|| श्री सीताराम ||
|| श्रीमद् जानकीवल्लभो विजयतेतराम ||
|| ॐ सं सीताय नमः ||
उद्भवस्थितिसंहारकारिणीं क्लेशहारिणीम्।
सर्वश्रेयस्करीं सीतां नतोऽहं रामवल्लभाम्॥
सकलकुशलदात्रीं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदात्रीं
त्रिभुवनजनयित्रीं दुष्टधीनाशयित्रीम्।
जनकधरणिपुत्रीं दर्पिदर्पप्रहर्त्रीम्
हरिहरविधिकर्त्रीम् नौमि सद्भक्तिभर्त्रीम्॥
who is creator of all three worlds;
who is destroyer of intelligence of wickeds and ego of egoists;
who is even origin (cause) of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva;
the cause of all cause; who ensures safety and well being of devotees;
I bow to that Sita, the daughter of Janaka and earth.
Śrī Sītānavamī represents the birth anniversary of Maa Sita, the consort of Supreme Purusa Lord Rāma. On this day in Treta Yuga around 1-2 million Years before, the Parashakti Sita herself appears directly from the earth to give accompany to his consort Lord Rama and helps him in establishing the Dharma. Śrī Sītānavamī falls in the Vaishakh Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day in the bright half of the month of Vaishakh in the Hindu calendar. It is also known as Janaki Navami. Since divine mother of universe, Maa Sita directly appears from earth, not from anyone's womb so she is called as Ayonija (non-uterine birthed).
Here Maa Sita herself tells Anusuya that She is Ayonija, not born from anyone's womb:-
अयोनिजाम् हि माम् ज्नात्वा न अध्यगग्च्छत् स चिन्तयन् |
सदृशम् च अनुरूपम् च मही पालः पतिम् मम ||
[Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.37]
Knowing me to be the one not emerged from a mother's womb i.e. Ayonija, the king Janaka after a deep reflection, was unable to find a suitable and worthy husband for me. (So later on Rama broke the Shiva's bow and accepted her as wife.)
So how did King Janaka accept Sita as his own child?
When Janaka was doing Som-Yajna and he was furrowing a territory of land, holding a plough in his hand, then Sita came
forth, splitting up the land, as a daughter of that king. [VR 2.118.28]
Then a voice resembling that of a human being in the air rang out, saying": "O, King! Let it be so. This divine
child without a match is a daughter to you, rightly." [VR 2.118.31] Thus the divine Sita who has no match in whole
universe became the daughter of King Janaka and princess of Videha.
Śrī Sītānavamī is one the most important festival for all Vaishnava-s and also for Shakta tradition in Sanatan Dharma. It has one of the most important status in Vaishnava celebration because on this day, the Parashakti who is Sita in her ultimate original form, herself appears on Navami, 9th day. It is also evident as "9" number is the most sacred number in Sanatan Dharma and it is largest one digit number. It is the number which represents the perfectness. So Navmi is the day chosen by the perfect personality, the best one among women, the absolute and ultimate reality to manifest itself for creating bliss in heart of devotees . Only the most superior, the supreme personality appears on Navmi for example Janaki Navami and Ram-Navami.
Any devotee who will observe fast on Sita-Navami (Śrī Sītānavamī) with full devotion without any attachment towards the world then S/he gets the eternal abode of Lord Rama.
In the introduction of Bhagvati Sita, I would like to say only two sentences that 1) any woman or goddess about whom we have read or listened, couldn’t reach even near of the matchless glory of Maa Sita and 2) other than Maa Sita, no person having likeness of Maa Sita ever existed in past, or exists in present or will exist in future because Mother Sita is the perfectness of the womanly virtues.
Bhagvati Sita is the eternal consort of Lord Rama, the supreme personality of Godhead. Thus, Bhagvati Sita is the one of the most important character of Ramayana. It is very hard to determine who is the most important character of Ramayana in whose glory Ramayana was written by Brahmarshi Valmiki. Maharshi Valmiki describes Sri Rama as Purushottama (पुरुषोत्तम), the best among men and Maa Sita as the best oone among woman, NaariNaamuttama (नारीणामुत्तमा).
रामस्य दयिता भार्या नित्यम् प्राण समा हिता || [Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.26B]
Divine Sage Narada says to Valmiki: Sita, the most dear to Lord Rama like his own life (प्राण समा हिता ), is his eternal (नित्यम्) consort (भार्या).
