Ram Navami
Ram
Navami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the
son of King Dasharatha. It was a joyous occasion in Ayodhya all those
centuries ago when King Dasharathaa's heir was finally born. It was
like a dream come true for the king as the lack of an heir had troubled
him sorely for many years.
Lord Rama is an avatar of Lord Vishnu who came down to earth in human form to battle the invincible demon, Ravana.
Lord
Brahma had been receiving complaints from all the gods about the havoc
that Ravana was wreaking on earth, but because Lord Brahma himself had
granted Ravana so many boons, the demon could not be killed by a
god. Ravana had become so overconfident that he would never
expect an attack from a human being. He never asked for a boon to be
invulnerable with humans. So Lord Vishnu agreed to go to earth in the
guise of Prince Ram, the son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalya.
The story of Lord Rama as told in the great epic Ramayana is one that most Indians know irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Lord Rama is a legendary figure, the epitome of all that is good and true, the man who vanquished the demon king Ravana. Lord Rama is not just a hero, but has been given the status of a god by the Hindus. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that his birth is celebrated year after year with great pomp and enjoyment on the ninth day after the new moon in Sukul Paksh (the waxing moon), which falls sometime in the month of April.
Some people choose to fast on this day. The diet of such a person would include potatoes made in any form without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. He can also eat fruit and root vegetables of any kind. Curd, tea, coffee, milk, and water are also permitted.
Bhajans praising the exploits of Lord Rama, his loyal brother Lakshmana and his devoted wife Sita are sung. The house is swept clean and pictures of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are put on a dais in preparation for the puja. Flowers and incense are kept before the deities. There are two thaalis kept ready in the puja area. One contains the prasad and the other the items necessary for the puja like kumkum (vermilion powder), rice, water, flowers, a bell and a conch.
* Just, rule and governece.
The story of Lord Rama as told in the great epic Ramayana is one that most Indians know irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Lord Rama is a legendary figure, the epitome of all that is good and true, the man who vanquished the demon king Ravana. Lord Rama is not just a hero, but has been given the status of a god by the Hindus. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that his birth is celebrated year after year with great pomp and enjoyment on the ninth day after the new moon in Sukul Paksh (the waxing moon), which falls sometime in the month of April.
Some people choose to fast on this day. The diet of such a person would include potatoes made in any form without haldi (turmeric), garlic, ginger or onion. He can also eat fruit and root vegetables of any kind. Curd, tea, coffee, milk, and water are also permitted.
Bhajans praising the exploits of Lord Rama, his loyal brother Lakshmana and his devoted wife Sita are sung. The house is swept clean and pictures of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are put on a dais in preparation for the puja. Flowers and incense are kept before the deities. There are two thaalis kept ready in the puja area. One contains the prasad and the other the items necessary for the puja like kumkum (vermilion powder), rice, water, flowers, a bell and a conch.
First, the youngest female memeber of
the family applies tika to all the male members of the family.
Ared bindi is applied on the foreheads of all the female members. Everyone participates in the puja by first sprinkling the water, kumkum. and aipun on the gods and then showering handfuls of rice on the deities. Then everybody stands up to preform the arti (waving the lights) at the end of which Ganga jal or plain water is sprikled over the gathering. The singing of bhajans goes on for the entire puja. Finally the prasad is distributed among all the people who ahve gathered for worship.
Ared bindi is applied on the foreheads of all the female members. Everyone participates in the puja by first sprinkling the water, kumkum. and aipun on the gods and then showering handfuls of rice on the deities. Then everybody stands up to preform the arti (waving the lights) at the end of which Ganga jal or plain water is sprikled over the gathering. The singing of bhajans goes on for the entire puja. Finally the prasad is distributed among all the people who ahve gathered for worship.
Jai Sri Ram ! May Ram
Rajya* prevail in this world!
* