Today is Sri Rama-Navami !!!

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Jai Sri Ram ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Rama and His beloved Bhaktas ,

Today is Sri Rama-Navami . May Bhagavan Sri Rama accept our prayers !

Bhagavan Maha-Vishnu the God of Gods incarnated as Sri Rama ; and His consort Goddess Maha-Lakshmi incarnated as Sita-devit to become Sri Rama's wife .

Ramayana describes the Dharmic-conduct of Sri Rama , Lakshmana's service to his brother , Bharatha's love to brother , Sita-devi's dedication and Hanuman's supreme Bhakti . This epic narrates their life-story which teaches us how to live according to the Vedas .

The nectar of Bhakti is filled in the heart of the devotee who reads Ramayana .

Rama-Navami is the symbol of Dharma's victory over Adharma .

Lord Sri Rama , the Emperor of World .

Born as the eldest son of Kaushalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Rama is renowned as *Maryada Purushottam* (Perfect Man or Lord of Ethics) . His wife Sita devi is the embodiment of perfect womanhood .

Sri Rama's life and journey is the perfect adherence to Vedic Sanatana Dharma despite harsh tests of life and time. For the sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Kosala's throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest . His wife, Sita and brother, Lakshmana being unable to live without Rama decide to join him, and all three spend the fourteen years in exile together. This leads to the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the Rakshasa monarch of Lanka .

After a long and arduous search that tests his personal strength and virtue, Rama fights a colossal war against Ravana's invincible Army . In a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry and battles, Rama slays Ravana in battle and liberates his wife. Having completed his exile, Rama returns to be crowned King in Ayodhya (the capital of his Kingdom) and eventually becomes Emperor of the World, after which he reigns for eleven thousand years – an era of perfect happiness, peace, prosperity and justice known as Rama Rajya .

Great Qualities of Sri Rama

Lord Rama is the personification of Dharma. He is revered for his unending compassion, courage and devotion to religious values and duty.

Sri Rama's courage in searching for Sita and fighting a terrible war to rescue his wife and their honour is complemented by Sita's absolute devotion to her husband's love, and perfect chastity despite being Ravana's captive. Rama's younger brothers, namely Lakshmana , Shatrughna and Bharata strongly complement his piety, virtue and strength .

Rama's piety and virtue attract powerful and devoted allies such as Hanuman and the *Vanaras* ( monkeys) of Kishkindha-kingdom, with whose help he rescues Sita. The personal example of Rama is deeply influential and popular in the societies of the Indian subcontinent and across South East Asia .

Rama- Avatara

The Ramayana speaks of how the Goddess Earth, Bhumidevi, came to the Lord Brahma begging to be rescued from evil anti-Vedic kings who were plundering her resources and destroying life through bloody wars and evil conduct . The Devas also came to Brahma fearful of the rule of Ravana, the ten-headed Rakshasa emperor of Lanka. Ravana had overpowered the Devas and now ruled the heavens, the earth and the netherworlds . Ravana was arrogant, destructive and the patron of evil forces committed to destroy Vedic Sanatana Dharma . He had boons that gave him immense strength and was invulnerable to all living and celestial beings, except man .

Brahma, Bhumidevi and the Devas worshipped Maha-Vishnu, the God of Gods , for deliverance from Ravana's tyrannical rule. Bhagavan agreed to incarnate as a man – the eldest son of Kosala's king Dasaratha . His eternal consort, Maha-Lakshmi the Mother-Goddess took birth as Sita and was found by king Janaka of Mithila-kingdom while he was doing the ploughing-ritual of a Yaga-field . Maha-Vishnu's eternal companion, the Ananta Sesha incarnated as Lakshmana to stay at his Lord's side on earth. Throughout Rama's life, no one, except Himself and a few Maha-Rishis (among which are included Vasishta , Sharabhanga, Agastya and Vishwamitra) know of His destiny. Lord Rama is continually revered by the many Rishis he encounters through his life, but only the most learned and exalted know of His true identity.

King Dasaratha performs a *Putrakameṣṭi yajna* , a sacrifice to obtain offspring by pleasing the gods. He distributes the sacred, sacrificial nectar to his three wives according to their seniority : Kousalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi . On the night of the ninth day after Amavasya, under the asterism of Punarvasu Rama was born in the city of Ayodhya, which is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala . He is the eldest brother to Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, and the twin sons of Sumitra, Lakshmana and Shatrughna .

