Śrī Rāmanavamī 2023 : will be celebrated on 30 March 2023.
Śrī Rāmanavamī 2023 Puja Muhurta = 10:40 AM to 01:08 PM . Duration = 2 Hours 28 Mins
Śrī Rāmanavamī Madhyāhna (Mid-day) Time = 11:54 AM afternoon
Śrī Rāmanavamī festival represents the appearance day anniversary of the Supreme Purusa Lord Śrī Rāma as the prince charming of Maharaj Dasratha and Maharani Kaushalya. On this day in Treta Yuga, millions of Years ago, Supreme Purusa Lord Śrī Ram himself descended from Saket-Loka in this Leela-Vibhuti (on the earth) for the bliss of his devotees (Bhaktjan ranjan) and to make him easily accessible to every one be it human or demon, bird or beast etc, to delight one and all and to teach the mortal-world the highest form of Dharma and uprightness (righteousness) by giving example of his own life, to protect the nobles and to eliminate the evils, etc.
Śrī Rāmanavamī falls on the Navami (9th day) of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra, the ninth day in the bright half of the month of Chaitra in the Vaidic calendar. Thus, it is also known as Chaitra Māsa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations. The first day of Chaitra also marks the beginning of the Indian Vaidic Year or Samvatsar, and Chaitra Navratri is also known as Rāma-Navatratrī.
Among all Maha-Vratas, Śrī Rāmanavamī has the most important status. On this day, if any devotee observes the fast and does worship of Bhagavan Shri Rama at Madhyahan-Kala (afternoon) in various ways and thus celebrate Shri Rama's appearance with full devotion, and immerse his thoughts in Shri Rama, keeps purity in speech, mind and body throughout the day, and without any desire for the worldly-gains, then the devotee gets the eternal abode of Bhagavan Shri Rama (the eternal abode of brahman is also known as Ayodhya or Vishnoh-Paramam-Padam in Vedas). This type of oserving fast is known as 'Nitya Vratam', because its fruit is eternal and never goes invain. Even if one observes fast on Śrī Rāmanavamī with some desires, by grace of supreme personality one's desire will be fulfilled without any doubt, however best is to celebrate and keep fast only for pleasing Bhagavan Shri Rama, the original personality of godhead.
Śrī Rāma Navami is a major festival for all Hindus, and more particularly for Vaishnavas. It is considered the most auspicious to undertake a fast on the day of Shri Ramanavami in the name of Rāma, to please him. A more devout observation (pious undertaking) is to do Navahan-Parayan Path of Shri Ramacharitmanas for 9 days of Chaitra-Navarātra (Rama-Navarātra), many devotees who undertake this or such pious observation live on fruits and juices for first 8 days and keep a complete fast on the Shri Ramanavami day. Some devotees also arrange an akhand (non-stop) Shri Rama Naam Sankirtan in either temple or home, starting from 1st day of Chaitra-Navarātra and completing with the completion of Shri Ramanavami Vrat. Vaishnavas keep fast on Shri Ramanavami day and very enthusiastically celebrates the appearance of Bhagavan on the ninth day. Shri Rama-navami is the most auspicious Vrata to be observed as this Vrata pleases Bhagavan and bestows Shri Rama's supreme abode i.e. Vishnoh Paramam Padam and his bhakti. It is evident from many scriptures e.g. In Narada-Purana, Sanatan-Kumara tells:-
चैत्रस्य शुक्लपक्षे तु श्रीरामनवमीव्रतम् ।
तत्रोपवासं विधिवच्छक्तो भक्तः समाचरेत् ॥
अशक्तश्चैकभक्तं वै मध्याह्नोत्सवतः परम् ।
विप्रान्संभोज्य मिष्टान्नै रामप्रीति समाचरेत् ॥
गोभूतिलहरिरण्याद्येर्वस्त्रालंकरणेस्तथा ।
एव यः कुरुते भक्त्या श्रीरामनवमीव्रतम् ॥
विधूय चेहपापानि व्रजेद्विष्णोः परं पदम् ।
(नारद-पुराण ११८.२-५)
caitrasya śuklapakṣē tu śrī-rāma-navamī-vratam
tatrōpavāsaṃ vidhivacchaktō bhaktaḥ samācarēt
aśaktaścaikabhaktaṃ vai madhyāhnōtsavataḥ param
viprānsaṃbhōjya miṣṭānnai rāmaprīti samācarēt
gōbhūtilahariraṇyādyērvastrālaṃkaraṇēstathā
ēva yaḥ kurutē bhaktyā śrīrāmanavamīvratam
vidhūya cēhapāpāni vrajēdviṣṇōḥ paraṃ padam
(nārada-purāṇa 118.2-5)
Sanatan Ji tells in Narada-Purana -
“Shri Ramanavami-Vrat falls on the ninth day of the bright-half (Shukla-Paksha) of Chaitra Month [caitrasya śuklapakṣē tu
śrī-rāma-navamī-vratam]. A devotee should properly and duly (vidhivat) observe this Vratam (fast) [observe fast whole day
with all devotion for the pleasing of Lord Shri Rama, establishing oneself in good conduct throughout the day without incurring
any sin)] and celebrate the festival (utsava) of the appearance of Lord Shri Rama during afternoon [by offering sweets, flowers,
fragrance, clothes, etc to him]. If one is unable to fast whole day, then one can have prasad only once after the celebration
of the Mid-day festival. After observing Upavasa, feed some pious Vipras, and donate something like cow, land, sesame, gold,
clothes, ornaments etc to some Shri Rama-devotee(s) for the satisfaction of Shri Rama. This way whoever observes Shri
Rama-Navami Vrata duly, he destroys all the sins and goes to the supreme abode of Vishnu (i.e. Visnoh Paramam Padam as
described in Veda-s) of Lord Rama [vrajed.vishnoh paramam padam].”
