Rama is a popular avatar of Lord Maha Vishnu. He is one of the Dasavatar and eighth on the list. Lord Vishnu took this avatar to safeguard the people from the misdeeds of Ravana, the demon king and to showcase the importance of adhering to dharma.
Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha phase of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar. The festival falls in the Gregorian months of March or April. In 2022, Rama Navami is falling on 10th April.
Know about Rama
- Rama’s father, Dasaratha, was Ayodhya Kingdom’s King. He had three wives, Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Rama was born to Kausalya.
- Bharata, Lakshman and Shatrughna were the brothers of Rama. While Bharata was the son of Dasaratha and Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Shatrugna, the twins were born to Sumitra.
- Sita, the wife of Rama, was the daughter of Janak, the king of the Mithila kingdom.
- When Rama was about to succeed Dasaratha as the Ayodhya King, Kaikeyi hatched a conspiracy and instructed Rama to spend fourteen years in forests as an ascetic.
- Rama left Ayodhya and went to the forests. His wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshman, followed him to the woods.
- One day, during the absence of Rama and Lakshman, Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Sri Lanka.
- Devastated by the loss of his wife, Rama, along with Lakshman, set out in search of her.
- They reached Kishkinta, the Vanar (Monkey) kingdom and met Hanuman, a vanara.
- Hanuman was the prime minister to Sugriva, a Vanara who was ruled Kishkinta before being banished by Bali, his elder brother.
- Hanuman arranged a meeting between Rama and Sugriva and brought about cooperation between the two.
- Later, Rama killed Bali and handed over the Kishkinta to Sugriva, who promised to help Rama with his Vanara fleet.
- Sugriva sent Vanara Senas in all four directions, and Hanuman, too, went in search of Sita towards the South.
- Hanuman flew to Lanka, found Sita, talked with her, and flew back to Rama and conveyed her message.
- In the resultant war, the Vanara Sena of Rama and the asura sena of Ravana clashed.
- Rama killed Ravana at last and released Sita.
- The fourteen years of Vanavasa condition laid down by Kaikeyi was over, and Rama returned to Ayodhya with Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman and ruled for many more years.
- The name of Rama itself is very powerful. Chanting ‘Rama’ will absolve from all sins and bestow spiritual and material wealth.
How is Rama Navami celebrated?
People decorate their house with rangolis and mango leaves and decorate the portrait or idol of Rama. Then, they prepare special neivedhya to offer to Rama.
The devotees also visit nearby Rama temples and participate in the ceremonies and festivities. They also chant the Rama mantra and recite stotras of Rama.
Rama Ashtothram – the 108 names of Rama
The Rama Ashtottara Shatanamavali contains 108 names of Rama. These names praise the quality and virtues of Rama. Therefore, chanting the Rama Ashtothram on Rama Navami will bestow the blessings of Rama upon you.
- Om Sri Ramaya Namah
- Om Rama-bhadraya Namah
- Om Rama-chandraya Namah
- Om Shaswathaya Namah
- Om Rajeeva lochanaya Namah
- Om Srimathe Namah
- Om Rajendraya Namah
- Om Raghu pungavaya Namah
- Om Janaki vallabhaya Namah
- Om Jaithraya Namah
- Om Jithamitraya Namah
- Om Janardhanaya Namah
- Om Viswamitra priyaya Namah
- Om Daantaaya Namah
- Om Sharanatrana tatparaya Namah
- Om Vaali pramaadhanaya Namah
- Om Vaagminey Namah
- Om Satya-vache Namah
- Om Satya vikramaya Namah
- Om Satya vrathaya Namah
- Om Vratha dharaya Namah
- Om Sada Hanumad aasritaya Namah
- Om Kosaleyaya Namah
- Om Khara dwamsiney Namah
- Om Viraadha vadha panditaya Namah
- Om Vibheeshana paritratre Namah
- Om Hara Kodanda khandhanaya Namah
- Om Sapthatala bhetrey Namah
- Om Dasagreeva siroharaya Namah
- Om Jamadagnya mahadarpa Namah
- Om Dasanaaya Namah
- Om Thatakanthakaya Namah
- Om Vedanta saaraya Namah
- Om Vedatmaney Namah
- Om Bhavarogasya bheshajaya Namah
- Om Dushanatri sirohantrey Namah
- Om Trimurthaye Namah
- Om Trigunatmakaya Namah
- Om Trivikramaya Namah
- Om Trilokatmane Namah
- Om Punya charithra keerthanaya Namah
- Om Triloka rakshakaya Namah
- Om Dhanviney Namah
- Om Dandakarunya varthanaya Namah
- Om Ahalya shapa samanaaya Namah
- Om Pitru bhakthaya Namah
- Om Varapradaya Namah
- Om Jithendriyaya Namah
- Om Jithakrodaya Namah
- Om Jithaa mitraya Namah
- Om Jagadguravey Namah
- Om Ruksha Vanara sanghativey Namah
- Om Chitrakuta samusrayaya Namah
- Om Jayanthatrana varadaya Namah
- Om Sumitra putra sevithaya Namah
- Om Sarva Devadhi Devaya Namah
- Om Mrutha Vanara jeevanaya Namah
- Om Maya Mareecha handrey Namah
- Om Mahadevaya Namah
- Om Maha bhujaya Namah
- Om Sarva Deva stutyaya Namah
- Om Saumyaya Namah
- Om Brahmanyaya Namah
- Om Muni samsthuthaya Namah
- Om Maha Yoginey Namah
- Om Mahodayaya Namah
- Om Sugreevepsitha Rajyadaaya Namah
- Om Sarva punyadhika phalaya Namah
- Om Smrutha sarvashu nasanaya Namah
- Om Adipurushaya Namah
- Om Parama Purushaya Namah
- Om Maha Purushaya Namah
- Om Punyodayaya Namah
- Om Dayaasaraya Namah
- Om Purana purushottamaya Namah
- Om Smitha vaktraya Namah
- Om Mitha bhashiney Namah
- Om Purva bhashiney Namah
- Om Raghavaya Namah
- Om Anantha Guna gambheeraya Namah
- Om Dheerodattha Gunottamaya Namah
- Om Maya Manusha charitraya Namah
- Om Mahadevadhi pujithaya Namah
- Om Sethukruthey Namah
- Om Jitha vaaraasaye Namah
- Om Sarva teerthamayaya Namah
- Om Haraye Namah
- Om Shyamangaya Namah
- Om Sundaraya Namah
- Om Shuraya Namah
- Om Peetha vaasane Namah
- Om Dhanurdharaya Namah
- Om Sarva Yagnadhipaya Namah
- Om Yajviney Namah
- Om Jaraamarana varjithaya Namah
- Om Vibheeshana prathisthatri Namah
- Om Sarvavaguna varjithaya Namah
- Om Paramathminey Namah
- Om Parasmai Namah
- Om Brahmaney Namah
- Om Sacchidananda vigrahaya Namah
- Om Parasmai jyothishey Namah
- Om Parasmai dhamney Namah
- Om Paraakasaya Namah
- Om Paratparaya Namah
- Om Pareshaya Namah
- Om Paaragaya Namah
- Om Sarva Devatmakaya Namah