Ramayana describes the relationship between the brothers as intensely loving and devotional, although Rama and Lakshmana share a special, inseparable bond, while Bharata is especially close to Shatrughna. The four brothers enjoy an undiscriminating love from Dasaratha and his three queens, but Dasaratha's main affections are affixed upon eldest son Rama. Rama and his brothers are trained by Mahariishi Vasishta in the Vedas, religion, philosophy and the sciences . They are described very tall and possessive of exceptional acumen and prowess in the military sciences and arts.

Sage Vishwamitra takes the two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, to the forest to kill the Demons who are destroying the Yagas of Rishis . After successful completion of this mission , Viswamitra takes the brothers to the Swayamvara ceremony for Sita. The challenge is to string the huge *Thrayambakam* bow of Lord Shiva, and shoot an arrow with it . This task is considered impossible for any ordinary king or living being, as this is the personal weapon of Shiva, more powerful, holy and of divine creation than conceivable. While attempting to string the bow, Rama breaks it in two. This feat of strength spreads his fame across the worlds and seals his marriage to Sita .

After Rama weds Sita and the entire royal family and the Ayodhya army begin their journey back, the great Rishi Parashurama Bhargava appears before them, having descended from his mountainous hermitage. Parashurama is an extremely powerful Rishi, responsible for killing all of the world's adharmic Kshatriyas 21 times. finds it unbelievable that anybody could break the bow of Lord Shiva who is his Guru . Considering himself to still be the most powerful warrior on earth, Prarsurama brings with them *Saranga* the divine bow of Maha-Vishnu, and intends to challenge Rama to prove his strength by stringing it, and then fighting a battle with him to prove superiority. Although the entire Ayodhya army is forestalled by his mystical power, Rama is himself not at all angered. He respectfully bows to Parashurama, and within a twinkling of an eyelid snatches the Sarangam-bow, strings it, places an arrow and points it straight at the challenger's heart. Rama asks Parashurama what he will give as a target to the arrow in return for his life? At this point, Parashurama feels himself devoid of the tremendous divine power he possessed for so long. He realizes that Rama is Maha-Vishnu Himself , His successor and definitely it is time for him to give way . He accepts Rama's superiority, handover his tapasakthi , pays homage to Rama and promises to return to his hermitage and leave the world of men.

Rama then fired the arrow up into the sky with Vishnu's bow, performing a feat true to his supreme, divine nature with his natural weapon. His overpowering of Parashurama and using the supreme weapon with incredible ease and perfection dazzle the spectators and his relatives, but no one save Parashurama and Vasishta associate this with his true identity. It is said that the Rama's arrow is still flying across space, across time and across all of the universe. The day it will return to earth, it is said, it will bring the end of the world. Others say that the flying arrow destroys all evil on earth to uphold dharma and righteousness.

King Dasaratha announces to Ayodhya that he plans to crown Rama, his eldest child the Yuvaraja (crown prince). While the news is welcomed by everyone in the kingdom, the mind of queen Kaikeyi is poisoned by her wicked maid-servant, Manthara . Kaikeyi, who was immensely pleased for Rama till then, is made to fear for the safety and future of her own son Bharata . Fearing that Rama would ignore or possibly victimize his youngest brother for the sake of power, Kaikeyi demands that Dasaratha banish Rama to a forest exile for fourteen years, and that Bharata be crowned in Rama's place. She had been granted two boons by the king when she had saved his life a long time ago, and the queen now used them to serve her purpose. The king's court and the people are outraged at this turn of events. Dasaratha loved and cherished Rama dearly, and was in personal turmoil. Completely estranged now from his younger wife, he abhors the prospect of separation from Rama. But Rama realizes that the king must not break a solemn promise at any time, and neither should a son disobey his father's command.

Sita joins her husband in exile despite his discouraging her, as it is her duty and out of love for Rama that she must be at his side at all times. His younger brother Lakshmana also immediately decides to join Rama rather than remain in the Ayodhya palace .

