Bhagwan Shri Rama (Continued)

Shri Rama Temples

There are several holy sites in Ayodhya where lord Rama was born and later ruled as king. The fort of Ramkot is said to be Rama’s birthplace attracting devotees during Ram Navami from all over. The ‘Treta ke Thakur’ temple marks the place where Rama conducted the sacrifice, ‘Ashwamedha Yajnya’ which led him to learn more about his sons Luv and Kush. The Hanuman Garhi is the Hanuman temple where Hanuman is said to have lived and protected the birthplace of Ram.

The town of Vaduvur, Tamil Nadu attracts worshippers to the Sri Kothandaramaswamy temple and is known as Ayodhya of the south. Legend has it that Shri Rama lived here during his exile and when before leaving he gifted to the local sages a sketch of his divine form so that Rama’s statue based on this is worshipped here. The temple town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu is a holy pilgrimage site and has the famous Ramaswamy temple depicting not only paintings of Ramayana but also offering prayers to Hanuman.Other temples such as the Chaturbhuja Ramaswami temple, the Darbhasayana Seturama temple in Tamil Nadu, the Bhadrachalam Ram temple in Adhra Pradesh, Thiruvangad temple in Kerala, the Kondandaramaswami temple in Karnatak are all popular in south india. Several other deities as well as sages who propagated various Hindu schools of thought have a place of honour in these towns.

The holy city of Varanasi in the north offers temples and prayer sthan for devotees of all deities. Here the Tulsi Manas temple dedicated to lord Rama has the epic Ramayana as composed by saint Tulsidas inscribed on the temple walls. This is the location where the saint is said to have lived and written the ‘Ramayana’. In this epic most of the years of exile of Ram, Sita and Lakshman spent in the ‘Dandakaranya forest’, in Panchavati now in the western state of Maharashtra, India are described. The grand ‘Kalaram temple’ in Panchavati is so named because the idol is made out of black stone. 

Prayers

Rama Raksha mantram: Translated by P.R.Ramachander http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ra11.htm

Atadh Dhyanam

Dhyayed Ajanu bahum drutha sara danusham badha padmasanastham,

Peetham vaso avasanam nava kamala dala spardhi nethram, prasannam,

Vamangaruda  Sita mukha kamala milalochanam neeradhabham,

Danalangara deeptham datha muru jada mandalam ramachandram.

Iti Dhyanam

Charitham Raghu nadasya shatha koti pravistharam,

Yekaikamaksharam pumsam maha pathaka nasanam.      

Dhyathwa neelolpala shyamam Ramam Rajeevalochanam,

Janaki Lakshmano petham jada makuta manditham,

Sasi thoona dhanur bahu panim nakthancharaanthakam,

Swa leelaya jagathrathum avirbhoottham ajam vibhum,

Rama raksham padeth pragna papagneem sarva kamadham.                                              

Siro may Raghava pathu, phalam dasarathathmaja,

Kousalyeyo drusou pathu , viswamithra priya sruthi.                                                             

Granam pathu makhathrath, Mukham soumithri vathsala,

Jihwam Vidhyanidhi pathu, kandam Bharathavanditha,                                                            

Skandou divyayudha pathu, bhujowbhagnea sakarmukha.                                                       

Karou Sithapathi pathu , Hrudayam Jamadagnyajith.                                                            

Madhyam padu Khara dwamsi, Nabhim Jambhavadasrya,

Sugreevesa kateem pathu, sakthithini Hanumath prabhu.                                                     

Ooru Raghoothama pathuraksha kulavinasa kruth,

Januni Sethu kruth padu , Janghe dasamukhandaka,                                                             

Padou Vibheeshanasreedha, pathu Ramokhilam vapu.  

Yetham Rama balopethaam rakshaam ya sukruthee padeth.

Sa chirayu sukhee puthree vijayee vinayee bhaveth

Patala bhoothala vyoma charina Chathmacharina,

Na drushtumapi shakthasthe rakshitham Ramanamabhi

Ramethi, Ramabhadrethi Ramachandrethi yaa smaran,

Naro na lipyathe Papair bukthim mukthincha vindathi.

Jagajaithrakamanthrena Ramanamnabhirakshitham,

Ya kande dharayethasya karastha sava sidhaya. 

Vajra panjara namedham yo Rama kavacham smareth,

Aavyahathagna sarvathra labhathe jaya Mangalam.