Ancient Acharyas of Sanatan Vaidic dharma like Jagadguru Shri Aadya Ramanandacharya, Jagadguru Shri Madhvacharya etc have directly quoted from Shri Agastya-Samhita, the most renowned scripture on Shri Rama bhakti, for when and how to observe Shri Ramanavami-vrata.
अगस्त्य उवाच
सर्वानुष्ठानसारं ते सर्वदानोत्तमोत्तमः ।
रहस्यं कथयिष्यामि सुतीक्ष्ण मुनिसत्तम ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.१)
agastya uvāca
sarvānuṣṭhānasāraṃ tē sarvadānōttamōttamaḥ ।
rahasyaṃ kathayiṣyāmi sutīkṣṇa munisattama ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.1)
Sage Agastya says to Maharshi Sutikshana :
“Oh great among sages, Sutikshana! I am telling You the secret of which one is the best observation/Vrata
(Rama-Navami Vrata, the best) among all pious observations (Vratas) and the best donation among all great
donations.”
चैत्रेनवम्यां प्राक्पक्षे दिवा पुण्ये पुनर्वसौ ।
उदये गुरुगौरांशोः स्वोच्चस्थे ग्रहपञ्चके ॥
मेषे पूषणि संप्राप्ते लग्ने कर्कटिकाह्वये ।
आविरासीत् सकलया कौशल्यायां परः पुमान् ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.२-३)
caitrēnavamyāṃ prākpakṣē divā puṇyē punarvasau ।
udayē gurugaurāṃśōḥ svōccasthē grahapañcakē ॥
mēṣē pūṣaṇi saṃprāptē lagnē karkaṭikāhvayē ।
āvirāsīt sakalayā kauśalyāyāṃ paraḥ pumān ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.2-3)
“On the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra-month, when there was Punarvasu Nakshatra, Brihaspati was risen high, planets were in their foremost (best) arrangement, Sun was in the Mesha-Rashi and there was Karka-lagna, then the Param-Purusha (paraḥ pumān, the supreme personality of Godhead) Shri Rama with his all Kala-s appeared from the womb of Kausalya.”
उच्चस्थे ग्रहपञ्चके सुरगुरौ सेन्दौ नवम्यां तिथौ
लग्ने कर्कटके पुनर्वसुयुते मेषं गते पूषणि ।
निर्दग्धुं निखिलाः पलाश-समिधो मेध्यादयोध्या-
अरणेराविर्भूतमभूतपूर्वविभवं यत्किंचिदेकं महः ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.४)
uccasthē grahapañcakē suragurau
sēndau navamyāṃ tithau
lagnē karkaṭakē punarvasu yutē
mēṣaṃ gatē pūṣaṇi ।
nirdagdhuṃ nikhilāḥ palāśa-
samidhō mēdhyād-ayōdhyāraṇēr-
āvirbhūtamabhūt-apūrva-
vibhavaṃ yatkiṃcidēkaṃ mahaḥ ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.4)
“When the five planets were in their best positions, Brihaspati was with chandrama, day was chaitra-shukla-navami, nakshatra was Punarvasu, Sun was in Mesha-Raashi, lagna was Karka, then that time for burning the Samidhas (sacrificial-woods) in the form of the Rakshas (demons) of the world, an unique divine splendor, which never happened earlier, named Rama appeared in the holiest Ayodhya.”
चैत्रमासे नवम्यां तु शुक्लपक्षे रघूत्तमः ।
प्रादुरासीत्पुरा ब्रह्मन् परब्रह्मैव केवलम् ॥
तस्मिन् दिने तु कर्तव्यमुपवासव्रतन्तदा ।
ततो जागरणं कुर्याद्रघुनाथपरो भुवि ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.५-६)
caitramāsē navamyāṃ tu śuklapakṣē raghūttamaḥ ।
prādurāsītpurā brahman parabrahmaiva kēvalam ॥
tasmin dinē tu kartavyamupavāsavratantadā ।
tatō jāgaraṇaṃ kuryādraghunāthaparō bhuvi ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.5-6)
“Thus, on the navami of the bright half of Chaitra month, Para-brahman Shri Rama, the best among Raghus, the supreme Absolute Truth himself (parabrahmaiva kēvalam) appeared in the ancient times. Therefore, one should observe Vrata of Upvasa (fast and worship Bhagavan in various ways) and Jagaran on that day to please Raghunatha (Shri Rama).”