As he leaves for exile, the people of Ayodhya are deeply saddened and angered at Dasaratha and Kaikeyi . Dasaratha's heart is broken and he collapses and dies by the next day, unable to bear the agony of separation from dearest son Rama. Despite the reasoning of Vasishtha and the pleas of his brothers and even Kaikeyi herself , Rama refuses to return to Ayodhya . Although horrified at the news of his father's death, Rama finds it impossible that he should break his dead father's word. Rama does not bear any anger towards Kaikeyi, believing firmly in the power of destiny. According to the explanation of the great epic Ramayanam, this exile actually presents Rama the opportunity to confront Ravana and his evil empire.

At the end of the war between Rama and Ravana, just as Sita passes her Agni pariskha, Lord Brahma, Indra and the Devas, the celestial sages and Lord Shiva appear out of the sky. They affirm Sita's purity and ask Him to end this terrible test . Thanking the Avatara for delivering the universe from the grips of evil, they reveal Rama's divine identity upon the culmination of His mission.

Sri Rama and Sita devi

Rama and Sita are the protagonists the most famous love story of all time. Described as being deeply in love, Sita and Rama are in reality the avatars of Maha-Lakshmi and Maha-Vishnu respectively. When Rama is banished from the kingdom, he attempts to convince Sita not to join him in a potentially dangerous and certainly arduous existence in the jungle, but Sita rejects this. When Rama orders her in his capacity as husband, Sita rejects it, asserting that it was an essential duty of a wife to be at her husband's side come good or ill. Rama in turn is assiduously protective and caring for Sita throughout the exile.

When Sita is kidnapped by Ravana , both Sita and Rama undergo great personal hardships during their separation. Sita protects her chastity assiduously, and survives over a year in captivity on the strength of her love and attention to religious values and duty. She is completely unfettered in her resolve despite Ravana's courting, cajoling and threats. Meanwhile Rama, not knowing who had kidnapped Sita or where was she taken, often succumbs to despair and tears, denouncing himself for failing to defend her and agonizing over her safety and pain. Sita knows that it is in Rama's destiny to fight to rescue her (she refuses to be rescued thus by Hanuman, who discovers her, but is deeply anxious for his safety and fearful of Ravana's power .

After Rama slays Ravana and wins the war, Sita wants to come before him in the state which over a year's imprisonment had reduced her. Rama arranges for Sita to be bathed and given beautiful garments before they are re-united. But even as Sita comes before him in great excitement and happiness, Rama does not look at her, staring fixedly at the ground. He tells her that he had fought the war only to avenge the dishonour that Ravana had inflicted on Raghuvamsa , and now Sita was free to go where she pleased. At this sudden turn of events, all the vanaras, rakshasas, Sugriva, Hanuman and Lakshmana are deeply shocked.

Sita begs Lakshmana to build her a pyre upon which she could end her life, as she could not live without Rama. At this point, Lakshmana is angered at Rama for the first time in his life, but following Rama's nod, he builds a pyre for Sita. At the great shock and sorrow of the watchers, Sita walks into the flames. But to their greater surprise and wonder, she is completely unharmed . Instead, she glows radiantly from the centre of the pyre. Immediately Rama runs to Sita and embraces her. He had never doubted her purity for a second, but, as he explains to a dazzled Sita, the people of the world would not have accepted or honoured her as a queen or a woman if she had not passed this Agni pariksha before the eyes of millions, where Agni would destroy the impure and sinful, but not touch the pure and innocent.

Sita's banishment

In the Uttara Kanda, Rama banishes his wife Sita, even as she is pregnant, asking Lakshmana to abandon her in the forest near Vallmiki's Ashram . He does so when it is reported to him that a citizen of his in Ayodhya believes that Sita is unchaste due to her long captivity in Ravana's city. This ignorant citizen is unaware of the Agni pariksha, but Rama, by his understanding of Raja-dhrama decides to banish Sita. Rama adhered strictly to his duty both as a king and a husband. These conflicted when society thought that Sita was unfit to become queen. But Rama had to send away Sita since his duty of king came first.

Rama's Children

Kusha and Lava are the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita. Born in the forest after the banishment of Sita from Ayodhya, the twins were educated and trained in military skills as their mother took refuge in Sage Valmiki's ashram located in a forest on the banks of the River Tamsa .