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना नारीणामुत्तमा वधूः ||
सीताप्य अनुगता रामम् शशिनम् रोहिणी यथा |
[Valmiki Ramayana 1.1.27B-28A]
Here divine Sage Narada tells Valmiki that Sita, the best one among ladies, is a possessor of all best qualities befitting to an ideal lady.
Though Valmiki wrote Ramayana for cherishing the glory of lord Rama, the most superior and his exploits, but when Lord Rama listen the same melodious Ramayana from mouths of Luv-Kush, he told that it is even endowing good fortune to him not because of his own saga, but the story is narrating the glory of maa Sita, the eternal consort of Rama, the soul of Rama (भार्या नित्यम् प्राण समा हिता || १-१-२६).
इमौ मुनी पार्थिव लक्षणान्वितौ
कुशी लवौ च एव महातपस्विनौ |
ममा अपि तद् भूति करम् प्रचक्षते
महानुभावम् चरितम् निबोधत ||
[वाल्मीकि रामायण 1.4.35-36]
These two saint-like Kusha and Lava, who also possess kingly features, but they are great hermits... this narration is endowing good fortune to me also, listen to that great efficacious legend [of Sita...]" [So said Rama to those courtiers after listening Ramayana from them] (Valmiki Ramayana 1.4.35)
That’s why Valmiki Muni says, in Ramayana the sublime legend of Sita is primary conduct and Ravana's elimination by lord Rama is secondary.
काव्यम् रामायणम् कृत्स्नम् सीतायाः चरितम् महत् |
पौलस्त्य वधम् इति एवम् चकार चरित व्रतः ||
[वाल्मीकि रामायण १-४-७]
Sita's conduct (Sublime legend of Sita) is the primary aspect and Ravana's elimination is secondary in the epic of Ramayana.
Thus Ramayana’s primary name is Sita-Charitam, सीताचरितम् as indicated by Brahmarshi Valmiki.How to observe Vratam/fast on Sri Sita Navami?
The person who wants to observe fast on Sitanavami should prepare self one day before of Vaishakh Shukla Navami i.e. Vaishakh Shukla Ashatami. On Vaishakh Shukla Ashtami, devotee should take bath early in the morning and pray Lord Rama then eagerly wait for Navami to celebrate Maa Sita's appearance day.
Then on early morning of Sitanavami, devotee should take a vow in heart that O' Mother, Sita, to get devotion in your lotus feet and in lotus feet of Lord Rama, I shall observe fast for whole day on Śrī Sitanavami Vratam.
If one wants to get some fruits from observing fast on Ramanavami, one should take vow (Sankalpa) in this way "मम भगवत्प्रीतिकामनया ( वामुकफलप्राप्तिकामनया ) सीताजन्मोत्सवव्रतमहं करिष्ये " (That I am going to fast on सीता नवमी Sita-Navami Vratam for -------your desire). After doing Sankalpa in this way one should abstain self from anger, lust, desire, etc.
The followers of Lord Rama would observe a whole-day fast on the festival of Sita Navami. Although it is not mandatory to observe a waterless fast, but many people observe a stringent fast, they don't drink a drop of water until midnight, when one has to break the fast. On the other hand, those who can't bear such stringent fast are recommended to take some minimum foodstuffs like curd, liquids, milk, fruits including potatoes made in any form without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. Sendha Namak should be used for the preparation of food for Sita Navami fast.
In the morning, one should read or listen Ramayana/Ramcharitamanas and chant "Rāma" Mantra preceded with "Sita" Naam i.e. "Sita-Ram, Sita-Ram". If possible one may chant "SītāRāma" Naam whole day. In afternoon, one should do Shodashopachar (षोडशोपचार) worship of Maa Sita. For Shodashopachar Puja, One should not use Tulsi leaves in offering to Maa Sita. First devotee should establish an Idols or image of Maa Sita or Sita-Rama, King Janaka, her mother Sunayana & Bhu Devi, and her Kulguru priest Sage Shatananda.
Then devotee should worship Sita and Rama with Panchopchar (fragrance गंध, rice-grains चावल, flowers फूल, Dhup धूप, Deepak/lights दीप ) after giving bath to the idols (in the case metallic idols) of lord Sita-Rama with milk and Ganga-Jala.