प्रातर्दशम्यां कृत्वा तु संध्यादि सकला क्रियाः ।
संपूज्य विधिवद् रामं भक्त्या वित्तानुसारतः ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.७)
prātardaśamyāṃ kṛtvā tu saṃdhyādi sakalā kriyāḥ ।
saṃpūjya vidhivad rāmaṃ bhaktyā vittānusārataḥ ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.7)
“In the morning of dashami (i.e. the next morning), one should worship Bhagavan Shri Rama with devotion and Vidhis, and donate something to some Rama-devotee and feed them as per one's financial capability (vittānusārataḥ).”
रामभक्ततान् प्रयत्नेन प्रीणयेत् परया मुदा ।
एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या श्रीरामनवमीव्रतम् ॥
अनेकजन्मसिद्धानि पातकानि बहून्यपि ।
भस्मीकृत्य व्रजत्येव श्रीविष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.९-१०)
rāma-bhaktatān prayatnēna prīṇayēt parayā mudā ।
ēvaṃ yaḥ kurutē bhaktyā śrīrāmanavamīvratam ॥
anēkajanmasiddhāni pātakāni bahūnyapi ।
bhasmīkṛtya vrajatyēva śrīviṣṇōḥ paramaṃ padam ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 16.9-10)
“One should try to please and satisfy the devotees of Bhagavan Shri Rama (rāma-bhaktatān) with whole heart (next morning, on dashami by serving them, feeding and donating them). This way if one does Shri Rama Navami Vrata, then one's all sins of countless births are destroyed and one gets the Supreme abode of Bhagavan Shri Rama (Vishnoh-Paramam-Padam Nitya Ayodhya dhaam).”
सर्वेषामप्ययं धर्मो मुक्तिभुक्त्यैकसाधनः ।
अशुचिर्वापी पापिष्ठः कृत्वेदं व्रतमुत्तमम् ॥
पूज्यः स्यात् सर्वभूतानां यथा रामस्तथैव सः ।
यस्तु रामनवम्यान्तु भुङ्क्ते स तु नराधमः ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.११-१२)
sarvēṣāmapyayaṃ dharmō muktibhuktyaikasādhanaḥ
aśucirvāpī pāpiṣṭhaḥ kṛtvēdaṃ vratamuttamam
pūjyaḥ syāt sarvabhūtānāṃ yathā rāmastathaiva saḥ
yastu rāmanavamyāntu bhuṅktē sa tu narādhamaḥ
(agastya samhita 16.11-12)
“It is dharma for all people (not just for Shri Rama devotees to observe Rama-Navami Vrata and please Bhagavan Shri Rama and Shri Rama-devotees), It is the certain path for bhukti (happiness here) and Mukti (liberation). Whether one is impure or even the worst fallen sinner, even that person can become the worshipable for all living-beings by doing this best among all Vratas (vratam-uttamam). Contrary to this if some capable person eats the general food, he is regarded as Naradhama (most fallen among humans).”
अकृत्वा रामनवमीव्रतं सर्वोत्तमोत्तम् ।
व्रतान्यन्यानि कुरुते न तेषां फलभाग् भवेत् ॥
सर्वव्रतस्य प्रीत्यर्थमिदं श्रीरामव्रतं चरेत् ।
(अगस्त्य संहिता १६.१५-१६)
akṛtvā rāmanavamīvrataṃ sarvōttamōttam ।
vratānyanyāni kurutē na tēṣāṃ phalabhāg bhavēt ॥
sarvavratasya prītyarthamidaṃ śrīrāmavrataṃ carēt
(agastya samhita 16.15-16)
“If one doesn't do Shri Ramanavami vratam, the best among all Vratas, and does other various Vratas of the year, then such a person doesn't get fruits of other various Vratas. Therefore, one should do Rama-vrata for pleasing (making) other various Vratas (fructified) also.”
(Therefore, one shouldn't miss to observe Ramanavami vrat in any condition, as from this Vrata alone, other Vratas get pleased [means become fruitful]. From this Vrata, one gets the Supreme abode of Bhagavan and his bhakti.)
On which day one should observe Shri Ramanavami Vrata?
