Avatar of Lord Sri Rama – Today is Sri Ramanavami

Lord Rama is the seventh avatara (incarnation) of Vishnu. He is the immortal hero of the great religious epic of India, called the Ramayana.

Rama occupies a very reverential place in the religious life of India and in the religious history of the world. He is the embodiment of righteousness and is believed to be the incarnation of the solar aspect of Vishnu. Numerous temples are scattered all over India for Rama, Lakshmana & Sita. In all images, Rama is depicted to be having two arms which emphasizes the character of Rama as a human being because God Vishnu preferred to adopt this form to re-establish the golden age of justice & happiness. The expression “Rama Rajya”, even today, means the reign in which peace and prosperity prevail.

Valmiki has symbolized Rama as an ideal of perfection. The human personality consists of different facets functioning in different aspects of life. Only in the life of Rama, each facet of human personality is seen projected to absolute perfection. He was a perfect son, an ideal king, a true husband, a real friend, a devoted brother and above all, a noble enemy !

Lord Rama is portrayed as carrying his bows and arrows all the time. This symbolizes his alertness and readiness to fight against unfairness and thus establish justice and peace.
Wickedness or injustice will always be existent. By his example, Rama gives mankind the strength and conviction to fight it. Man ought not to be weak and accept passively what is unrighteous. He must rise actively against inconsistency and unrighteous or immoral actions. This is called aggressive goodness. Throughout the Ramayana, there are several actions and anecdotes expressing the divine brilliance of the ideal personality of Lord Rama.

Today, being, Sri Ramanavami , let us close with this less common prayer to Rama;
S(h)aantham sarvagatham sookshmam param brahma sanaathanam
RaajeevalOchanam raamam praNamaami jagathpathim

You are the eternal Brahman, calm all-pervading and subtle.
To you, I bow down, Oh Rama, Charming and blissful Lord of the Universe.

Love,
Chithra.

 

Dear Friends,
I am posting a photo of Sri Ramar Pattabhishekam.
This particular photo is said to be very auspicious to be kept in the house and is supposed to bring harmony and prosperity.
Love,
Chithra.

 

Dear Kamla,
You are always as prompt and as sweet, as only you can be, my dearest Sujata !
My Thatha used to say, that Rama is always ready to fight evil, with bow & arrow - that is why we are supposed to call Rama any time for help.
Please refer to
Shlokas on Ramar (1)

I never fail to chant them, when going out, so much so, that it has become an involuntary action !
Thankyou for the quick F B.
Love,
Chithra.

 

Dear Kamla,
This is the most famous Sri Rama Sthothram.

The first verse means - We bow to Rama who removes dangers & problems for the individual & the family; one who bestows all forms of wealth again & again

The second verse - He will destroy all distresses of the distressed

Third verse ( very interseting !) - Rama, you should always be fully dressed ( & ready with bow & arrow) and prepared - go in front of me ( to ward off danger before I am attacked !)

Last - You must be ready in my front, back & sides ready to shoot my enemies.
Rama & lakshmana should protect me from all visible & invisible forces likely to attack me !

My own personal opininon is, chanting Mrityunjaya mantra every time we go out, is "alerting a gun everytime you see a mosquito !"
If not the whole shloka, the last one gives you the best protection, when you go out.

We, the vedanta students went for a retreat to Anaikatti, near Coimbatore, for 10 days, a few years back.
There elephants coming & attacking at nights was common. The last class used to end at 9.30 P M. After the class, we had to walk to our rooms in the dark. Our teacher taught us this & we used to chant this loudly & wallk back to our rooms, fearlessly & with full belief !
Love,
Chithra.