March 28th Appearance of Lord Ramacandra

Sri Rama Navami

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna incarnated Himself as Sri Rama in the month of Chaitra (Mar-Apr), on the ninth day of the growing moon (Chaitra Masa Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi).

The Supreme Lord appeared as the son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya. Dasharatha was a king in the dynasty of Maharaja Ikshvaku (also known as Raghu vamsha). He had three wives: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, but had no children. On the advice of Maharishi Vashishtha, the king performed Putra Kameshti Yajna and as a result the three wives conceived sons. Kaushalya gave birth to Rama and Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata. Sumitra gave birth to the twins: Lakshmana and Shatrugna.

The life and activities of Rama are explained in detail by the great sage Valmiki in the book Ramayana. A summarized version of the Ramayana as narrated by Shukadeva Goswami to Parikshit Maharaja is included in the ninth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana)

LORD RAMA THE SEVENTH INCARNATION OF KRISHNA

Lord Ramachandra, also referred to as Lord Rama, is the incarnation of Krishna that appeared in Ayodhya during the Treta Yuga. According to the Vedas, the universe is constantly created and destroyed and each creation is divided in to four yugas, or time periods; Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and the Kali Yuga, which we are currently in.

The reasons for the Lord's advent were many and they differ slightly for each creation. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that "whenever there is a decline in religion, I personally come Myself to restore the tradition of the Vedas and to protect My devotees”. Prior to Lord Rama’s advent, there was a very powerful demon named Ravana who was wreaking havoc throughout the world and disrupting the sacrifices of the saintly people on earth. The sadhus of the world prayed for the Lord to personally come and save them and He answered their prayers.

There was a great king who ruled over Adyodhya at the time by the name of Dashratha, who was very pious and respected by all. His life was perfect except for the fact that he had no son to whom he could pass down his kingdom. On the advice of his priest Vashishta, Dashratha performed a yajna (Vedic sacrifice) for Lord Vishnu, and in due time his wives gave birth to four beautiful sons named Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna.

Lord Rama performed many glorious pastimes during His time on earth, but His most celebrated pastime was His slaying of the demon Ravana, who had abducted His wife Sita. Stories related Lord Rama’s life are beautifully told in the original Ramayana, written by Maharishi valmiki, who was instructed to write the Ramayana by his spiritual master Narada Muni. Other historical accounts of Lord Rama’s life can be found in almost all of the Puranas (ancient Vedic stories), including the Mahabharata and the Shrimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana).

Around five hundred years, Goswami Tulsidas wrote his own poem detailing the pastimes of Lord Rama, called the Ramacharitamanasa, also known as the Tulsi Ramayana. In this beautiful work, Tulsidas references all the stories of Lord Rama contained in various Vedic literatures, but especially the Valmiki Ramayana and the Brahmananda Purana, and merges them to tell the story of the Ramayana in a mood of devotion and love, and for this reason, it is considered to be one of the most important Vedic literatures.

Lord Rama is considered an avatar of Vasudeva (Lord Krishna), and thus there is no difference between Him and God. He is usually worshipped along with His wife Sita, younger brother Lakshmana, and His greatest devotee Hanuman, collectively known as the Ram Darbar.

Lord Rama played the role of a perfect human being, a role model for everyone. He was an ideal son, husband, friend, and king. He had no other interest in His mind other than to please His devotees and to serve them. Recitation of Lord Rama’s name is the only means of salvation in this age of Kali as it will immediately remind us of His beautiful form and wonderful pastimes.

Ramanavami Vrata

On the auspicious appearance day of Lord Ramachandra one has to observe the following:
Wake up early in the morning. It is recommended that one should rise early in the morning, during the brahma-muhurta. The time early in the morning, one and a half hours before sunrise, is called brahma-muhurta. During this brahma-muhurta, spiritual activities are recommended. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning have a greater effect than in any other part of the day.
Cleanse yourself and wear fresh clothes. Cleanliness is essential for making advancement in spiritual life. There are two kinds of cleanliness: external and internal. External cleanliness means taking a bath, but for internal cleanliness one has to think of Krishna always and chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This process cleans the accumulated dust of past karma from the mind.

Chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra. It is recommended that one should chant a minimum of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare / hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare (1 round = 108 times). These sixteen names of the Lord are mentioned in many Puranas and Upanisads, and they are described as the Taraka-brahma nama of this age. You can chant as many rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra as possible on this day.

Fast: It is recommended that one shall fast till sunset on this auspicious day. One who cannot fast fully can drink water or take some fruits. You can also relish some Panakam.

Hear the pastimes of Lord Ramachandra: The great epic Ramayana is the history of Lord Rama's activities in the world, and the authoritative Ramayana was written by the great poet Valmiki. It is said that Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, underwent meditational austerities for sixty thousand years. In Srimad-Bhagavatam Shukadeva Gosvami has summarized this in few verses, excerpts from which can be downloaded.

Chant the Holy Names of Lord Ramachandra: The 108 names of Lord Ramachandra is included in the site.

SRI RAMA ASTOTTARA

om sri ramaya namah
om sri rama bhadraya namah
om sri rama candraya namah
om sri sasvataya namah
om sri rajiva locanaya namah
om sri srimate namah
om sri rajendraya namah
om sri raghu pungavaya namah
om sri janaki vallabhaya namah
om sri jaitraya namah
om sri jita mitraya namah
om sri janardanaya namah
om sri visvamitra priyaya namah
om sri dantaya namah
om sri saranatrana tatparaya namah
om sri vali pramathanaya namah
om sri vagmine namah
om sri satyavace namah
om sri satya vikramaya namah
om sri satya vrataya namah
om sri vrata dharaya namah
om sri sada hanumad asritaya namah
om sri kausaleyaya namah
om sri khara dhvamsine namah
om sri viradha vadha panditaya namah
om sri vibhisana paritratre namah
om sri hara kodanda khandanaya namah
om sri saptatala prabhetre namah
om sri dasa griva siroharaya namah
om sri jamadagnya mahadarpa dalanaya namah
om sri tataka-antakaya namah
om sri vedanta saraya namah
om sri vedatmane namah
om sri bhava rogasya bhesajaya namah
om sri dusana tri sirohantre namah
om sri tri murtaye namah
om sri tri gunatmakaya namah
om sri tri vikramaya namah
om sri tri lokatmane namah
om sri punya caritra kirtanaya namah
om sri tri loka raksakaya namah
om sri dhanvine namah
om sri danda karanya karsanaya namah
om sri ahalya sapa samanaya namah
om sri pitru bhaktaya namah
om sri vara pradaya namah
om sri jitendriyaya namah
om sri jita krodhaya namah
om sri jita mitraya namah
om sri jagad gurave namah
om sri ruksa vanara sanghatine namah
om sri citra kuta samasrayaya namah
om sri jayanta trana varadaya namah
om sri sumitra putra sevitaya namah
om sri sarva devadi devaya namah
om sri mrta vanara jivanaya namah
om sri maya marica hantre namah
om sri maha devaya namah
om sri maha bhujaya namah
om sri sarva deva stutaya namah
om sri saumyaya namah
om sri brahmanyaya namah
om sri muni samstutaya namah
om sri maha yogine namah
om sri maho daraya namah
om sri sugrivepsita rajyadaya namah
om sri sarva punya dhika phalaya namah
om sri smruta sarva ghanasanaya namah
om sri adi purusaya namah
om sri parama purusaya namah
om sri maha purusaya namah
om sri punyo dayaya namah
om sri daya saraya namah
om sri purana purusottamaya namah
om sri smita vaktraya namah
om sri mitabhasine namah
om sri purva bhasine namah
om sri raghavaya namah
om sri ananta guna gambhiraya namah
om sri dhiro datta gunottamaya namah
om sri maya manusa jaritraya namah
om sri maha devadi pujitaya namah
om sri setukrte namah
om sri jita varasaye namah
om sri sarva tirtha mayaya namah
om sri haraye namah
om sri syamangaya namah
om sri sundaraya namah
om sri suraya namah
om sri pitavasaya namah
om sri dhanur dharaya namah
om sri sarva yajna dhipaya namah
om sri yajnaya namah
om sri jara marana varjitaya namah
om sri vibhisana pratisthartre namah
om sri sarvapaguna varjitaya namah
om sri paramatmane namah
om sri para brahmane namah
om sri sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaya namah
om sri paramjyotise namah
om sri param dhamne namah
om sri para kasaya namah
om sri parat paraya namah
om sri paresaya namah
om sri paragaya namah
om sri paraya namah
om sri sarva devatmakaya namah
om sri parasmai namah

