Shrirama Navami is a Hindu religious festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The ninth day (navami) in the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Chaitra is referred to as Ramanavami. On this day, when the five planets and the sun were in the first house of Cancer at noon along with the lunar asterism Pushya, Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya (a city in ancient India, currently in North India). From the spiritual standpoint, the Rama principle is most active on this day. This day is also known as Ramanavmi (Ramnavmi).

Attributes of Lord Rama

Name: Lord Rama's Name was prevalent even before His birth. After His victory at Lanka, that is, upon demonstrating His Godhood, everyone started addressing Him as Shrirama (Lord Rama).

Ideal in all respects: Lord Rama is an example of the ideal son, brother, husband, king, friend and enemy.

The follower of Righteousness (Dharma): Lord Rama observed all decorum prescribed by Dharma; that is why He is referred to as 'Maryadapurushottam'. Also, honoring one's word (Ekvachani) and needing just one arrow or shot to find the mark (Ekbani) and having only one wife (Ekpatni) are His well-known attributes.

Lord Rama's kingdom (Ramrajya)
    During Lord Rama's rule, that is, in the Tretayug it was not Lord Rama alone who was wise, His subjects, too, were prudent. Hence, during His reign not a single complaint was brought to His court.

    The real kingdom of Lord Rama dwells within oneself. The implied meaning of this is absolute control over the five sense organs, five motor organs, mind, subconscious mind, intellect and ego by the Rama principle (Atmarama - the soul principle).

Worship of Lord Rama
    Once the stage of worship of the divine principle or deity according to one's religion (that of the family deity for Hindus) is completed, the spiritual practice (worship) of Lord Rama is useful for many seekers to go from many to One. This is because of Lord Rama's attributes of being true to His word, devoted to only one wife and attaining the target with just one arrow.

Ritualistic worship (puja) 
    Since Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, He, too, is worshipped like Vishnu in sixteen steps (shodashopachar puja). Tulasi (sacred and medicinal plant found in India) leaves are essential for His worship. Tulasi has the ability to attract the subtlest pure particles (pavitrakas) of Vishnu. It is even better if one can use Lotuses for the worship. Khir (a sweet delicacy made from milk and rice or vermicelli) or shira (a sweet delicacy made from semolina, pure ghee and sugar) is Lord Vishnu's favorite sacrament (naivedya). Choosing the substances offered in the worship according to the science of Spirituality helps generate divine consciousness (chaitanya) in the statue, so that it aids one's spiritual progress.

Celebration of Ramanavmi
    Shrirama navami is called a holy festival (sun) when it is celebrated individually, a religious festival (utsav) when celebrated collectively and when performed individually with a resolve (sankalpa) it becomes a vowed observance (vrat). Also, unlike most vowed religious observances, which are practiced individually, Shrirama navami is a vowed religious observance undertaken by a group.

    Several temples of Lord Rama celebrate this festival for nine days, beginning from Gudhipadva (the first day (pratipada) of the month of Chaitra). It is celebrated by periodic readings (parayans) of the Ramayan, organizing and attending spiritual discourses (kirtans) and beautifully embellishing Lord Rama's statue. During these nine days, reciting the Ramaraksha* prayer (stotra) eleven times daily with a resolve (sankalpa) brings the prayer to fruition, yielding benefits like reduction of speech impairment and other ailments, and gaining prosperity. On the ninth day, that is, on Shrirama navami a spiritual discourse on Lord Rama's birth is held in the afternoon. At noon, a coconut, draped in a hooded cloak is placed in a cradle and rocked. The coconut signifies the baby Lord Rama. A red, fragrant powder (gulal) and flowers are showered onto it.

* An audio file of the Ramarasksha stotra can be downloaded from our audio downloads page.

    [For further details on Lord Rama, refer to  Vol. 8: Lord Vishnu and His Forms, compiled by H. H. Dr. Jayant B. Athavale and Dr. Mrs. Kunda Athavale, published by the Sanatan.]

    [For further details on the celebration of religious festivals, refer to  Vol. 10: Holy Festivals, Religious Festivals and Vowed Religious Observances, compiled by H. H. Dr. Jayant B. Athavale and Dr. Mrs. Kunda Athavale, published by the Sanatan.]