Ramnavami Is Coming Up. Are You Ready for the Grand Celebrations?

Shri Vishnu is one of the trinities in the Sanatan Dharma and is known as the preserver and the protector of the Universe. His 7th avatar, Shri Ramchandra Raghuvanshi in Treata Yug, is one of the most revered avatars in Hinduism.

Before Shree Ram is worshipped as the God, he is looked up to as an unconditionally loving and obedient son, a responsible elder brother, as well as a very considerate, dependable, and loving husband. But most importantly, the people of Sanatan Dharma idolize him for being the exemplary king who lived only and only for his people.

Shri Ram has gone through the hardest times in his lifetime yet has remained the wisest and kindest of all. No matter how hard the challenges may be, he has always stayed on the side of Dharma.

And most importantly, he has remained the man of his word and stayed true to the most popular phrase of the Raghuvanshi Lineage - Praan Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, which loosely means, that its okay to die, but it’s not okay to forgo the commitment.

There are so many such deeds of Shri Ram that were revolutionary for his time and fundamental to today’s time. Hence, he is also called Maryada Purushottam.

The good thing is that Shri Ram’s birthday, which is also called Ramnavmi, is coming up. So, every Sanatani, all across the world, is excited to celebrate it with pomp and splendour. And this blog aims to be the guide and witness to it.

According to the Hindu calendar, Ramnavami falls on the 9th day of Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month. This is also the last day of Chaitra Navratri.

If matched up to the Georgian calendar, this day falls somewhere between March and April. This year, Ramnavami is on March 30, 2023.

During Ram Navami, people adorn their homes with decorations. They hang a toran of fresh marigold flowers and mango leaves at the entrance and create rangoli designs.

They do pooja of Shri Ram, Mata Sita, Shri Lakshman, and Shri Hanuman, sing Ram Bhajans and Ram Stuti, read the Ramayana, and visit Shri Ram's temple.

People who observe nine days of fasting for Navratri also perform a puja for Maa Durga and serve her halwa, puri, and black chana.

This day is also auspicious for buying new vehicles, gadgets, and properties. And if you want to inaugurate your new office and perform a housewarming ceremony, Ramnavami will be the best day for you.

Ram Navami is celebrated in the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar, which marks the onset of spring.

Spring is associated with new beginnings in nature. During this time, trees grow lush with green, fresh leaves, and the flowers find their new bloom. Even the days become brighter and longer. On Ram Navami, there is beauty and joy all around.

Ram Navami holds great significance in Ayodhya, which is the birthplace of Shri Ram, and the festival attracts a large number of devotees from across the country.

The celebrations in Ayodhya start several days prior to Ram Navami and continue for a few days after the festival. The city is adorned with colourful decorations and lights, and processions and parades are taken out on the streets.

On the day of Ram Navami, a grand procession is carried out, wherein a chariot carrying Shri Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman, and Shri Hanuman is taken through the city. Devotees come in large numbers to seek blessings and offer prayers to the deities.

The evening aarti held on the banks of the river Sarayu is the highlight of the celebrations, wherein thousands of oil lamps are lit, and bhajans in praise of Shri Ram are sung. The entire city is lit with lamps, and the atmosphere is filled with devotion and excitement.

Recently, the government of Uttar Pradesh has started a grand festival called "Ayodhya ki Ram Leela" to mark the birth of Shri Ram. The festival involves a week-long theatrical performance of the Ramayana, which is watched by thousands of people from around the world.

All through his lifetime, Shri Ram Chandra stood by his Karma and his Dharma. Hence, along with his worship and devotion, we should also instil new discipline in our life. For this Ramnavami, we should adopt these 7 practical principles of Shri Ram in our day-to-day life.

Being persistent and showing perseverance means to keep pursuing your goals and aspirations despite facing obstacles or setbacks. It requires having the determination and the willpower to keep going, even when things get tough.

When Ravan kidnapped Mata Sita, Shri Ram faced thousands of difficulties in even finding her, let alone reaching her and bringing her back.

This entire mission involved finding the best way to get to Lanka, building Ram Setu - a bridge of stones, and then defeating Ravan in the war.

Any common man could have easily given up or failed in this troublesome endeavour. But It was no common man, it was Shri Ram. He was patient, persistent, and never gave up on Sita mata.

In today’s practical world, persistence is a key trait that separates successful people from those who give up easily. It is important to understand that success doesn't come easily, and it requires consistent effort and dedication.

When you face challenges, it is easy to feel discouraged and lose motivation, but persistence helps you stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward.

Perseverance involves having a positive attitude and the resilience to overcome obstacles. It is about not letting your failures or setbacks derail you from your path to success. Instead, it is important to learn from these experiences and use them as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.

When you stand with humility, you are humble, modest, and respectful toward others. You acknowledge your and others' limitations, mistakes, and weaknesses without feeling the need to assert one's superiority over others. When you are humble, you are willing to learn from others, are open to feedback, and recognize the contributions of others.