अगस्त्य उवाच
चैत्रमासे नवम्यां तु जातो रामः स्वयं हरिः ।
पुनर्वस्वृक्षसहिता सा तिथिः सर्वकामदा ॥
श्रीरामनवमी प्रोक्ता कोटिसूर्यग्रहाधिका ।
चैत्रशुद्धे तु नवमी पुनर्वसुयुता यदि ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १८.१-२)
agastya uvāca
caitramāsē navamyāṃ tu jātō rāmaḥ svayaṃ hariḥ ।
punarvasvṛkṣasahitā sā tithiḥ sarvakāmadā ॥
śrīrāmanavamī prōktā kōṭisūryagrahādhikā ।
caitraśuddhē tu navamī punarvasuyutā yadi ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 18.1-2)
“On the navami of the bright-half (shukla-Paksha), the Lord Shri Rama, the swayam hari, the swayam Bhagavan himself appeared. If there prevails Punarvasu-Nakshatra, then that day fulfills all the wishes. This is called Ramanavami Vrata day, if there is presence of Punarvasu Nakshatra on the ninth day, it gives greater merit than the billions of merit done during Surya-grahan day.”
पुनर्वस्वृक्षसंयोगः स्वल्पोऽपी यदि दृश्यते ।
चैत्रशुद्धनवम्यां तु सा तिथिः सर्वकामदा ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १८.३)
punarvasvṛkṣasaṃyōgaḥ svalpō'pī yadi dṛśyatē ।
caitraśuddhanavamyāṃ tu sā tithiḥ sarvakāmadā ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 18.3)
“If there is even slight presence of Punarvasu Nakshatra on the Shukla-Paksha-Navami, then It is called Shuddha (Purest) Rama-navami day and that day vrata bestows all rewards (wishes).”
नवमी चाष्टमी विद्धा त्याज्या रामपरायणैः ।
उपोषणं नवम्यां वै दशम्यामेव पारणं ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १८.१३)
navamī cāṣṭamī viddhā tyājyā rāmaparāyaṇaiḥ ।
upōṣaṇaṃ navamyāṃ vai daśamyāmēva pāraṇaṃ ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 18.13)
“The devotees of Shri Rama i.e. Vaishnavas should leave that navami which is ashtami-viddha (mixed with ashtami), and after ovserving fast on the Shuddha-navami, one should do Paran (open the fast) in Dashami (10th day).”
Therefore, One should observe fast on Shuddha-Navami, and open the fast next day on dashami morning after doing Puja of Bhagavan Shri Rama and satisfying some Rama-devotees (better one's own Rama-bhakta guru).
The person who wants to observe Ramanavami vrata should prepare himself one day before of Chaitra Shukla Navami i.e. Chaitra Shukla Ashatami. On Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, devotee should take bath early in the morning and then pray Lord Shri Rama, and eagerly wait for the next day i.e. Rama navami day to celebrate Lord's birthday (appearance day).
Then, in the early morning of Shri Ramanavami, one should take bath in some sacred river, and if taking bath in some sacred river is not possible, then take bath singing the name of Bhagavan Shri Rama, it would be equal to taking bath in the most divine river Sarayu which bestows liberation and bhakti of Bhagavan, therefore Sarayu is treated as Sushamna naadi. After taking bath, devotee should clean the puja-place, bring the flowers, fruits etc at the puja-place for the morning Puja of Bhagavan. Then, take an asana (made of either Kusha-grass or woolen mat or silk) to sit in front of deity / image of Bhagavan Shri Rama, sit in comfortable Sukhasana or Padmasana Posture. Remember first Gurudeva, then one's Guru-Parampara, and then Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama and do salutations to them.
After this, recite the purification Mantra for the purification of the place around, the materials of puja and self:
Purification Mantra
Take some water in hands, and while remembering this Mantra, sprinkle that water [thinking it to be sacred and empowered by the Mantra to purify the things and place] around self and on the Puja-materials, fruits, flowers etc.
ॐ अपवित्रो पवित्रो वा, सर्व अवस्थां गतो अपि वा ।
यः स्मरेत् पुण्डरीकाक्षं, बाह्य अभ्यन्तरे सः शुचि ॥
Auṃ apavitrō pavitrō vā sarva avasthāṃ gatō api vā
yaḥ smarēt puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ bāhyābhyantarē saḥ śuci
“Be anyone in clean or unclean state, or in any condition either, if one remembers Lord Pundarikaaksh (Shri Rama), that person is purified from outside and inside.”
