Shriramnavami

• 10^th April 2022
• Shriram explained how an embodied soul can attain Final Liberation by acting in accordance with the Scriptures !

Shriramnavami is celebrated to proclaim the birth of Shriram, the 7^th Incarnation of Shri Vishnu. The Navami (Ninth day) in the bright fortnight of the Hindu Lunar month of Chaitra is called Shriramnavami. Celebrations of Shriramnavami start on Gudhipadwa, the first day of Chaitra and continue for 9 days.

During this period, devotees periodically read the Ramayan, recite the Ramraksha Stotra, sing bhajans-kirtans in His praise and chant His Name.

Importance of Shriramnavami

Why celebrate any Deity’s festival on a particular tithi ? : On a particular tithi (Date according to the Hindu Almanac) related to a Deity, the respective Deity Principle is most active in the entire Universe. Due to this, the Deity’s Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) and sattvikata (Spiritual purity) are emitted in a higher proportion.

The Principles of Deities and Incarnations are more active on earth on the day of their birth as per the Hindu Lunar Almanac. On the day of Shriramnavami, Principle of Shriram is a thousand times more active when compared with other days. On this day, chanting I ‘Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram I’ (श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम) and worshipping Shriram with spiritual emotion helps in obtaining maximum benefit of His Principle.

Chanting the Name of Shriram

Various forms of worship such as Puja, Arati, etc. bestow the benefit of the Deity’s Principle. However, since all these have their limitations, the benefit is also limited. For continuous benefit from the Deity’s Principle, the worship of the Deity should also be continuous, and there is only one such form of worship – chanting the Deity’s Name. In Kaliyug, this is an easy and excellent form of worship.

One of the common chants of Shriram’s Name is – ‘I Shriram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram I’

The meaning of the words in this chant :

Shriram : This invokes Shriram Principle

Jai Ram : This denotes praise of Shriram

Jai Jai Ram : This is like Namaha (I surrender unto You), which signifies surrender

Information on some common rituals in the worship of Shriram : In the worship of a specific Deity, performing the ritual in a specific way has an underlying science. This action helps the devotee obtain maximum benefit from that specific Deity’s Principle.

Question : Which flowers should be offered to Shriram ?

Answer : Common Jasmine (Jai)

Question : How many flowers should be offered ?

Answer : Four or in multiples of four

Question : How many incense-sticks should be waved to Shriram ?

Answer : Two

Question : How many pradakshinas (Circumambulations) should be performed around Shriram ?

Answer : Minimum of three or in multiples of three

Origin of some Names of Shriram

Ram : This Name was prevalent even before Ram’s birth.

Ramchandra : Ram’s original name is ‘Ram’ only. He belongs to the Sun dynasty. Although He was born at 12 noon, He was not named ‘Rambhanu’, etc. (after the Sun Deity). He was named Ramchandra after an incident when in His early childhood, He insisted on having the moon (Chandra) !

Shriram : After His victory at Lanka, when Ram returned with Seeta to Ayodhya, He began to be addressed as Shriram. ‘Shri’ denotes the Divine Energy of God. Upon Ram demonstrating His Godhood, everyone started addressing Him as Shriram.

Shriram’s Nature

Shriram displays emotions just like the humans do. (His melancholy at Seeta’s abduction is one example.) Hence, we feel closer to Him than we feel towards other Deities.

The implied meaning of the Ramayan is as follows.

• Lakshman refers to the focus on the soul, instead of the worldly matters.

• Bharat signifies a seeker engrossed in the worship of radiance.

• Shatrughna is the one who destroys the six foes (Shadripus) of the jiva (Embodied soul).

• Ram, Seeta and Lakshman together stand for spiritual knowledge, devotion and detachment respectively.

• Hanuman is the activated Kundalini.

• Ravan embodies the 6 enemies of a human being – desire, anger, greed, attachment, vanity and envy.

Every Incarnation comes with a specific purpose

The main task of every Incarnation is to destroy evil and establish the ‘Divine Rule’, but the percentage and proportion of this vary in different Yugas. All the activities of the Incarnation are centred around this task.

Killing of Ravan : Though Ravan was a highly learned scholar, Shriram had to destroy him so that He could protect the embodied souls who were performing spiritual practice. Shriram acquired a physical body to help the souls pursue their spiritual aspirations appropriately.

Final Liberation

Many embodied souls completed their individual spiritual practice through Jnanayoga (Path of Knowledge), but since their Samashti sadhana (Spiritual practice for the sake of society) was incomplete, their spiritual practice for Moksha (Final Liberation) remained incomplete. In Satyayug, there was no way to perform spiritual practice for the sake of society, and as a result, many embodied souls got stuck midway. For their progress and liberation, they were born as Vanars (Monkeys) during Shriram’s time. Some Deities who had been cursed were also born during this period as monkeys. To make all these embodied souls practice Spirituality for the sake of society and their spiritual progress, Shriram acquired a physical body.

To set an ideal for the people

Shriram set ideal examples through each action. He explained how an embodied soul can attain Final Liberation by acting in accordance with the Scriptures.

He set an example of the Ramrajya (Divine Rule) for the people : When Dharma (Righteousness) manifested in the physical dimension, adharma (Unrighteousness) also manifested. Many embodied souls disturbed the Sages and others who followed the instructions in our Scriptures. Shriram protected the Sages. He set an example through His own deeds on how the ‘Divine Rule’ should be. Shriram is the ideal of selflessness, free from desire and impartial.

(Reference : Sanatan’s Spiritual Text – Holy festivals, Religious festivals and Vowed religious observances; ‘Shri Vishnu, Shriram and Shrikrushna’)

Establishing a ‘Hindu Rashtra (Nation)’ is in our hands only !

In Ramrajya, the citizens used to abide by Dharma. This is precisely why they were blessed with a sattvik king such as Shriram, and were able to live in an ideal Ramrajya. Similarly, if we too abide by Dharma and become devotees of God, Ramrajya, that is, a ‘Hindu Rashtra (Nation)’ will certainly be established.