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Sri Rama Navami signifies Sri Rama's Birthday and this year falls on March 24, the last day of Vasantha Navaratri. Sri Rama is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is known for his compassion towards human beings. 'Ra-Ma' is an unparalleled mantra which attracts wealth and provides you protection from evil. Even the mighty Lord Shiva once told his wife Parvati that the easiest way to attain the highest in spiritual and material domains is by praying to Lord Rama and chanting his name. Lord Shiva went to the extent of saying that this is equivalent to even chanting the sacred Vishnu Sahasranama.

Sri Rama embodies highest purity. He destroyed the demon king Ravana which stands for all that is evil in our daily lives. Rama Navami presents a great opportunity to pray to Lord Rama for material and spiritual progress. Lord Hanuman is absolutely dedicated to Lord Rama and blesses whoever prays to Lord Rama on this day. It is said wherever the holy name of Sri Rama is chanted Lord Hanuman is there to sort out your problems.

The Sun has a close to connection to Sri Rama. The word 'Ra' means 'brilliance of Sun' and is customary to invoke Sun before starting the prayers for Lord Rama.

Natal chart of Rama

Valmiki in his Sanskrit text Ramayan describes the natal or birth chart of young Rama , and this day is celebrated as Ramanavami festival.

“On completion of the ritual six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra month [March-April], when the presiding deity of ruling star of the day is Aditi, where the ruling star of day is Punarvasu (Nakshatra), the asterism is in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets viz., Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are at their highest position, when Jupiter with Moon is ascendant in Cancer, and when day is advancing, then Queen Kausalya gave birth to a son with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate lips, voice like drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshwaku dynasty, who is adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome of Vishnu, namely Rama.”

- Bala Kanda, Ramayana by Valmiki, Chapter (Sarga) 18, Verse 8, 9, 10 and 11

Every Incarnation comes to Earth with a specific purpose

The main task of every Incarnation is to destroy evil and establish the Divine Kingdom; but the percentage and proportion of this varies in different Yugas. And, all activities of the Incarnation are centred around this task.

Killing of Ravana: Ravana was highly learned and possessed the knowledge of Righteousness (Dharma). Lord Rama had to destroy him, so that He could protect the embodied souls doing spiritual practice. Lord Rama acquired a gross body to help the souls pursue their spiritual aspirations appropriately.

Final Liberation: Many embodied souls completed their individual spiritual practice through the path of Knowledge (Dhyanyoga) but since their spiritual practice for the sake of society (Samashti sadhana) was incomplete, their spiritual practice for Final Liberation remained incomplete. In Satya-yuga there was no way to perform spiritual practice for the sake of society and as a result many embodied souls got stuck midway. For their progress and liberation, they were born as monkeys (vanars) during Lord Rama's time. Some of the Gods who had been cursed were also born during this period as monkeys. In order to make all these embodied souls practice spirituality for the sake of society and their progress, Lord Rama acquired a gross body.

To set an ideal for the people: Lord Rama set an example through each and every action of His. He explained how an embodied soul can attain Final Liberation by acting in accord-ance with the scriptures.

He set an example of a Divine Kingdom for the people: When Righteousness (Dharma) manifested in the gross, Unrighteousness (Adharma) also manifested in the gross. Many embodied souls started troubling Sages and others who acted in accordance with the scriptures. During that time Lord Rama protected the Sages and set an example through His own deeds for all kings as to how a Divine Kingdom should be. Lord Rama is an ideal of how selfless, free from desire and impartial a King can be!

The Follower of Righteousness (Dharma): Lord Rama observed all decorum prescribed by Dharma; that is why He is referred to as 'Maryadapurushottam'. Also, honouring one's word (Ekvachani) and needing just one arrow or shot to find the mark (Ekbani) and having only one wife (Ekpatni), when the norm was for Kings of that era to have many wives, are His well-known attributes.

The real kingdom of Lord Rama dwells within oneself. The implied meaning of this is absolute control over the five sense organs, five motor organs, mind, subconscious mind, intellect and ego by the Rama principle (Atmarama - the Soul principle).

Lord Rama: An Ideal

The Ideal son: He always obeyed His parents; at times even advised the elders.

The Ideal brother: Rama-Lakshman's love is cited as the ideal of brotherly love.

The Ideal husband: He was devoted to His one and only wife. Kings, then, use to have many wives.

The Ideal friend: He helped Sugreev, Bibhishan and many others during their difficult times.

The Ideal King: He followed all codes of conduct for Kings as laid down in our scriptures.

The Ideal Enemy: Bibhishan refused to perform the last rites of Ravan, his brother. Lord Rama said to him, ''If you do not do it, I will. He was my brother too!''

Maryadapurushottam: He represents the Supreme extent of Righteousness.

Note:-

- Fasting till Noon i.e. 12:00PM - (Only Ekadshi Prasadam to be taken)

- More chanting and service is required