Then, Take some fresh water, some grains of rice (akshat), and Pushp (flowers) into the cupped palm of the right hand (support the right hand from below with help of the left hand palm), and do Sankalpa with the following Mantra:
Sankalp-Mantra
Here is the Sankalpa-mantra customised for taking resolution on Shri Rama-Navami 2017 to observe Vrat for pleasing Bhagavan Shri Rama:
श्रीसीताराम । ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः श्रीमद्-भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य ब्रह्मणो द्वितीयपरार्धे श्रीश्वेतवाराहकल्पे वैवस्वतमन्वन्तरे अष्टाविंशतितमे कलियुगे कलिप्रथमचरणे “0. जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे भरतखण्डे आर्यावर्तैकदेशे” “1. पाटलिपुत्र” नगरे (/ग्रामे) “2. गङ्गातीरे” “3. श्रीसंवत् द्विसहस्राशीतिःः (२०८०)” वैक्रमाब्दे वर्तमाने “4. पिङ्गल” नामसंवत्सरे श्रीसूर्ये “5. उत्तरायणे” “6. वसन्त” ऋतोः महामांगल्यप्रदे “7. चैत्र” मासे शुभे “8. शुक्ल” पक्षे “9. नवम्यां” तिथौ “10. बृहस्पतिवासरे ” “11.कश्यप” गोत्रोत्पन्नो “12. ...” नामोऽहं” “13. श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रीत्यर्थं” “14.श्रीरामनवमीव्रतं” करिष्ये । ॐ तत्सत्।
śrīsītārāma । oṃ viṣṇur-viṣṇur-viṣṇuḥ śrīmad-bhagavatō mahā-puruṣasya viṣṇōrājñayā pravartamānasya brahmaṇō dvitīya-parārdhē śrī-śvēta-vārāha-kalpē vaivasvata-manvantarē aṣṭāviṃśatitamē kaliyugē kali-prathama-caraṇē “0. jambū-dvīpē bhārata-varṣē bharata-khaṇḍē āryāvartaika-dēśē” “1. pāṭaliputra” nagarē (/grāmē) “2. gaṅgātīrē” “3. śrīsaṃvat dvisahasrāśītiḥ (2080)” vaikramābdē vartamānē “4. piṅgala” nāma-saṃvatsarē śrīsūryē “5. uttarāyaṇē” “6. vasanta” ṛtōḥ mahā-māṃgalya-pradē “7. caitra” māsē śubhē “8. śukla” pakṣē “9. navamyāṃ” tithau “10. bṛhaspati-vāsarē “11.kaśyapa” gōtrōtpannō “12 tell Your (Vaishnava) name ...nāmō'haṃ” “13. śrī-rāmacandra-prītyarthaṃ” “14.śrī-rāmanavamī-vrataṃ” kariṣyē । oṃ tatsat।
Sankalpa is done by taking some water, some grains of rice and flowers in the palm of right hand, and then one should utter the Sankalpa mantra (keeping the meaning in heart). After reading the Sankalp mantra, one should leave the water (with rice-grains, and flowers) of the right palm in front of self. A Vaidic Sankalpa comprises person's identification along with his lineage, particular geo location, purpose, (wish/desire and determination), target (Deity). Therefore, it needs to be customized by the person as per one's Vaidic identification, time, place and the wish and the determination. For Rama-navami-Vrata, the Sankalpa-mantra is provided above. Those devotee who are not living in Bharat-Varsha (India), they should say the name of country in place of 0. जम्बूद्वीपे भारतवर्षे आर्यावर्तैकदेशे - jambūdvīpē bhāratavarṣē āryāvartaikadēśē' e.g. america-dēśē or russia-dēśē etc.
Similary say at
1. the name of Your city or village in which one is living presently;
2. if one is living on the bank of some river, then utter the name of river in plance of Ganga;
3. the century of Vikram-Samvat as given for this year;
4. the name of Samvatsara i.e. piṅgala;
5. the name of summer-solastice or winter solastice (Uttarāyana or Dakshināyana), currently Uttarāyana on Shri Ramanavami day;
6. the name of season (i.e. Vasanta - spring, from Vasant - Spring; Grishma - Summer; Varsha - Monsoon; Sharad - Autumn; Hemant - Prewinter; Shishir - Winter);
7. the month i.e. Chaitra (as per the month of Vrata, learn the names of all twelve months);
8. the phase (Paksha) of month i.e. Shukla-Pakshe here. (There are two phases [Paksha] in month: Shukla-Pakhsa - bright-half; Krishna-paksha - dark-phase);
9. Tithi [date] (i.e. navamyām for navami; ekādashyām for ekādashai; learn the dates);
10. the day of Vrat i.e. Brihaspati here for Ramanavami day in India;
11. One's gotra;
12. One's name (tell the Vaidic name if given by gurudeva);
13. The purpose of doing Vrata i.e. here śrī-rāmacaṃdra-prītyarthaṃ - means for pleasing Bhagavan Shri Rama (one can always tell the same for all Vratas and sacred observations or while doing pious activities);
14. the name of Vrata i.e. Shri-Rama-Navami-vratam.
Another way for श्रीरामचंद्रप्रीत्यर्थं* (for pleasing Lord Shri Ramchandra) - मम भगवत् श्रीरामचंद्र-प्रीति-कामनया (for the love and devotion of my dearest Bhagavan Shri Rama)
If one wants to get some fruits through observing the fast on Ramanavami, one should take the vow (Sankalpa) in this way "मम भगवत्प्रीतिकामनया ( वामुकफलप्राप्तिकामनया ) रामजयन्तीव्रतमहं करिष्ये " (That I am going to fast on Ramanavami Vratam for "-------" - say your desire here). After doing Sankalpa in this way one should abstain himself from anger, lust, desire, etc for whole day and night.
After Sankalpa, Do Namaskara to Bhagavan Shri Rama, and Sita, and their Nitya-Parikaras (eternal retinues) with Namaskar Mantras. And then one should
अस्मिन दिने महापुण्ये राममुद्दिश्य भक्तितः ।
यत्किञ्चित् क्रियते कर्म तद् भवक्षयकारकम् ॥
(अगस्त्य संहिता १८.४)
asmina dinē mahāpuṇyē rāmamuddiśya bhaktitaḥ ।
yatkiñcit kriyatē karma tad bhavakṣayakārakam ॥
(agastya saṃhitā 18.4)
“On the day of Rama-Navami, whatever worship, offerings etc to Bhagavan etc is done with devotion for pleasing Lord Shri Rama, those become the destroyer of the bondage from the ocean of transmigration.”
उपोष्य च स्मरन् रामं न्यासपूर्वमनन्यधीः ।
गुरोर्लब्धमनुर्यस्तु तस्य न्यासपुरस्सरम् ॥
यामे यामे च विधिवद्रामपूजां समाहितः ।
(अगस्त्य संहिता १७.३४-३५)
upōṣya ca smaran rāmaṃ nyāsa-pūrvam-ananyadhīḥ
gurōr-labdha-manuryastu tasya nyāsapurassaram
yāmē yāmē ca vidhivadrāmapūjāṃ samāhitaḥ
(agastya saṃhitā 17.34-35)
“On the day of Shri Ramanavami, With fasting (upavasa) and remembering Bhagavan Shri Rama, one should chant the mantra bestowed by one's Gurudeva (gurōr-labdha) with whole heart and focused mind on Bhagavan, after doing mantra-nyasas*. And one should keep doing dhyana at intervals, on the two armed Shri Rama [along with Sita] (as told earlier, in the center of the divine spiritual world of Ayodhya), and then worship him Vidhivad (with Vidhis).”
(a) Remembering Bhagavan at heart, one should chant the Rama-mantra given by one's Gurudeva as much as possible.
(b) One should learn the mantra-nyasa mantras and Kara-nyasa mantras from one's Gurudeva to chant with all Vidhis.
(c) At intervals of the day, at least 3 times - in morning, afternoon and evening, one should meditate upon Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama, and worship them duly. In the night also, one should meditate, remember and sing Shri Rama on Shri Rama-navami day.
(d) In the afternoon at the time of appearance of Bhagavan Shri Rama, one should do special worship i.e. Shodashopachar Puja of Bhagavan.
Agastya samhita says a devotee should do षोडशोपचार पूजा ṣōḍaśōpacāra pūjā (i.e. with 16 of Bhagavan Shri Rama on Shri Rama navami. One should learn the mantras for these 16 step Puja.
षोडशोपचार पूजा Ṣōḍaśōpacāra pūjā (Shodashopachar Puja) of Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama on Shri Ramanavami
1. आवाहन (āvāhana) - With dhyana (meditation), avahan-mantra, and whole heart & soul, Bhagavan is requested to come before us along with his consort and retinues and accept the Puja. Then, offer some flower, akshat, Tulasi etc.
2. आसन (āsana) - Offering seat. Bhagavan is requested with mantra to take seat before us (a pure and beautiful place is given to Bhagavan to take seat).
3. पाद्य (Pādya) - Offering water for feet wash. Bhagavan ShriShri SitaRama is given pure water for his feet-wash.
Take a copper or brass tray plate, and leave some water mentally thinking personally washing his lotus feet. If one has deity, then keep deity of Bhagavan Shri Rama on the copper plate [tray dish] and leave some water over his lotus-feet.
4. अर्घ्यं (arghyaṃ) - Offering water to Bhagavan for hand wash.
Take fresh water in copper bowl, mix some chandan (sandalwood-paste), few rice grain, and put flower, and drop some water over the hands of Bhagavan.
5. आचमन (ācamana) - Offering water to Bhagavan Shri Rama for his mouth-wash.
Drop some fresh water though copper spoon in the copper plate.
6. स्नान (snāna) - Offering bath to deity. Bhagavan ShrShri SitaRama is given bath.
If one has image, first clean the image with dry cloth and then with wet cloth, and then sprinkle some water with flower or basil leaves over the image. If one has deity of metal, then one can give bath with water. One can also give a Panchamrit Snan to deity of Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama with milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery-water, and after giving bath with each item in the order, give bath with fresh water, then give bath with another item. All these should be done in a special tray for bath, so that items could be collected as Prasad.
