Sri Rama Navami

శ్రీ రామ ప్రార్థన
శ్లో 11 శ్రీ రామ రామ రామేతి రమేరామే మనోరమే
సహస్రనామ తత్తుల్యం రామనామ వరాననే
(3 times)
Sloka 11 Sri Rama Rama Ramethi Rame Raame manorame
Sahasranaama Thathulyam Ramanaama Varaanane (thrice)

Meaning: Lord Shiva told this shloka to Parvati - I meditate upon Sri Ram as Sri Rama Rama
Rama, the thrice recital of Rama’s name is equal to Recitation of the thousand names of Lord Vishnu- Vishnu Sahasranama

Ram Navami is very auspicious day for Hindus and an important Hindu festival. It marks the birthday celebrations of the Hindu God Rama. It falls on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, which is the spring season. In some parts of India, it is celebrated as a nine-day festival that coincides with Vasanta Navratri

Lord Rama is believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rama took birth on earth as the son of King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya. He was the epitome of pure living according to the religion. He performed every duty on this earth with great devotion and was the embodiment of truth and morality; he was the ideal son, ideal husband, and ideal king and also saved earth from the cruelties of various demons including Ravana.

Ramayana is the holy epic where tales from life of Lord Ram are told from ancient times. A most delightful tradition that is practiced as a part of the Ram Navami celebrations is the narration of stories from the epic "Ramayana". In Andhra Pradesh of South India, Sri Rama Navami festival is celebrated with great religious fervor and devotion in the abode of Ramalayam (temple of Lord Rama) as "Sree Sitarama Kalyana Mahotsavam". It is the wedding ceremony between Lord Rama and Sita. This celebration has been in practice around 400 years, started during the reign of Nizams, and still it is continued

The special dish prepared for this festival is called Panakam, a mixture of new jaggery, cardamoms, black pepper powder and water. Vadda Pappu – Soaked Moong dal with greens and little salt is also served as prasadam.

Rama Navami was celebrated by Sai baba in Shirdi. In 1897, Gopalrao Gund proposed holding in Urus (Urus is a Muslim festival honoring a Muslim Saint) on the auspicious day of Sree Rama Navami as an expression of his gratitude to Baba for having been granted with a son. Shirdi is filled with devotees to celebrate this festival with various activities like the Sandal Procession, kirtana by haridas, Janda vuthsavam (procession of two flags), wrestling, Cradle ceremony. This tradition is followed even today by Sri Shirdi Samsthan with great joy & devotion. Chapter 6 (Pathi Narayana Rao Gari telugu version of Sai Sathcharitha by Hemadpant) has all about Rama Navami in shirdi, Devotees can read that chapter or do the complete paryanam of Sri Sai Satcharitha at your convience or say Sai Ram, Sai Ram …. (Rememberance/Mananamu) !

Let’s all pray to Sri Sai Rama on this occasion of Sri Rama Navami to shower his blessings on all of us !

Sai Ram !