As Rama performed the Ashvamedha Yagya a horse strayed into their forest, which brought Rama's mighty Army into conflict with his own children . Unaware that Rama was their father, they captured the horse and refused to release it . This resulted in the twins fighting and defeating Rama's Army . In the end Rama Himself comes for war and finds that the twins who defeated his army are his own children . An immensely pleased Rama takes them back to Ayodhya with Sita .

Maryada Purushottama

As a person, Sri Rama personifies the characteristics of the most ideal person (purushottama) who is to be emulated . He had within him all the desirable virtues that any individual would seek to aspire, and he fulfils all his moral obligations (maryada). Rama's purity and piety in his intentions and actions inspires affection and devotion for him from a variety of characters from different backgrounds. For example, he gave up his rightful claim to the throne, and agreed to go into exile for fourteen years, to fulfill the vow that his father had given to Kaikeyi, one of King Dashratha's wives. This is in spite of the fact that Kaikeyi's son, Bharat, begged him to return back to Ayodhya and said that he did not want to rule in place of Rama. But Rama considered his Dharma as a son above that of his own birthright and his life's ambition . For such supreme sacrifices, and many other qualities, Shri Rama is adored as *Maryada purushottam* . Some of his great attributes are as follows :

 

At the time when it was normal for kings to have more than one wife, Rama gave ideal of having a single wife. After Sita was banished, he was doing penance with a gold statue of Sita. In Balakanda of Valmiki Ramayana it is written that Rama and Sita resided in each others heart .

Rama always followed his promise at any cost . In fact, he went to forest to make his father's promise to Kaikeyi true. There are many examples of Rama's promises which he kept. Most important are the promise to sages to save their lives from Rakshasas, getting back Sugreeva's kingdom, making Vibhishana the king of Lanka .

Excellent friend : Rama had very touching relations with his friends irrespective of their status. Some of his friends are Nishad-raj Guh, King of Nishaads (a caste whose profession was hunting the birds), Sugreeva (the Vanar king) and Vibhishana a Rakshasa.

Supreme Compassion to His devotees : There are numerous instances in Ramayana that reveal Sri Rama's compassion to his Devotees . He has bestowed Godly status to Hanuman the best of His devotees .

Bharata and Lakshmana

Bharata was out of Ayodhya when Rama is exiled. Upon his return he is appalled to learn of the events. And even though Kaikeyi had done all this for his benefit, Bharata is angered at the suggestion that he should take Ayodhya's throne. Denouncing his mother, Bharata proclaims to the city that he would go to the forest to fetch Rama back, and would serve out his term of exile himself. Although initially resentful and suspicious, the people of Ayodhya hail Bharata's selfless nature and courageous act. Despite his fervent pleas to return, Rama asserts that he must stay in the forest to keep his father's word. He orders Bharata to perform his duty as king of Ayodhya, especially important after Dasaratha's death, and orders Shatrughna to support and serve him.

Returning saddened to the city, Bharata refuses to wear the crown or sit on the throne. Instead, he places the slippers of Rama that he had taken back with him on the throne, and rules Ayodhya assiduously keeping Rama's beliefs and values in mind. When Rama finally returns, Bharata runs personally to welcome him back. Bharata is hailed for his devotion to his elder brother and dharma, distinguished from Lakshmana as he is left on his own for fourteen years. But he unfailingly denies self-interest throughout this time, ruling the kingdom only in Rama's image. Vasishtha proclaims that no one had better learnt dharma than Bharata, and for this piety he forms an essential part of the conception of perfect manhood, of the Seventh Avatara of Maha-Vishnu. Shatrughna's role to Bharata is akin to that of Lakshmana to Rama.

As one-quarter of Vishnu incarnated, or as the incarnation of Bhagavan's eternal companion, Ananta Sesha, Lakshmana is always at Rama's side. Although unconstrained by Dasaratha's promise to Kaikeyi, Lakshmana resists Rama's arguments and accompanies him and Sita into the forest. During the years of exile, Lakshmana constantly serves Rama and Sita – building huts, standing guard and finding new routes. When Sita is kidnapped, Rama blazes with his divine power and in his immense rage, expresses the desire to destroy all creation. Lakshmana prays and pleads for Rama to calm himself, and despite the shock of the moment and the promise of travails to come, begin an arduous but systematic search for Sita. During times when the search is proving fruitless and Rama fears for Sita, and expresses despair in his grief and loneliness, Lakshmana encourages him, providing hope and solace.

