Dear Editor,
Devotees around the world, including in Guyana, end with the celebration of Chaitra, or Vasant Navratri, after observing nine nights / days of prayers for Mata Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati, with reverence to the form of Durga Ma at Trinity. She established nine different forms of her manifestation in order to overcome evil and restore good.
Ram Navami aptly identifies the auspicious conclusion of the period, and obedience to the Sun’s Godhead, Surya Bhagwan, is paid, as Lord Rama’s lineage descended from the Raghukul.
The importance of the Sun was much greater in the higher latitudes from where the Aryans migrated to India.
Ram Navami marks the appearance of Lord Rama in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Ram Navami falls on the ninth day, tithi Shukla Paksha of Chaitra, in March or April in accordance with the English calendar. This year, April 21st (today) is the date for this spring festival, and the celebration takes place at noon.
Ram Maryada Purshottam is particularly important to the tradition of Vaishnavism in Hinduism. Its manifestation is sung in the divine story of the time in the Ramayana, giving us the message of the life and teachings of Lord Rama, the word literally means, “One who is divine bliss and gives joy for others, and one for whom the sage rejoices. ”
An ocean of mercy and compassion, Lord Rama signs the victory of goodness over evil and the establishment of the Dharma to beat Adharma. He represents the epitome of perfection for fulfilling all his duties towards family and subjects. King Dasarath, King of Ayodhya in Kosal county, on the banks of the river Sharayu, was childless, and committed a sacrifice called “Ashvamedh,” led by Rishi Rishyashring. He was eventually blessed with Shri Ram of Queen Kausalya, and Ram grew into a powerful Prince, who married Sita Ma. He released his fateful saga story, reflecting the portrayal of compassion, gentleness, kindness, integrity and integrity. Lord Rama encountered an adventure of various tests about his love for his siblings, challenges for getting rid of demons, and a rivalry with Rawan’s competition for the capture of Sita Ma. His fourteen years of exile in the forest (Vanvaas), accompanied by Sita Ma and his brother Lachman, was filled with a variety of significant events and situations, allowing him to fulfill his promises of freeing the world of evil forces and activists.
There, he met his zealous and humble devotee, Shri Hanuman, and also visited the godly Shabri. In seeking Durga Ma’s blessings, Lord Rama defeated the evil King of Lanka, Rawan, and one of his brothers, Kumbakharna. The kingdom was restored to the just brother Vivishana, who was able to govern prosperously and peacefully, to the joy of all the citizens. His return to Ayodhya at the end of his stay in the forest is celebrated on Christmas day “Diwali.”
Although Lord Rama had all the power in the world, he was still at peace and tender. By carefully examining his life, we learn how to be perfect sons, perfect brothers, perfect husbands and, most importantly, the perfect king, serving with perfect governing reign.
So many lessons can be learned from his lifestyle, and they all apply to the developing political, economic and social situations in Guyana. Divine Sage Narad, associated with Sage Valmiki, the scribe, said, “Shri Ram is an embodiment of all noble virtues, (virtues and virtues), which betrays the happiness of his mother Kausalya, in intensity. It is an unmanageable ocean, and in sound, it is solid and unchanging, like the royal Himalayan Mountain. ”
Ram Navami’s day is spent cleansing the body, heart and mind, fasting, praying, chanting the name of Shri Ram, reading Ram Katha, visiting the Mandirs, giving charity in the form of food, clothes and money, and exchanging visits to friends and relatives by giving gifts and sweets.
Repeating his name (Rama Nama) is said to be the surest, fastest and easiest way to achieve purity, peace, wisdom, understanding, joy, prosperity, and ultimately, liberation. Lord Rama Himself said “Repeating my name is the same as repeating a thousand names of God and Goddess, or repeating mantras a thousand times.” Lord Rama was the perfect person who embodied Godhead on Earth, and who taught us how to live our lives in accordance with dharma and divine principles.
Guyanese and other West Indians are grateful to their former parents for bringing such a rich culture, preserved in principles and customs, for people to live a lifestyle influenced by the Ramayana and Gita, the holy books they made wrap up so carefully and bring them with them as part of their luggage. Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite bhajan was “Raghu pati raghav raja Ram, Patita pavan Sitaram.” When he died, his last word was, “Ram.” May the blessings of Lord Rama be upon all Guyanese with peace and bliss. Happy Ram Navami.
Respectfully,
Jai Lall
