikeyi. Apart from this, his life also shows that when the atrocities on the earth increase and the pot of sin is higher than the virtue, then the person who saves the common people from them will also descend. By the way, the entire Indian history is an example of this, that is why the symbols of the incarnation of Krishna, Rama, and many other Gods are still to be seen here.