Aadishtavan yada swapne Ramaraksham imama hara,

Thadha likhithavan pratha prabudho budhakousika.                                                

Aarama kalpa vrukshanam, virama sakalapadam,

Abhiramassthrilokanam , Rama sriman na prabhu.

Tharunou roopa sampannou , sukumarou Maha balou,

Pundareeka visalakshou Cheerakrushna jinambarou,

Phala moolasinou danthou thapasou brahmachrinou,

Puthrou dasarathasyathou bratharou Ramalakshmanou,

Saranya sarva  sathwanam sreshtou sarva danushmatham,

Raksha kula nihanthou traayetham no raghothamou.                                          

Aatha sajja danusha vishu sprusa,

Vakshaya suga nishanga sanginou,

Rakshanaya mama Ramalakshmanaavagratha,

Padhi sadaiva gachathaam.                                                                                 

Sanadha Kavachee Gadgi chapa bana dharo yuva,

Gachan manoradhosmakam Rama pathu sa Lakshmana.                                    

Ramo Dasaradhi sooroLakshmanucharo balee,

Kakustha purusha poorna Kousalyayo Raghothama,

Vedantha vedhyo yagnesa purana purushothama,

Janaki vallabha sreeman  aprameya parakrama,

Ithyethani japan nithyam thad bhaktha sradhayanvitha,

Aswamedhadhikam punyam samprapnothi na samsaya.                          

Ramam doorvadala shyamam padmaksham peetha vasasam,

Sthuvanthi namabhir divyai  na they samsarino nara.                                   

Ramam Lakshmana poorvajam Raghuvaram Seethapathim Sundaram,

Kakustham karunarnavam Guna nidhim vipra priyam dharmikam,

Rajendram sathya sandham Dasaratha thanayamShyamalamSanthamoorthim,

Vande LOkabhiramam. Raghukula thilakam Raghavam Ravanarim.                           

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya Vedhase,

Raghu nadhaya nadhaya Seethaya pathae nama.                                                    

Sri Rama Rama Raghu nandana Rama Rama,

Sri Rama Rama Bharathagraja Rama Rama,

Sri Rama Rama rana karkasa Rama Rama Rama,

Sri Ramachandra saranam bhava Rama Rama.      

Sri Ramachandra charanou manasa smarami,

Sri Ramachandra charanou vachasa grunami,

Sri Ramachandra charanou sirasa namami,

Sri Ramachandra charanou saranam prapadhye.     

Matha Ramo, math pitha Ramachandra,

Swami Ramo, math sakha Ramachandra,

Sarvaswam may Ramachandro dayalu,

Na anyam naiva jane na jane.                                                                            

Dakshine Lakshmano, yasye vame cha Janakathmaja,

Puratho Maruthir yasya tham vande Raghunandanam.                                         

Lokabhiramam rana ranga dheeram rajheeva nethram Raghuvamsa nadham,

Karunya roopamkarunakaram tham Sri Ramachandram Saranam prapadhye.       

Mano javam, maruda thulya vegam,

Jithendriyam buddhi matham varishtam,

Vatha atmajam vanara yudha mukhyam,

Sree Rama dootham sharanam prapadhye

Koojantham Rama Ramethi maduram madsuraksharam,

Aaroohya kavitha shakhaam vande Valmiki kokilam.                                              

Apadam apa hantharam datharam dana sarva sampadam,

Lokabhiramam Sriramam bhooyo bhooyo namamyaham.                                        

Bharjanam bhava bheejanamarjanam sukhasampadam,

Tharjanam yama dhoothanam rama ramethi garjanam.                                              

Ramo rajamani sada vijayathe ramam ramesam bhaje,

Ramenabhihatha nisachara chamoo Ramaya thasmai nama,

Ramannasthi parayanam paratharam Ramasya dasosmyaham,

Rame chitha laya sada bhavthu may bho Rama mamudhara.                                      

Sri Rama Rama ramethi reme rame manorame,

Sahasra nama thathulyam rama nama varanane                                                         

Ithi shri Budha KOushika virachitham shri  Rama Raksha stotram sampoornam

 Shri Sita Ramchandrahar  panamasthu

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Bhagwan Shri Rama: Avatar of Lord Vishnu

Sri Rama is considered to be the perfect avatar of Lord Vishnu also known as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ (the perfect human) who sets an example for all humans regarding how to follow their ‘Dharma’ with his unblemished character, virtue, righteousness, strength, wisdom and values. The story of how Lord Rama killed the evil demon Ravana, rescued his wife Sita who is considered an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, and ruled for thousands of years in the ‘Treta Yuga’ forms the epic ‘Ramayana’.