This quality of Shri Ram is seen clearly at Maa Sita Swayamvar when he Pinaka - the age-old Bow of Shri Shiva. Nobody in that hall could break the Dhanush. Only Shri Ram could.

At this time, he was not proud or boastful. He was humble.

He also handled Shri Parshurama with kindness when he was enraged by the breaking of the Pinaka bow.

When you are kind, you are friendly, generous, compassionate, and, most importantly, respectful toward others. You show empathy, understanding, and sympathy towards others and are willing to help and support them in times of need.

When you are kind, you treat others with respect and dignity and try to make a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

Together, humility and kindness make a powerful combination. When you are humble, you are more open to the perspectives and needs of others and are less likely to be judgmental or critical. When you are kind, you are more attuned to the feelings and needs of others, and you are more likely to act in ways that make others feel valued and respected.

When you face unexpected events and challenges that can cause stress and anxiety, it is natural for you to become overwhelmed and lose focus.

But if you maintain a calm and clear-headed demeanour, you can make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and approach problems in a rational and effective manner.

While defeating Ravan and Ravan’s Army in the war of Lanka, Shri Ram upheld the same quality.

Being calm helps keep your emotions under control and avoid impulsive reactions. It helps you take a step back and assess the situation before responding. By remaining calm, you can think more clearly and objectively, which can lead to better outcomes.

Having clear-headedness means being able to think logically and objectively. It involves being able to analyze the situation, understand the different perspectives and potential outcomes, and make decisions based on rational thought rather than emotions.

When you maintain a clear head, you can avoid getting caught up in drama or confusion, and you can focus on finding solutions to the problem at hand.

It is one of the most magnanimous values of Shri Ram. He honours every single word of his parents. When his father and stepmother asked him to give up the kingdom and leave for vanvasa, he showed no resistance. He accepted the order with the utmost respect, love, and humility.

When you obey your elders, you follow their guidance, rules, and advice without question or hesitation.

In today’s practical times, this advice does not mean blindly obeying your elders at all times but rather recognizing that they have more life experience and knowledge that can be valuable in making decisions or solving problems. By listening to their advice and guidance, you can learn from their experience and avoid making the same mistakes they have made.

When you respect elders, you show them courtesy, kindness, and gratitude for the role they have played in your lives. It involves acknowledging their contributions, listening to their stories, and recognizing the sacrifices they have made to provide for and protect us.

By showing respect, we can demonstrate our appreciation for their wisdom, experience, and guidance and strengthen our relationships with them.

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion or judgment about an individual or group that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Prejudice can take many forms, including racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia, and can lead to discrimination, social exclusion, and inequality.

But in Raja Ram’s darbar, everyone was seen with equality, everyone was provided with equal opportunities.

When you give and receive love without any partiality, you show love and affection to all individuals, regardless of their differences or status in society. You treat everyone equally and without bias or prejudice.

Shri Ram had the same quality. He loved and accepted love from everyone. His meeting with the Sabari during his vanvas is evidence of his characteristic.

Before the Sabri offered the meal of berries to Shri Ram, Sabri tasted each of them to ensure they were sweet and fit for the divine guest.

In other people’s eyes, she was just a poor woman from the lower caste. But for Shri Ram was a devotee who had a heart filled with love and devotion.

Shri Ram did not see where the woman came from or what is her caste. He did not even mind the half-eaten berries.

He only saw Sabri's love, devotion, and purity of heart. He ate those berries and blessed her for her selfless service.

Just like Shri Ram, when we love without partiality, we don't differentiate people based on their race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status. Instead, we offer kindness, respect, and compassion to everyone we meet, recognizing that everyone deserves love and affection.

Furthermore, it's important to give love without partiality and receive it without partiality. This means being open and receptive to love from all sources, including people who are different from us or who we may not necessarily agree with.

When we give and receive love without partiality, we embrace diversity, break down barriers, and recognize every individual's inherent worth and value. Doing so can create a more inclusive, compassionate, and loving world.

Our minds are powerful tools but can also be our biggest obstacles. Our fears, doubts, and negative self-talk can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential. However, by recognizing these limitations and actively working to overcome them, we can break free from our mental constraints and achieve greater success and fulfilment.

To be better than the limitations that our minds put on us, we must first identify our limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. We can do this by paying attention to the thoughts that arise in our minds and challenging those that are negative or self-defeating.

Do you think Shri Ram must not have felt weak and lost?

He may have.

Do you think sadness did not take over him during his tough time?

It may have.

He may be the God, but he incarnated as a human. And just like us humans, he experienced everything. But he never let his life experiences and challenges let limit him. He always strived to be better than himself. And that’s how he succeeded in everything he did.

When you include these seven principles in your character, you take your life to new heights and experience unparalleled joy and satisfaction in your life. More importantly, you always feel the presence of Shri Ram within yourself and around you.