Shriram Navami Chaitra Shukla Navami (30th March 2023)

Chaitra Shukla Navami (Ninth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra) is called Shriram Navami.

Shriram Navami is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Shriram, the 7^th Incarnation of Shri Vishnu. He was born in Ayodhya during Punarvasu Nakshatra at noon with Cancer ascendant and Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus at their highest positions.

The Principles of Deities and Incarnations are more active on Earth on the day of their birth as per the Hindu lunar Almanac. On Shriram Navami, Shriram’s Principle is a thousand times more active when compared with other days. On this day, chanting ‘II Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram II’ and worshipping Him with bhav (Spiritual emotion) help in obtaining maximum benefit of Shriram’s Principle.

On this Ram Navami, let us celebrate the birth of Shriram by imbibing the spiritual qualities of His brother, Bharat who was an ideal, obedient devotee. Shriram has innumerable devotees, but in this article we will learn about the spiritual virtues of Bharat. Let us pray to God to become as devoted as Bharat was to Shriram.

1. The pinnacle of detachment

Kaikeyi exacted two promises from King Dasharath – her son Bharat be made the crown prince and Shriram be exiled from the kingdom for 14 years.

Bharat was becoming the crown prince without even asking for it, unlike the present day politicians who stoop to any level for political power. He could have become the King of Ayodhya, but he rejected the throne – this itself indicates his level of detachment. From this we can estimate Bharat’s spiritual prowess, for he was able to refuse the crown.

2. Calling himself a servitor of Shriram

Though Bharat was a prince of the Raghu dynasty and the younger brother of Shriram, he called himself the servitor of Shriram because he considered Shriram to be God rather than an elder brother. ‘God is my Master, I am an ordinary servant serving His Holy feet’. This shows his high level devotion and bhav.

This very devotion made him go to Chitrakoot (now in Madhya Pradesh) and plead with Shriram to return to Ayodhya to rule, after which Shriram assured him that he would return on completing 14 years of exile. Bharat insisted that he would instate Shriram’s padukas (Holy footwear) on the throne and look after the kingdom as His servant.

Shriram had to accept defeat in front of Bharat’s love and devotion, and was compelled to hand over His padukas to Bharat, who placed it on his head with immense gratitude, walked barefoot to Ayodhya and instated them on the throne. This action displayed his ‘Dasyabhakti’ (Devotion of a servitor to God).

3. A staunch follower of Hindu Scriptures

When Shriram, Lakshman and Sita Mata arrived at Chitrakoot they learnt about the demise of their father, King Dasharath. As advised by Sage Vasishtha, Shriram, Lakshman and Bharat performed the ritual of ‘tarpan’ in River Mandakini to appease the soul of their father.
Clad as a hermit, Bharat gave up his palace and royal pleasures, built a hut in Nandigram and lived a life of celibacy and austerities. Even in this state he fulfilled the duties of an ideal king and followed all the four pursuits of life. Bharat, like King Janak, was a Sage despite being a king.

4. An ideal administrator who followed Shriram’s command

In obedience to Shriram, Bharat ruled Ayodhya for 14 years in an ideal manner with strict compliance of the Scriptures. Since Bharat had instated Shriram’s padukas on the throne of his heart, he had merged with Shriram completely; hence, this rule was indeed Shriram’s rule of Righteousness (Ramrajya). No one in his kingdom was unhappy or discontented. Bharat nurtured his subjects with paternal love.

5. Keeping his promises made to Shriram

Bharat accepted Shriram’s command to look after the kingdom in His absence on one condition, that after completion of the 14 year exile, Shriram will immediately return to Ayodhya. “If you delay, I will immolate myself”, he said. This pledge astonished everyone and made them anxious too. Shriram agreed. After Ravan’s annihilation, Shriram, Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya in the Pushpak-viman. Shriram sent Hanuman ahead to Ayodhya to deliver the message of His arrival.

Meanwhile, since there were no signs of Shriram’s arrival, Bharat was preparing to immolate himself, when Hanuman reached with Shriram’s message. Elated, Bharat changed his decision. Bharat’s devotion was so intense that he had surrendered unto Shriram completely. Unable to bear the pangs of separation from Him any longer, he was even willing to give up his life. This is proof of a oath of the Raghu Dynasty – ‘Preferring death over breaking a promise’.

When Shriram and Bharat were about to meet, not only the residents of Ayodhya, but the entire Creation eagerly waited to witness the reunion of God and His devotee after a 14 year separation.

6. Bharat created Ramrajya

Bharat was well-versed in politics and Nitishastra (Code of ethics). The kingdom was administered well, the subjects began to see a reflection of Shriram in Bharat, they started spiritual practice and abided by Dharma earnestly. Enemies never attacked Ayodhya. The citizens lived righteously without any unhappiness, natural calamities or emotional unrest. This is how Bharat created Ramrajya with his able administration.

7. Bharat performed spiritual practice according to all the four Paths of Yoga

Bharat, a devotee of Shriram, was a confluence of several Divine virtues. He accomplished all duties at the individual and societal levels and became an ideal son, brother, king and devotee in the eyes of the people. He had immense sevabhav unto Shriram by following the Path of Devotion. After completing his royal duties, Bharat would meditate upon Shriram. In this way he performed spiritual practice along all the four Paths – Action, Devotion, Knowledge and Meditation.

8.Merging of Bharat and Shiram

Bharat had merged into Shriram so much that his complexion appeared bluish like that of Shriram, and his body emitted a Divine sandalwood fragrance. His beauty was uniquely Divine. Due to the Divine similarity between the two, when subjects looked at Bharat they would get a vision of Shriram. Not only was his external appearance like Shriram, he also had Shriram’s Divine virtues. This shows how not only Shriram but all His devotees were ideal too.

We too can strive to follow the ideals that Bharat has set for us, aim to become an ideal devotee of Shriram and be a part of the coming Ramrajya (meaning the ‘Hindu Rashtra’).

Did you know this about Dhanushkodi ?

Before the battle between Shriram and Ravan, Bibhishan surrendered to Shriram at Dhanushkodi. Later, He coronated Bibhishan as the King of Lanka.

Dhanushkodi is a place of Hindu pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu, 11 kms to the south of Rameshwaram. It is the origin of the sacred Ramsetu. Srilanka is approximately 30 kms away. Dhanushkodi is at the sacred confluence of the Bay of Bengal (Mahodadhi) and the Indian Ocean (Ratnakar), approximately 150 feet broad and covered with sand. The water from both the Oceans are salty. Yet when a 3-feet pit is dug in the soil at Dhanushkodi, the water is found to be sweet. Is this not a marvel of nature ?
Spiritual importance of Dhanushkodi
The spiritual importance accorded to Kashi in North India is accorded to Rameshwaram too. As per our Scriptures, only after bathing at Dhanushkodi and consecrating Deity Rameshwar with Holy water from the Ganga, a pilgrimage to Kashi is said to be complete.
Using the tip of His heavy bow (called ‘Dhanush’ in Sanskrut), Shriram had selected Dhanushkodi lakhs of years ago to construct the Ramsetu, a bridge to enter Ravan’s Lanka.
The Ramsetu is a unique architectural wonder made by Nal and Neel. The Valmiki Ramayan gives detailed information that the width to the length of the Ramsetu is 1 : 10. Actual measurements have also revealed that its breadth is only 3.5 kms and length 35 kms. It is well-known how a tiny squirrel participated in the construction of this bridge and how the boulders used in the construction are still floating on the waters of the Indian ocean.

Let us strive to follow the ideal of Bharat, aim to become ideal devotees of Shriram and be a part of the coming Ramrajya !