Rama was the eldest son of King Dashratha in Ayodhya born after sacrificial prayers and stories abound of how he brought joy and happiness as a child to all the royal family and beyond becoming everyone’s favourite. The valour of Shri Ram is depicted in his assistance as a young prince to Sage Vishwamitra in killing the demons Mareecha and Subahu and their mother Taatika who were poisoning the life of the sages. He won over the pious pure beautiful princess Sita’s hand in marriage by winning the kings competition testing their strength on Shiva’s bow and his charming courteous manners won hearts too. Despite being the rightful heir to the kingdom of Ayodhya, Rama obediently, willingly and cheerfully gave up the throne accepting instead a fourteen year exile to keep his father’s word as given to Dashratha’s other wife Kaikeyi. Rama made this sacrifice with utmost humility and accepted his future as did Sita who voluntarily decided to accompany him and is also considered a role model in her ways and virtues. 

In exile, when Sita was abducted by the demon Ravana ruling Lanka, Rama with the help of his brother Lakshmana and his most faithful devotee Hanuman went after him and after a long battle defeated and killed Ravana displaying his fearlessness, nobility and divinity throughout the journey. He returned from exile to rule justly and fairly for thousands of years and this golden period of his rule, ‘Ram Rajya’ is said to be most prosperous and fulfilling for his people who lived happily and honestly under his reign. Lord Rama thus fulfilled his duty for which he had incarnated on earth His strength of character was tested when questions were raised by his subjects about the virtue of his rescued wife Sita upon which he prioritised his people so that Sita was separated from her husband and raised their two sons on her own. The divine story of Ramayan provides inspiration and lessons to Hindus till date and devotees ardently worship Ram and Sita as the incarnations of Vishnu and Lakshmi together as SiyaRam along with Lord Rama’s faithful brother, Lakshman and greatest devotee, Hanuman. Ram and Lakshman are often depicted with their bows, Ram with Sita by his side are both showering blessings on devotees with their hands and Hanuman is bowed in prayer to the God Avatar. 

Festivals

Ram Navami is the festival celebrating birth of Sri Ram usually occurring in March/April. The festivities include a chariot procession depicting the life of Lord Rama celebrating with fanfare the golden rule of Rama. The nine day period prior to Ram Navami is celebrated as ‘Chaitra Navaratri’ marking the beginning of the spring festival. Devotees also celebrate the wedding of Rama and Sita marking the festive occasion.

Gudi Padwa

The first day of the Chaitra Navaratri is celebrated as ‘Gudi Padwa’ also known as ‘Ugadi’ considered to be a very auspicious day and considered the beginning of the New Year in some Indian regions. On this day worshippers set up a ‘Gudi’ made up of a stick dressed up in a saree covered with a pot which is a homemade symbol to keep out evil and bring good fortune into the home as some people believe this day marks the end of Lord Rama’s exile while others consider it to flag the time of the creation of the universe.  

Dussera and Diwali

The largest celebration of the killing of the ten headed demon Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama to mark victory of good over evil is on Dussera day at the end of ‘Sharad Navaratri’ which marks beginning of autumn and occurs in the latter part of the year around October. Dussera is also celebrated as ‘Vijaya Dashmi’ when Rama also used his divine power and also strength bestowed by the Shakti Devi to defeat and destroy Ravana. During the nine nights of Navaratri until Dussera day, community theatre enacts the various aspects of Rama’s life journey depicting his many qualities to remind and inspire people with his heroic tales. This is known as ‘Ramlila’. Lord Rama is said to have returned to his kingdom for his crowning ceremony in about three weeks or so after Dussera day. All his subjects welcomed him decorating and lighting up their homes with lights to celebrate his return and his victory and this celebration forms part of the Diwali festival that is the festival of lights.

Hanuman Jayanti

The birth anniversary of Hanuman (the most ardent devotee of Lord Rama who played a central part in the epic Ramayana with his divine powers and ape like lineage) is celebrated also in the Chaitra month around March/April. Hanuman is considered to be very powerful and prayers to Hanuman the son of wind God are said to provide worshippers the same strength and courage. He is also known and worshipped as ‘Maruti’, ‘Bajrangbali’, ‘Mahavir’, ‘Anjaneyu’ and some other names describing him as a saviour of people when they are in trouble.