When Rama in his despair fears that Sugriva has forgotten his promise to help him trace Sita, Lakshmana goes to Kishkindha where he reminds the complacent monarch of his promise to help. But Lakshmana also threatens Sugriva with destruction with his own divine, personal power, unable to tolerate the scene where Sugriva is enjoying material and sensual pleasures while Rama suffers alone. In the war, Lakshmana is uniquely responsible for slaying Indrajit, the invincible son of Ravana who had humiliated Indra and the Devas, and outwitted the brothers and the Vanaras on several occasions. Rishi Agastya later points out that this victory was the turning point of the conflict.

Sri Rama is often overcome with emotion and deep affection for Lakshmana, acknowledging how important and crucial Lakshmana's love and support was for him. He also trusts Lakshmana to carry out difficult orders – Lakshmana was asked to take Sita to the Ashrama of Valmiki, where she was to spend her exile. Lakshmana's deep love for Rama, his selfless service and sacrifice, as well as qualities of practical judgment and clear-headedness make him Rama's mentor in certain situations and perspectives. Lakshmana symbolizes a man's duty to his family, brothers and friends, and forms an essential part of the conception of ideal manhood, that Rama primarily embodies.

Great Rama-Bhaktas ; Jatayu, Hanuman and Vibheeshana

Rama and Lakshmana begins the desperate search to discover where Sita had been taken. After traversing a distance in many directions, they come across the magical eagle Jatayu, who is dying. They discover from Jatayu that a Rakshasa was flying away with a crying, struggling Sita towards the south. Jatayu had rushed to the rescue of Sita and fought valiantly against Ravana . Unfortunately, owing to his old age and the Rakshasa's boons from Brahma, Jatayu had been defeated. With this, Jatayu dies in Rama's arms. Rama is overcome with love and affection for the Bird-devotee who sacrificed its own life for Sita, and the rage of his devotee's death infuriates Rama in the final battle with Ravana.

Rama's only allies in the struggle to find Sita are the Vanaras of Kishkindha. Finding a terrified Sugriva being hunted by his own brother, king Vali, Rama promises to kill Vali and free Sugriva of the terror and the unjust charge of plotting to murder Vali. The two swear everlasting friendship over sacred fire. Rama's natural piety and compassion, his sense of justice and duty, as well as his courage despite great personal suffering after Sita's kidnapping inspire devotion from the Vanaras and Sugriva, but especially Hanuman, Sugriva's minister. Devoted to Rama, Hanuman exerts himself greatly over the search for Sita. He is the first to discover that Sita was taken to Lanka, and volunteers to use his divine gifts in a dangerous reconnaissance of Lanka, where he is to verify Sita's presence. Hanuman hands Rama's ring to Sita, as a mark of Rama's love and his imminent intention of rescuing her. Though captured, he candidly delivers Rama's message to Ravana to immediately release Sita, and when his tail is burned, he flees and sets Lanka on fire. When Lakshmana is struck down and near death and Rama overcome with love and concern for his brother, Hanuman flies to the Himalayas on the urgent mission to fetch the Sanjeevani medicinal herbs, bringing the entire mountain to Lanka so that no time is lost in saving Lakshmana. The Vanaras fight the Rakshasas, completely devoted to Rama's cause. They angrily dismiss Ravana's efforts to create divisions by suggesting that Rama considered them, monkeys, as mere animals. At the end of the war, as requested by Rama, Lord Brahma restores life to the millions of fallen Vanaras.