SRI NAMA RAMAYANA

Bala-kanda
suddha brahma paratpara rama
kalatmaka paramesvara rama
sesa talpa sukha nidrita rama
brahmadyamara prarthita rama
canda kirana kula mandana rama
srimad dasaratha nandana rama
kausalya sukha vardhana rama
visvwamitra priyadhana rama
ghora tataka ghataka rama
maricadini pataka rama
kausika makha samraksaka rama
srimad ahalyoddharaka rama
gautama muni sampujita rama
suramuni varagana samstuta rama
navika dhavita mrdupada rama
mithila purajana mohaka rama
videha manasa ranjaka rama
tryambaka karmukha bhanjaka rama
sitarpitavara malika rama
krta vaivahika kautuka rama
bhargava darpa vinasaka rama
srimad ayodhya palaka rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama
Ayodhya-kanda
aganita guna gana bhusita rama
avani tanaya kamita rama
rakachandra samanana rama
pitru vakyasrita kanana rama
priya guha viniveditapada rama
tat ksalita nija mrdupada rama
bharadvaja mukha nandaka rama
citra kutadri niketana rama
dasaratha santata cintita rama
kaikeyi tanayarpita rama
viracita nija pitr karmaka rama
bharatarpita nija paduka rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama
Aranya-kanda
dandakavana jana pavana rama
dusta viradha vinasana rama
sara bhanga sutiksnarcita rama
agastyanugraha vardhita rama
grdhradhipa samsevita rama
pancavati tata susthita rama
surpanakharti vidhayaka rama
khara dusana mukha sudaka rama
sitapriya harinanuga rama
maricarti krtasuga rama
vinasta sitanvesaka rama
grdhradhipa gati dayaka rama
sabari datta phalasana rama
kabandha bahu cchedana rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama
Kiskindha-kanda
hanumat sevita nija pada rama
nata sugriva bhistada rama
garvita vali samharaka rama
vanara duta presaka rama
hitakara laksmana samyuta rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama
Sundara-kanda
kapivara santata samsmrta rama
tadgati vighna dhvamsaka rama
sitaprana dharaka rama
dusta dasanana dusita rama
sista hanumadbhusita rama
sita vedita kakavana rama
krta cudamani darsana rama
kapivara vacanasvasita rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama
Yuddha-kanda
ravana nidhana prasthita rama
vanara sainya samavrta rama
sosita saridi sarthita rama
vibhisanabhaya dayaka rama
parvata setu nibandhaka rama
kumbhakarna siraschedaka rama
raksasa sanga vimardhaka rama
ahimahi ravana carana rama
samhrtha dasa mukha ravana rama
vidhi bhava mukha sura samstuta rama
khasthita dasaratha viksita rama
sita darsana modita rama
abhisikta vibhiisananata rama
puspaka yana-rohana rama
bharadvajaa bhinisevana rama
bharata prana priyakara rama
saketa puri bhusana rama
sakala sviya samanasa rama
ratnala satpithasthita rama
pattabhisekalankrta rama
parthiva kula sammanita rama
vibhisanarpita rangaka rama
kisa kulanugrahakara rama
sakala jiva samraksaka rama
samasta lokoddharaka rama
sakala jiva samraksaka rama
rama rama jaya raja rama
rama rama jaya sita rama