Celebrating Maryada Purushottama!!

माता रामो मत्पिता रामचन्द्रः ।

स्वामी रामो मत्सखा रामचन्द्रः ॥

सर्वस्वं मे रामचन्द्रो दयालु ।

नान्यं जाने नैव जाने न जाने ॥

mātā rāmo matpitā rāmacandraḥ .

svāmī rāmo matsakhā rāmacandraḥ ..

sarvasvaṃ me rāmacandro dayālu .

nānyaṃ jāne naiva jāne na jāne..

Rāma is my mother and Rāma is my father, Rāma is my lord and Rāma is my friend,

The compassionate Rāmachandra is my everything.

I do not know any other; I do not know any other; indeed I do not know any other.

A very happy Rāma Navamī to everyone!!

Today is the day Srīman Nārāyana, the Lord of the three worlds, appeared in Ayodhyā to King Dasharatha and Mother Kaushalyā! Today is the day Rāma incarnated to set an example as an ideal Son, a devoted and loving Husband, a caring Brother, a wonderful Friend, a selfless and righteous King, a mighty and valiant Warrior and an amazing Father! Today is the day Raghunātha set His tender lotus Feet on this earth to vanquish the evil, establish Dharma and uplift the downtrodden. Hari is the ultimate shelter of all beings and He became one among us on this day just to assure and guide us! Srī Rāmachandra incarnates in various Kalpas to enact many pastimes. Everytime He incarnates, He along with Srī Jānakī teach us the ideal way of life. 

What a bliss it is to walk towards His temples and venerate Him today! But due to the pandemic, we cannot visit His abodes. However, nothing can limit our Lord. He gets satisfied if we worship Him with pure devotion even in the simplest of ways. So, let's not worry about not being able to visit His temples today. Our heart houses Him and that's a great shrine, just like Hanumān had Srī Rāma in His heart!

Let's celebrate Srī Rāma Navami by reading His story and singing His glories!

Tired by the atrocities of Rāvana and his clan of Demons, all the Devas sought the guidance of Mahādeva and Brahma, who told them to seek Lord Nārāyana. The Devas didn't know where to find Him. Someone suggested that they should go to Vaikuntha. Another said that the Lord has His abode in the ocean of milk. Lord Shiva said, "Srī Hari is present everywhere alike. Tell Me any place, time or quarter of the heaven where the Lord is not present. Having taken the form of all creation, both animate and inanimate, He is yet destitute of everything and passionless; He is revealed by love just as fire is revealed by friction." Hearing His words, Brahma prayed to Srīman Nārāyana.

"Glory, all glory to You, O Lord of immortals. O delight of the devotees, O protector of the suppliant, O benefactor of cows and the Brāhmanas, O slayer of demons, O beloved Consort of Lakshmī! Glory to You, O guardian of gods and the earth, mysterious are your ways, their secret is known to none. Let Him, who is benevolent by nature show His grace! Glory, all glory to the immortal Lord Mukunda, the supreme bliss personified, the unknowable, who resides in all hearts, who is omnipresent, whose acts are holy and who is beyond the veil of Māyā. Glory to Him who is Truth, Consciousness and Bliss combined, who is most lovingly meditated upon day and night by multitudes of sages who are full of dispassion. Let the Slayer of the sinful Agha bestow His care on us. He who brought forth the threefold creation without anyone else to assist Him. He who disperses the fear of transmigration, delights the mind of sages and puts an end to hosts of calamities, we gods betake ourselves to Him in thought, word and deed, giving up our cleverness. The Lord, who is known neither to Sāradā, nor to the Vedas, nor again to Sesha nor to any of the sages, who as the Vedas proclaim loves the lowly, let Him be moved!" Saying so, the Devas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras eulogized the Lord.

The great resplendent Srī Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, arrived there mounted on His Eagle-vehicle Garuda. He was handling the conch-shell, disc, and mace in His three of four hands, clad in yellow-ochre robes and wearing golden bracelets. While gods eulogised Him, His arrival there was like the rising of sun mounted on black cloud to accord the rain. Beholding the Lord, the Gods appealed, "Oh! Vishnu, desiring prosperity in all the worlds we nominate you to become the Son of the lord of Ayodhya, King Dasharatha, who is virtuous, renowned and has resplendence equal to that of the sages. Oh! Vishnu, take birth as human through the wives of Dasharatha and eliminate Rāvana who is tormenting all the three worlds. We the celestial beings like Siddhas, Gandharva-s, Yakshas along with sages seek shelter in you. "Oh tormentor of enemies! You are the ultimate recourse for all of us hence make up your mind to take birth in human world." Hearing this, the compassionate Bhagavān Hari assured everyone saying, "Get rid of the fear, may safety be upon you, on eliminating that cruel and evil-minded Rāvana along with his sons, grandsons, friends, cousins and relatives, ministers and forces in war for your welfare, I will then reside in human world ruling this earth for eleven thousand years." The Deities were filled with joy. The lotus-eyed Lord chose King Dasharatha as His Father and decided to manifest in four forms with Srī Rāma being Para Vāsudeva Himself.

Brahma then ordered all the celestial deities to take birth as Vānaras to serve Srī Rāma. King Dasharatha, desiring progeny, performed the Putrakāmeshti Yagya. A heavenly being rose from the sacrificial fire and handed over a pot of Pāyasa to the King. The Queens Kaushalyā, Sumitrā and Kaikeyī consumed the divine dessert.