Before the onset of war, Rakshasa prince Vibheeshana, Ravana's youngest brother comes to join Rama. Although he loves his brother and Lanka, he fails in repeated efforts to make Ravana follow religious values and return Sita. Vibheeshana believes that Ravana's arrogance and callousness will cause the destruction of Lanka, which is a gross violation of a king's duty, and that Ravana's actions have only propagated evil. Vibheeshana refuses to defend the evil of Ravana's ways and inspired by Rama's compassion and piety, leaves Lanka to join the Vanara Army. His knowledge of rakshasa ways and Ravana's mind help Rama and the Vanaras overcome black magic and mystical weapons. At the end of the war, Rama crowns Vibheeshana as the king of Lanka. Vibheeshana, and to a greater extent Hanuman, embody the perfect devotee in the wider conception of perfect manhood.

Sri Rama in war

When Rama is just sixteen years old, he and his brother Lakshmana are taken by Maharishi Vishwamitra to the forests, with the purpose of killing Rakshasas who are wrecking the tapasya and sacrifices of Rishis and Brahmins . Rama and Lakshmana are taught the advanced military arts and given the knowledge of all celestial weapons by Vishwamitra. Rama proceeds to slay Thatakhi a cursed demoness. When asked to slay the Vaksha demon, Rama demurs, considering it sinful to kill a woman. But Vishwamitra explains that evil has no gender. The killing of Taraka liberates the yaksha soul who was cursed for a sin, and had to adopt a Rakshasi's body. It restores the purity of the sacrifices of the brahmins who live nearby, and protects the animals who live in the forest, and travelers. The main purpose of Vishwamitra's exursion is to conduct his Yagna without interruption from two evil demons, Maricha and Subahu . Rama and Lakshmana guard the sacrifice, and when the two Demons appear, Rama shoots an arrow that carries Maricha across the lands and into the ocean, but does not kill him. Rama and his brother then proceed to kill Subahu and all accompanying Demons. Rama explains to Lakshmana that leaving Maricha alive was an act of compassion, but the others did not heed the point and chose to attack. During the forest exile, Rishis plead for protection and help against evil Rakshasas who spoil their sacrifices and religious activities and terrorize them. Many Rakshasas had even killed and eaten Sages and innocent people. At Janasthana, Rama uses his exceptional prowess to single-handedly kill over fourteen thousand Demon hordes led by the powerful Khara, who is a cousin of Ravana.

Faced with the dilemma of how to cross the ocean, Rama performs a penance (Tapasya) , fasting and meditating in perfect *dhyana* for three days and three nights to Sagara, the Lord of Oceans. The ocean god does not respond out of arrogance , and Rama on the fourth morning ,pointed the mighty Agneyastra towards the ocean . The Vanaras are dazzled and fearful at witnessing the enraged Rama poised to destroy the oceans, and Lakshmana prays to calm Rama's mind. Just as Rama invokes the Agneyastra , a viciously trembling Saagara arises out of the oceans. He bows to Rama, and begs for pardon. Since Lord Rama had to use the weapon , Sagara suggests Rama re-direct the weapon at a demonic race that lives in the heart of the ocean. Lord Rama redirected his missile to the barren Island, and as a result huge volcanic eruption resulted. This volcano is the one which is found till today at the southern part of Indian peninsula . Saagara promises that he would keep the oceans still for all of Rama's army to pass, and Nala constructs a bridge *Rama-Setu* (Rama's Bridge) across to Lanka.

Rama asserts his dedication to dharma when he undertakes to offer Ravana a final chance to make peace, despite his heinous actions and patronage of evil, by immediately returning Sita and apologizing to both Rama and Sita, but Ravana refuses. In the war, Rama slays the most powerful Rakshasa commanders, including Prahasta, Atikaya and with Ravana's brother, Kumbhakarna along with hundreds of thousands of Rakshasa soldiers. He outfights Ravana in their first battle, destroying his chariot and weapons, and severely injuring him, but due to this, he allows him to live and return to fight another day.

