Swami Sivananda says, “Let Sri Rama be your ideal. Ideals are remembered and adored for the purpose of adopting them in your own life. The Ramnavmi celebration every year is an opportune period for us to saturate ourselves with the spirit of Lord Rama. We love and adore our ideals because we express thereby our yearning to unite with them”.
“In our worship of God it is implied that we should be virtuous, good and perfect even as God is. Hence the wise instruction: “One should become divine in order to be able to worship God”. One cannot be a real worshipper of Lord Rama unless one makes an honest attempt to grow in the virtues that the Lord represents. On the other hand, worship of Lord Rama is itself the surest means to develop such virtues”.
“One who approaches Sri Rama with love and worshipfulness becomes large-hearted, pure in spirit, good-natured and dispassionate in thought, word and deed. A true devotee of Lord Rama is His representative, with His power and His knowledge”.
With humble salutations to my Guru, I state, Swamiji’s words are like drinking nectar that cleanses not only our body but our minds too.
Brief History of Lord Rama’s Birth
Lord Rama, first son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was born on the ninth day of Chaitra (Vasanta) Navaratri. Though Navami is considered inauspicious by many, this day is very sacred and auspicious as it was Lord Vishnu who himself took the avatar of a human to kill King Ravana of Lanka. Lord Rama is considered the 7th Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Rama was born around noon on the bright ninth day of Chaitra, and is thus regarded as ‘the light of the self’. He was destined to kill Ravana and he put ‘Dharma’ (good conduct) above ‘Adharma’ (bad conduct) or the triumph of good over evil.
What can one do on Ram Navami
I, Pushpam Appalanaidu at the crack of dawn, clean the house and perform a simple puja. I also fast according to my choice and desire. I, then spend the whole day, chanting Lord Rama’s name and pray that he destroys all the evil thoughts that plagues one’s mind and body.
A person who follows the spiritual path can further explore the quest for the eternal light by turning one’s senses inwards and rejecting the worldly pleasures. It is evident when one lets go and remain positive, happiness and freedom is found and that is what I am pursuing.
