Celebrating the birth of Sri Rama ~ Sree Rama Navami 2019

Celebrating the birth of Sri Rama ~ Sree Rama Navami 2019

* அங்கணெடு மதிள்புடைசூழ் அயோத்தியென்னும் அணிநகரத்து

 உலகு அனைத்தும் விளக்கும் சோதி*

பண்ணையும் ஆயமும், திரளும் பாங்கரும்,

கண் அகன் திருநகர் களிப்புக் கைம்மிகுந்து,

எண்ணெயும், களபமும், இழுதும், நானமும்,

சுண்ணமும், தூவினார் - வீதிதோறுமே.

நற்பண்புகள் அனைத்துக்கும் சிகரம் ஸ்ரீராமபிரான்.  அற்புதமான நகரம் திரு அயோத்தி.  தசரத சக்ரவர்த்திக்கு இக்ஷ்வாகு குலத்தனமாம் இராமனும் இலக்குவண பரத சத்ருக்கணனும் பிறந்த  செய்தியை அரசவை காவலர்கள்  யானைமீதேறி முரசறைந்து அறிவித்தனர்.  மக்கள் அளக்கமுடியாத இன்பம் கொண்டனர்.

பெண்கள் கூட்டத்திலும்,  ஆண்கள்  கூட்டத்திலும்    இடமகன்ற அந்த அழகிய அயோத்தி மாநகரத்திலே, களிப்பு உவகை உற்று,  மகிழ்ச்சி மேலிட்டு - ; எண்ணெயும் கலவைச்  சாந்து, வெண்ணெய்  புனுகு   வகைகளையும்;  பரிமளப் பொடி வகைகளையும்;  மக்கள் ஆனந்தத்தில் ஒவ்வொரு வீதியிலும் தூவினார்கள்.  இராஜ்யத்துக்கு அழகு வாரிசுகள்   பிறந்த   மகிழ்ச்சியால்   வீதிதோறும் மக்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியைக் கொண்டாடினர்.  ‘’எண்ணெய்  சுண்ணம் எதிரெதிர்  தூவிட’’  என பெரியாழ்வார் இதனை விவரிக்கிறார்.  .

13^th Apr 2019   is the holy day of Sree Rama Navami – the day on which Lord Sri Ramachandramurthi,  the supreme avatar of Maryada Purush  was born in the blessed land of Ayodhya.  Lord Rama descended on earth for the purpose of upholding righteousness and rewarding virtue.

Sage Valmiki,  -   the most eloquent of men enquired Sri Narada –  ‘Who is there in the World today, endowed with excellent & heroic qualities, versed in all duties of life, truthful, trustworthy, firm in his vows, benevolent,   learned, handsome, patient,   free from envy & when excited to wrath can strike terror  into the hearts of celestial beings ? ~  and Sage responded thus :

इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो *  रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः ।

नियतात्मा महावीर्यो  *  द्युतिमान्धृतिमान् वशी ॥

There is only one by name Sri Rama, born in the lineage of Ikshwaku.  He is totally balanced, one in complete control of His words, thoughts and deeds; a man of great valour ~ a person of steadfast character and radiant countenance – Lord Sree Rama

सर्वदाऽभिगतस्सद्भिः समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।

आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव* सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ॥

His great qualities are such that noble persons all over the World are drawn to Him like rivers finding their way to the Ocean.  He conducts himself equably all the time and he is extremely charming ! – the great Sri Rama.

Narada muni acquainted with the past, the present and the future, pleased with the words of the Sage Valmiki, answered him saying:- ‘ Rare indeed are those, endowed with the qualities thou hath  enumerated, yet I can tell thee of such a person, born in the lineage of Ikshwaku, renowned, self-controlled, valourous, illustrious, wise, conversant with ethics, code, slayer of foes, broad shouldered, long armed, eminent in archery, noble head, of mighty prowess – known as Sri Rama.   His country, the Kosala Kingdom was replete with happiness.  The only trouble was that nobody could donate ~ for the simple reason that there were none to seek and beget things from others. People lived in such a perfect harmony that there was no fight and there was no opportunity to display valour ~ the subjects were well educated and lived life full of honour… its capital which had no wars was known as ‘Ayodhya’

कामी वा न कदर्यो वा नृशंसः पुरुषः क्वचित् |

द्रष्टुं शक्यमयोध्यायां नाविद्वान्न च नास्तिकः ||

In that glorious kingdom of Ayodhya – one cannot  see a lustful person,  a miser or a cruel one – as also  nondescripts or non-believers could not be found , for there existed no such persons in the holy land of Dasaratha, to be ruled by Sri Rama.  His birth was extraordinary ~ His father was Emperor Dasaratha – who was well-versed in Veda, was  a gatherer of all scholars, riches and forces as well, a foreseer; esteemed by urbanites and countrymen alike, a top-speeded chariot-warrior among the emperors of Ikshwaku kings, one who performed many Vedic rituals, a virtuous one, a great controller, a saint-like kingly sage,  who was equal to  Indra.  Sriman Narayana,  with all His kindness agreed to incarnate as human and selected King Dasharatha as his father. When Dasharatha  peformed  the Vedic ritual called putrakaameshti,  Praajaapatya purusha arose from the sacrificial fire to give a golden vessel of divine dessert to Dasharatha for distribution among his queens to beget progeny.

The Greatest of Ithihasa purana ‘Sri Ramayanam’  is the undiluted history of the Greatest Person who descended on this Universe, on the banks of river Sarayu, in a prosperous country called ‘Koshala’.  In the immortal Ramayana, there are learning of life ….. For the Universe, Sri Rama and Sita are the Ideal persons.  Sri Rama is all pervading principle of Truth, character, steadfastness, sincerity, valour, skill, correctness, just, compassionate, righteous and more.  

  

~ and there is also a great character – a warrior, mightily powerful, whose body was as hard as a diamond, whose speed equalled those of fastest flying eagles, who possessed great wisdom, who could organize a group of roaming ones, who can jump hundreds of miles, yet who remained at the feet of his Master, totally committed thinking of their welfare alone – unassuming, yet capable of telling the right things at the right moment – that is Pavana Puthra Hanuman – Aanjaneya, ‘thiruvadi’ – bearer of Lord Rama – who carried Rama on his shoulders during the war in which the demon was killed.

On the day of Sri Rama Navami, there will the purappadu of Sri Rama in Hanumantha vahanam later in the evening.  Mere chanting of His name [Sri Rama Namam] will bring us all good things and prosperity.

श्री राम राम  रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।

सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

                                   Meditate again and again the divine name of Rama  - mind gets absorbed in the divine consciousness of Rama, it is transcendental and is capable of relieving all evils, giving us all prosperity. 

For this Sri Rama Navami, here are some photos of Sri Rama piran and the dwajarohanam at Kumbakonam.  The city of KUmbakonam is known for its Temples. Among the Srivaishnava temples at the holy sthalam Thirukudanthai  is Ramaswamy Temple – situate nearer Kumbeswarar Kovil.  The temple built by Nayakkar kings has beautiful architecture and has exquisite paintings.  Moolavar here is Lord Rama and consort Sita seated with Lakshmana holding the bow,  Baratha and Satrugna doing service, with Anjaneya worshipping. 

Uthsavam for the Maryada Purush ~ Emperor of Kosala Kingdom is now at Thirukudanthai too and on 6.4.2019 in the morning, had the great darshan of Lord Sri Rama with Sita mata and Lakshmana of Sri Ramaswamy Thirukovil.  Here are some photos.

~adiyen Srinivasadhasan. (S. Sampathkumar)