Avahan and Pranaam Mantra to Maa Sita
After establishing Idols of Sita and others, devotee should do Avahan Mantra to give them Asan/seats.
Vedic Avahan-Mantra to Maa Sita:-
अर्वाची सुभगे भव सीते वन्दामहे त्वा।
यथा नः सुभगा ससि यथा नः सुफला ससि॥
[Rigveda Samhita 4.57.7]
O' auspious Bhagvati Sita! Please come near us. We bow down to You and greet You! O supreme deity endowed with the supreme fortune and auspiciousness! Please be kindly disposed towards us in such a manner that You be compassionate-hearted towards us and as a result You be a bestower of beautiful charming fruits for us!! (Commentary of Sayanacharya, one of the oldest Commentaries on Rig Veda)
Then devotee should meditate upon lotus feet of divine mother with following verse:-
ताटम मण्डलविभूषितगण्डभागां, चूडामणिप्रभृतिमण्डनमण्डिताम्।
कौशेयवस्त्रमणिमौक्तिकहारयुक्तां, ध्यायेद् विदेहतनयां शशिगौरवर्णाम्।।
After meditating upon lotus feet of maa Sita, one should make salutations to her with following verse:-
वन्दे विदेहतनया पद पुण्डरीकं कैशोर-सौरभ-समाहृत-योगि-चित्तं।
हन्तुं त्रितापमनिशं मुनि-हंस-सेव्यं सन्मानसालि परिपीत-पराग-पुञ्जम्॥
I adore Bhagwati SitA, the divine fragrance of whose lotus-feet encaptures the minds of even great Yogis; whom, a great many divine sages forever continually serve, to eliminate their three-way sorrows of the worldly ocean and who is like a golden yellowish nectar for the hearts of noble persons; I adore that SitA, the daughter of King Videha, who is forever youthful.
Then devotee should meditate upon the lotus feet of lord Rama with following verse:-
ध्यायेदाजानुबाहुं धृतशरधनुषं बद्धपद्मासनस्थम् |
पीतं वासो वसानं नवकमलदलस्पर्धिनेत्रं प्रसन्नम् |
वामांकारूढ सीतामुखकमलमिलल्लोचनं नीरदाभम् |
नानालंकारदीप्तं दधतमुरुजटामंडनं रामचंद्रम् ||
After meditating upon Sita and Rama, one should make salutations to all relatives of mother Sita. One should make salutations to king Janaka with following verse:-
देवी पद्मालया साक्षादवतीर्णा यदालये।
मिथिलापतये तस्मै जनकाय नमो नम:।।
After Janaka, salutations to mother Sunayana:-
दसीताया: जननी मातर्महिषी जनकस्य च।
पूजां गृहाण मद्दतां महाबुद्धे नमोस्तु ते।।
After Devi Sunayana, one should make salutations to Kulguru sage Shatananda with following verse:-
निधानं सर्वविद्यानां विद्वत्कुलविभूषणम्।
जनकस्य पुरोधास्त्वं शतानन्दाय ते नम:।।
After Shatananda, one should make saluations to Goddess earth, mother of Sita and everyone with following verse:-
त्वयैवोत्पदितं सर्वं जगतेतच्चराचरम्।
त्वमेवासि महामाया मुनीनामपि मोहिनी।।
त्वदायत्ता इमे लोका: श्रीसीतावल्लभा परा।
वंदनीयासि देजवानां सुभगे त्वां नमाम्यहम्।।
After mother earth, one should make saluations to plough from which Sita was appeared with following verse:-
जीवनस्यखिलं विश्वं चालयन् वसुधातलम्।
प्रादुर्भावयसे सीतां सीत तुभ्यं नमोस्तु ते।।
After making salutations to all, One should start Chanting the Sita-Mantra "ॐ सं सीताय नमः" at least for 1008 times. After chanting, one should do one tenth times (1/10th times of total Mantra done) Havan with Ghee,sesame/Til, barley/Jau, and other stuffs for Havan.
Then after completion of Havan, One should seek forgiveness for any wrong doing from Maa Sita and observe fast whole day. In evening, devotee can have some pure Prasad offered to Maa Sita during Shodashopachar Puja. On the next day, after worship of Lord Sita-Rama, devotee can break their fast. It is advisable to donate something to poors or feed some cows before breaking the fast on Dashami.Share this Page
॥ श्रीसीतारामचंद्रार्पणमस्तु ॥