Six seasons passed by. On the ninth day of Chaitra month, at Punarvasu nakshatra, Navamī tithi, The gracious Lord, who is compassionate to the lowly and the benefactor of Kaushalyā 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. In His four arms He bore His characteristic emblems. 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. Joining both her palms Kaushalyā said, "O infinite Lord, how can I praise You? The Vedas as well as the Purānas declare You as transcending Māyā.  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 Lakshmī, the lover of His devotees, has revealed Himself for my good. The Vedas proclaim that every pore of Your body contains multitudes of universes The fact that such a Lord stayed in my womb staggers the mind of even men of wisdom."

The Lord smiled and exhorted Kaushalyā by telling her the account of her previous birth so that she might love Him as her own child. With a change in mind, Kaushalyā said, "Give up this superhuman form and indulge in childish sports, which are so dear to a Mother's heart; the joy that comes from such sports is unequalled in everyway." Hearing these words, the all-wise Lord became an adorable infant and began to cry. For the sake of Brāhmanas, cows, gods and saints, the Lord, who is beyond the three modes of Gunas took birth as a human baby out of His own will.

Hearing the melodious cries of the baby, Ayodhyā was immersed in celebration. King Dasharatha's joy knew no bounds. He gave away riches to all the Brāhmanas. Flowers were showered on the baby Rāma from the skies. Damsels danced and singers sang in heavens. Ayodhyā was decorated beautifully. The day never seemed to end. The day kindled hope and happiness in the hearts of everyone. Following the birth of Rāma, Kaikeyī gave birth to Bharata and Sumitrā gave birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna. All the four infants were cherished and pampered. Rāmachandra was the apple of Dasharatha's eyes. There was no need of a lamp in the Royal household as Rāma's brilliance illuminated the entire palace! Oh, what a beauty was His cute chubby face! What a melody was His childish lisp! How bubbly were His lotus eyes! How soft were His limbs! How tenderly His fingers clasped the toy bow and arrow! How rhythmically He moved His little feet, matching the tinkling of His anklets! Nobody could take their eyes off the beautiful baby who delighted the three worlds! Maids and Queens competed to hold Rāma in their arms. King Dasharatha found greater happiness in cradling Rāma than sitting on the throne.

Rāma is Jagadānandakāraka. His birth brought immense joy to the universe. His Līlās pleased everyone. Nobody has ever felt saddened by Lord Rāma who loved all equally. His name is pleasing. His appearance is pleasing. His speech is pleasing. His elegant walk is pleasing. His valour is pleasing. His love is pleasing. His smile is pleasing. His infinite qualities are pleasing. How is He so stoic and poised irrespective of the turn of events in His journey? How is He so pleasing? When Maharshi Vālmīki enquired Sage Nārada about a virtuous and complete Purusha, Nārada sang about Maryādā Purushottama Srī Rāma and listed 16 of His innumerable qualities.

• Gunavān- Virtuous
• Vīryavān- Valorous
• Dharmajnah- Conscientious
• Kritajnah- Grateful
• Satyavākyah- Speaker of truth
• Dridhavratah- Determined in His deed.
• Chāritravān- Appropriate in disposition.
• Sarvabhūteshu hitah- Interested in the welfare of all beings
• Vidvān- Adept
• Samartha- Able one
• Eka Priyadarshanah- Uniquely pleasing to look at.
• Ātmavān- Self composed
• Jitakrodha- One with controlled anger. 
• Dyutimān- Brilliant
• Anasūyakah- Free from jealousy
• Bibhyatideva- The one who would be feared by Gods when provoked in a war.

Rāma is the epitome of infinite virtues. His good qualities shine forth in His conduct.  Rāma is a wise and learned. He speaks sweetly. Whenever He sees anybody, He is always the first person to initiate a talk. His smile alone brightens the hearts of people. He is filled with love and compassion. He is valourous but never arrogant of His mighty prowess. Raghunātha, because of His good bent of mind, feels glad even by the smallest of good things done to him. He never remembers any of the bad things done to him. He always respects everyone, regardless of their status and lives among His people. He is all-knowing and omnipresent. He is the epitome of truth. He never betrays anybody. His kindness knows no bounds.

He is Eka Bāni, Eka Vachani and Eka Patni. He is an obedient Son who values His father's words over Himself. He is a caring brother who loves His younger brothers like a father does. He is a loving, faithful and affectionate Husband who loves His chaste Wife more than His own life. He is a peerless warrior skilled in all types of warfare. He is a righteous enemy who gives another chance to His rivals. He is a great King who values Rāja Dharma and His people more than His happiness and comfort. Above all, He is Sharanāgathavatsala, who never leaves the ones who surrender to Him. He is none other than Lord Vishnu, the Lord of the three worlds. He is unfathomable like the vast sky and ocean. He is the Supreme refuge. His greatness is the only equal of Jānakī. 

I am venerating the Lotus feet of such a great Lord who vanquished all the demons and established Dharmā!

Mangalam Kosalendrāya Mahanīya Gunābhdhaye,

Chakravarti Thanujāya Sarva Bhoumāya Mangalam!

What's more blissful than beholding Srī Rāmachandra on the throne, with Srī Sītā Devi by His side? May He enable us to fight against the vices within us and imbibe His qualities!!

Rāma Rāma Jaya Rājā Rām!

Rāma Rāma Jaya Sītā Rām!

Jai Siyā Rām!!

Yours, 

Hari Priye