Rāmanavamī (रामनवमी) or Śrīrāmanavamī refers to “Rāma’s birthday
celebrations”, as discussed in the twenty-fifth chapter of the
Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra
Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and
Hanumān.—[Cf. the chapter śrī-rāmanavamī-praśaṃsā]:—Every year in the
caitra-month. on the ninth day when the constellation Punarvasu is there,
the birthday of Rāma is to be remembered. Fasting and a vigil should be
observed on the “ninth day,” as well as tarpaṇa-rites. Those who break the
fast enjoined will go to hell. Alms-giving is also to be practised On the
following day (i.e., the “tenth day”), Rāma and His retinue should be
meditated upon with the devadasi-mantra, and then worshipped thrice along
with the aṣṭākṣara-mantra. Such muttering of these powerful mantras is
itself sufficient to yield great results. SOME AVIVEKI WAS ASSURUNG BIRTH
DAY ONLY BY NAKSHATRA AND I QUESTIONED ON RAMA NAVAMI AND KRISHNA ASHATAMI
WHICH IS BY-PASSED. KNOWLEDGE IS IF HALF BAKED, ONLY ANGER SHALL PERSIST
AND AS DOG GROWLS, ABUSIVE LANGUAGE WILL BE ROARING.
2 {samrajya Lakshmi pithika}: Lord Rama while fasting for one full day
(astavamas) so that sins committed by him may be destroyed, his desires may
be fulfilled, enemies may parish, he may be endowed with victory and above
all, Lord Rama may be pleased (84.4-8). Soon after that he, while in the
company of other members of his family, bathes the golden idol of Rama in
Pancamrta, Pancagavva and sacred water. Then the idol is seated on a
decorated seat spread with Silken clothes. Other acts of the ritual like
Pranapratistha (breathing of life), various kinds of offering etc. are made
by him while the priest is described to keep on chanting suitable formulae
from the kalpa (Abhaki?). Similarly, the great offering of Naivedya is made
while 'five musical instruments' keep on playing. The ritualistic worship
is said to be concluded with offerings, in honour of the god, articles like
a number of blue-lotuses, fully blossomed, white lilies 83 (Pundarika), New
Bilva leaves, Kunda and Kurutaka flowers and the leaves of Tulasi (the Holy
Basil). This is followed by chanting one thousand names of Rama (9-16).
Such worship, enjoins the author, is stipulated to be performed in all the
eight yamas (one yama is period for three hours) (Monier-Williams,
p.850.1). The night also is spent 83. Offering of leaves of Bilva to Rama
an incarnation of Visnu appears to be a peculiarity of the
Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika tradition. Normally, such leaves are offered to
Siva and his family.
3 A number of cities mentioned in the Ramayana legends about
Rama's life observe major celebrations. These include Ayodhya (Uttar
Pradesh) Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Bhadrachalam (Telangana) and Sitamarhi
(Bihar).
The rituals and customs associated with Rama Navami vary from region to
region throughout India. Many of these traditions include reading and
listening to discourses from the Ramayana, organizing ratha yatras (chariot
processions), charitable events, hosting a wedding procession
(kalyanotsavam) of Rama and Sita,[6] and offering reverence to Sita,
Lakshmana, and Hanuman who have played important roles in Rama's life
story. Surya, the Hindu solar deity, is also worshipped among some
communities.
In Karnataka, Rama Navami is celebrated by the local mandalis
(organizations) and streets, by dispersing free panakam (a jaggery drink)
and some food. Additionally, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, the Sree Ramaseva
Mandali, R.C.T (R.) Chamrajpet, organizes India's most prestigious,
month-long classical music festival. The uniqueness of this 80 year old
musical extravaganza is that celebrated Indian classical musicians,
irrespective of their religion, from both genres – Carnatic (South Indian)
and Hindustani (North Indian) – descend down to offer their musical
rendition to Rama and the assembled audience
In eastern Indian states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, the
Jagannath temples and regional Vaishnava community observe Rama Navami, and
begin preparations for their annual Jagannath Ratha Yatra in summer.
Nepal celebrates Ram Navami with particular enthusiasm, especially at the
Janaki Temple in Janakpur (Sita's birthplace). The temple hosts week-long
celebrations including ritual bathing of Ram's image in milk and water from
sacred wells. Local traditions incorporate elements of Mithila culture with
distinctive art forms featuring geometric patterns and natural dyes.
Devotees associated with ISKCON fast throughout the day. A number of ISKCON
temples introduced a more prominent celebration of the occasion of the
holiday with the view of addressing needs of growing native Hindu
congregation. It was however a notable calendar event on the traditional
Gaurabda calendar with a specific additional requirement of fasting by
devotees.
On April 17, 2024, the first Rama Navami after the consecration of
Ayodhya's Ram Temple was celebrated by thousands of devotees across India.
On this occasion, the Ram Temple witnessed a unique event at noon as the
forehead of the Ram Lalla murti was anointed with a ray of sunlight, known
as Surya Til] Scores of devotees watched the live-streaming of the event
across the globe.
During Rama Navami, reading or listening from literature about Rama is a
common practice. Reading the entire Ramayana (Hindu epic entailing the
adventures of Rama for a week leading up to Rama Navami is organized. The
earliest version of the text was composed by the sage Valm Bhadrachalam
temple in Telangana is one of the major Rama Navami celebration sites.
Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, a later version of the Ramayana written in the
vernacular of that time, is also popularly recited. The start of the
composition of the Ramcharitmanas began on Rama Navami.
A public dramatic performance, known as Ramlila, is annually hosted on the
festivals of Rama Navami and Vijayadashami. Ramlila encapsulates the story
of Rama through music, drama, dance and various other mediums The
enactments of Ramlila are inspired by the Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas.
Rama Navami is one of the Hindu festivals that is celebrated by the Indian
diaspora with roots in Uttar Pradesh and other states The descendants of
Indian indentured servants who were forced to leave India due to famines
and then promised jobs in colonial South Africa before 1910 in
British-owned plantations and mines, and thereafter lived under the South
African apartheid regime, continued to celebrate Rama Navami by reciting
the Ramayana and by singing bhajans of Tyagaraja and Bhadrachalam Ramdas.
The tradition continues in contemporary times in the Hindu temples of
Durban every year.
Similarly, in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, other
Caribbean countries, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other
countries with Hindu descendants of colonial-era indentured workers forced
to leave British India have continued to observe Rama Navami along with
their other traditional festivals.
It is also celebrated by Hindus in Fiji and Fijian Hindus who have
re-migrated elsewhere.
K Rajaram IRS 6425
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