In the grand finale of the battle, Rama engages Ravana who through the devastation of losing his sons, his brothers and friends and millions of his warriors, arouses his awesome and magical powers and makes full use of the boons of Siva and Brahma, and the magical knowledge of warfare possessed by the greatest of Rakshasas. Rama and Ravana compete fiercely, inflicting severe injuries on one another with the most powerful weapons that could destroy the universe. After a long and arduous battle, Rama successfully decapitates Ravana's central head, but an ugly head, symbolic of all of Ravana's evil powers arises in its place. After another long battle, Rama decapitates it, only to find another growing in its place. This cycle continues, and as darkness approaches, Ravana's magical powers increase in force. Vibheeshana, seeing this then tells Rama something vital. Ravana had stolen Amrita , the nectar of immortality, from the gods. Though he could not consume it, he nevertheless stored a vessel of it in his stomach. This Amrit was causing his heads to regenerate as soon as they were cut off . Upon the advice of Maharishi Agastya, Rama worships Lord Aditya, the Sun, with the famous Aditya Hridayam prayer and then invokes the most powerful weapon, the Brahmastra . Rama fires the great arrow that enters Ravana's chest/stomach and destroys the store of Amrit, killing him finally. Following Ravana's death, Rama is immediately compassionate. After investing Vibheeshana as the next king of Lanka, he asks the new king and the surviving Rakshasas to properly cremate their dead king, who he acknowledges was a great being worthy of respect and admiration, despite his patronage of evil.

Rama Rajya

The end of the war coincides with the end of Rama's tenure of exile. Flying home on the Pushpaka Vimana, Sri Rama returns to a joyous Ayodhya . His mothers, brothers and the people joyously welcome him . Kaikeyi is repentant of her deeds, and Rama forgives her. The next day, Rama is coronated as the King of Ayodhya. Although he first asks Lakshmana to become the Yuvaraja, upon the advice of Lakshmana he invests the position to Bharata, who vowed to rule Ayodhya as Rama's servant.

After becoming Emperor of the World , Sri Rama performs the holy Ashwamedha-Yajna, purifying the entire universe .

Beyond the Ramayana, the eleven thousand years of Rama's rule over the earth represent a golden time and age when the Supreme God as a man ruled the world. There was perfect justice and freedom, peace and prosperity. There are no natural disasters, diseases, ailments or ill-fortune of any nature for any living being. There are no sins committed in the world by any of his people. Always attentive and accessible to his people, Rama is worshipped and hailed by all – the very symbol of Moksha the ultimate goal and destination of all life, and the best example of perfect character and human conduct, inspiring human beings for countless succeeding ages.

Rama dutifully went undercover every night to hear the pleas of his subjects and have a common man's perspective of his rule. During Rama's tenure as King, the people apparently had no locks on their doors as they feared no burglaries or other such misfortunes.

Festivals associated with Sri Rama

Rama's day and time of birth, as well as marriage to Sita are celebrated by Hindus across the world as Rama Navami . It falls on the ninth day of a Hindu lunar year, or Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami. This day is observed as the marriage day of Rama and Sita as well as the birthday of Rama. People normally perform *Kalyanotsavam* (marriage celebration) for small statues of Rama and Sita in their houses and at the end of the day the idols are taken in a procession on the streets. This day also marks the end of nine day utsavam called Vasanthothsavam (Festival of Spring), that starts with Ugadi. Some highlights of this day are:

 

Kalyanam (Ceremonial wedding performed by temple priests) at Bhadrachalam on the banks of the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh .

Panakam, a sweet drink prepared on this day with jaggery and pepper.

Procession of Deities in the evening that is accompanied with play of water and colours.

For the occasion, Hindus are supposed to fast (or restrict themselves to a specific diet).

Temples are decorated and readings of the Ramayana take place. Along with Rama, people also pray to Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

The occasion of victory over Ravana and the Rakshasas is celebrated as the 10-day Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra .

The Ram Leela is publicly performed in many villages, towns and cities in India.

Rama's return to Ayodhya and his coronation are celebrated as Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights. The latter two are the most important and popular festivals in India and for Hindus across the world.

Sri Rama and Gandhiji

Since his childhood Gandhiji worshipped Sri Rama as Ishta-deva . Chanting of Rama-nama was like breathing to him . Gandhiji's favorite song was "Raghupathi Ragahava Rajaram , Pathitha Pavana , Sita Ram …. This divine song inspired India's freedom struggle . Gandhiji's ultimate wish was to make independent India a Rama-rajya . Unfortunately , before attaining this objective , he was assassinated . Gandhiji's last words were "Hai Ram" !

Srimad Narayaneeyam (35.10) says :

" Bhagavan's human embodiment as Sri Rama is to instruct the Mankind about adherence to *Dharma* ( righteousness) " .

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare .

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev