Sree Ram Navami

[Guest guest]

SREE RAM NAVAMI (13-04-2008)

 

The birthday of Sri Rama Chandra is observed on the

9th of the light half of the month Chaitra

(March-April) and is observed by some as a strict

fast. It was on this day that Lord Srimaha Vishnu

incarnated as Sri Rama through Dasharadh's wife

Kaushalya. This day is also important because the

celebrated Sanskrit poet Goswami Tulsidas started

composing his classic Ram Charit Manas. The devotees

take a bath in Saryu River on this day. Fasting on

this day reminds us about the righteousness of Rama,

his devotion to Guru, caste free society, shelter to

the refugees, brotherhood, devotion to parents,

monogamy, devotion to the master as demonstrated by

Hanu-man, Angad,and dutiful devotion of huge bird

Garuda. The temples of Rama are illuminated and his

images adorned with costly ornaments. The Ramayana is

read in the temples and nautches kept up during the

night of the 9th. The celebration concludes on the

10th.

 

SREERAMA-NAVAMI FESTIVAL from Sai Satcharita-Chapter

VI

 

This day was very dear and sacred to the devotees of

Sai Baba. Most of them turned out on the occasion, and

took a leading part in the management of the fair.

Tatya Kote Patil took charge of all outside affairs,

while the internal management was totally looked after

by Radha Krishna Mai, a devotee of Baba. Her house was

full of guests on the occasion, and she had to look

after their needs, besides arranging paraphernalia

related to the fair. Another work, which she willingly

did, was to wash and clean entire Dwarakamai, it’s

walls and floor, blackened and full of soot on

ac-count of the ever-burning Dhuni (sacred fire)

initiated by Sai Baba. This work, she carried out

during the night, when Sai Baba went to sleep every

alternate day in the Chavadi. She had to take out all

the things, including the Dhuni, and replace them

after undertaking thorough cleaning and white washing.

Feeding the poor, which was so dear to Sai Baba, was

also an important item in this fair. For this purpose,

cooking food on a large scale and preparing various

sweet dishes, were also carried out in Radha-Krishna

Mai’s house. Various rich and wealthy devotees took

active part in the celebrations.

 

Compiled by:

Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar -

Hyderabad.