In the end, give bath to bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama with sandal-water, then fragrant water, then little warm water, all baths should be give with a slow current of water with over deity. While giving Maha-abhisheka (bath) to Bhagavan this way, one should keep singing some stuti or sukta dedicated to Bhagavan Shri Rama. After giving bath, dry the deity with cloth.
7. वस्त्र - आभूषण - अलंकार (vastra - ābhūṣaṇa - alaṃkāra) - Offering new clothes, ornaments and adornments to Bhagavan Shri Rama and his dearest consort Sita as per one's capability. One should think that one is personally adorning Bhagavan with Yellow clothes, ornaments and other adornments. One should offer new cloth, ornaments and adornments to Sita Ji also.
8. यज्ञोपवीत (yajñōpavīta) - Offering sacred thread to Bhagavan after giving vastra.
9. गंध-चन्दन (gaṃdha-candana) – Offering sandal-paste to Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama.
10. पुष्प (puṣpa) – Offering various flowers to Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama, and basil leaves to Shri Rama.
11. धूप (dhūpa) – Offering dhupa to deities.
12. दीप (dīpa) – Showing soft-light of ghee to Bhagavan.
13. नैवेद्य (naivēdya) – Offering various sweets, fruits, Raja-bhoga (royal-foods), water etc to Bhagavan Shri Shri SitaRama. After this, offering some mouth freshner like ताम्बूल (tāmbūla – betel leaf) or cardamoms etc and water.
14. नमस्कार - जप - पाठ (namaskāra - japa -pāṭha ) – doing salutations to Bhagavan ShriShri SitaRama with whole heart, and then doing chanting of Guru mantra as much as possible, doing some Patha (recitation) of Rāmāyana or Moola-Rāmāyana etc.
15. प्रदक्षिणा-स्तुति (pradakṣiṇā-stuti) – doing stuti or Aarati of Bhagavan in the end, and thereafter doing cumambulation of deity mentally at one's own position after standing.
16. मंत्र पुष्पांजलि (mantra puṣpānjali) – Finally Offering some flowers with mantra to Bhagavan, while asking forgiveness for all the offenses done in past.
मुमुक्षवोऽपि च सदा श्रीरामनवमीव्रतम् ॥
न् त्यजन्ति सुरश्रेष्ठो देवेन्द्रोपि विशेषतः ।
(अगस्त्य संहिता १७.३५ख-३६क)
mumukṣavō'pi ca sadā śrīrāmanavamīvratam ॥
n tyajanti suraśrēṣṭhō dēvēndrōpi viśēṣataḥ ।
(agastya saṃhitā 17.35kha-36ka)
“Even they who are ever engaged in sadhanas for moksha like doing penance, Jnana, bhakti etc, never miss to do Shri Ramanavami-vrata, not only they, even the king amongs gods, Indra also observe Shri Ramanavami vrata.”
Therefore, one should never ever miss Shri Ramnavami Vrat, thinking I am doing some Sadhana or Tapa or some superior bhakti etc. If one pleases Shri Rama, one gets everything, and all Tapasya and bhakti are fructified.
The mystery behind the appearance of Lord Śrī Rāma on the Navami day (i.e. the 9th day)?
There are many mysetries associated with Ramanavami which are unkown to common people. One mysetry is - Navami is associated with the largest one digit number '9' which is also known as the perfect or complete one digit number (पूर्णांक). Therefore, digit 9 represents the original personality of Godhead. Navami is the day chosen by the superem personality who is the most complete in all Kalyan-gun-Gunas (auspicious qualities), the Absolute and ultimate reality to manifest himself to impart the supreme bliss to his devotees . The most superior lord, the supreme personality of godhead Shri Rama appears on Navami. As Śrī Rāma is the most superior (Param Purusa of Vedas, or the Parambrahman), so he is always perfect and complete like the number 9. There are 3 Purna-Avtaras of which Lord Śrī Rāma is Pari-Purntamam Brahman (the most complete which means the most superior god himself manifests as the prince of Ayodhya).
In the morning, one should read or listen Shri Ramayana or Shri Ramcharitamanas and chant the Shri Rāma Mantra given by Gurudeva. After the chanting of Mantra, one should do Havan for 1/10th of total chanting. If possible, one can chant "Rāma" Naam throughout the day and in night as long one can do. In afternoon, one should do Shodashopachar (षोडशोपचार) worship of Lord Shri Rāma, the method of Shodashopachar Puja for Ram-Navami Vrat is given there in Agastya-Samhita. Devotees should worship Bhagavan in various ways, offer him sweets, fruits, halva made of fruit-items etc in the afternoon, and do the following Stuti of Lord, when Lord appears in the afternoon:
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भए प्रगट कृपाला दीनदयाला कौसल्या हितकारी। |
The gracious Lord, who is compassionate to the lowly and the benefactor of Kausalyā appeared. The thought of His marvellous form, which stole the heart of sages, filled the mother with joy. His body was dark as a cloud, the delight of all eyes; in his two arms, He bore His characteristic emblems are rotating (a conch-shell, a discus, a club and a lotus). Adorned with jewels and a garland of sylvan flowers and endowed with large eyes, the Slayer of the demon Khara was an ocean of beauty. ॥1॥ |
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कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता। |
Joining both her palms the mother said, O'infinite Lord, how can I praise You! The Vedas as well as the Purāna-s declare You as transcending Māyā, beyond attributes, above knowledge and beyond all measure. He who is sung by the Vedas and holy men as an ocean of mercy and bliss and the repository of all virtues, the same Lord of Lakhamī, the lover of His devotees, has revealed Himself for my good. ॥2॥ |
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ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै। |
The Vedas proclaim that every pore of Your body contains multitudes of universes brought forth by Māyā. That such a Lord stayed in my womb, this amusing story staggers the mind of even men of wisdom. When the revelation came upon the mother, the Lord smiled; He would perform many a sportive act. Therefore He exhorted her by telling her the charming account of her previous birth so that she might love Him as her own child. ॥3॥ |
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माता पुनि बोली सो मति डोली तजहु तात यह रूपा। |
The mother's mind was changed; she spoke again, Give up this superhuman form and indulge in childish sports, which are so dear to a motther's heart; the joy that comes from such sports is unequalled in everyway. Hearing these words the all-wise Lord of immortals became an infant and began to cry. Those who sing this lay (says Tulasīdāsa) attain to the abode of Śrī Hari and never fall into the well of mundane existence. ॥4॥ |
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दोहा : बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार। |
For the sake of BrāhmaNa-s, cows, gods and saints, the Lord, who transcends Māyā and is beyond the three modes of PrakRuti (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) as well as beyond the reach of the senses took birth as a man assuming a form which is a product of His own will.] |
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In the night, one should do Jagaran, meditate upon bhagavan, chant naam, sing bhajans, dance in the ecstasy as if the supreme Lord of cosmos has appeared in one's own home as the sweetest baby.
After completion of observing whole day fast, one should open the fast on Chaitra Shukla Dasami after morning worship of Lord Shri Rama. Before breaking the fast, one should donate something to dear devotees of Bhagavan Shri Rama to satisfy them, and feed some Vaishnavas, Vipras, cows etc.
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अवधेसके द्वारें सकारें गई सुत गोद कै भूपति लै निकसे । |
A woman of Kaushala-Kingdom is describing the beauty of child Rāma with her friend: O' Friend, one morning I went to the door of the King of Ayodhya where i saw king Dasratha coming out with baby Rāma in his lap. Just upon seeing Rāma, Who destroys wordly passions, I almost lost my mind and senses, and those who don't lose their sense are really unfortunate. ॥1॥ |
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तुलसी मन-रंजन रंजित-अंजन नैन सुखंजन-जातक-से । |
Joining both her palms the mother said, O'infinite Lord, how can I praise You! The Vedas as well as the Purāna-s declare You as transcending Māyā, beyond attributes, above knowledge and beyond all measure. He who is sung by the Vedas and holy men as an ocean of mercy and bliss and the repository of all virtues, the same Lord of Lakhamī, the lover of His devotees, has revealed Himself for my good. ॥2॥ |
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पग नूपुर औ पहुँची करकंजनि मंजु बनी मनिमाल हिएँ । |
Rāma was wearing anklets in his feet, bracelets in His hands, and a beautiful necklace adorned with gems and jewels in his neck. Necklace was resiting on his heart. King Dasaratha was blissful and totally engrossed in charm of Baby Rāma whose blue body which was wrapped in a beautiful yellow robe. ॥3॥ |
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अरबिंदु सो आननु रूप मरंदु अनंदित लोचन-बृंग पिएँ । |
Rāma's face was like a lotus which raptured my eyes and I drank the nectar of that lotus (face) through my eyes resemling bumble-bee drinking nectar of flower. If someone couldn't keep such a beautiful baby in heart, then (Goswami Tulsidas thinks) there is really no use of living such a life in world. ॥4॥ |
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तनकी दुति स्याम सरोरुह लोचन कंचकी मंजुलताई हरैं । |
The bodily luster of baby Rāma was like a blue lotus and his eyes were stealing away the beauty of a red lotus. When baby Rama played in soil, his body with soil was looking amazingly beautiful and this (beauty), from a long distance, was even exceeding the beauty of highly decorated myriad of cupids. ॥5॥ |
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दमकैं दँतियाँ दुति दामिनि-ज्यौं किलकैं कल बाल-बिनोद करैं । |
Teeth of baby Rama were shining like the lightening, yet (even after all these transcendental beauty) baby Rāma was behaving like a common young baby in playing. May the four sons of Dashrath, Rāma, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna always sports inside the heart of Tulsidas. ॥6॥ |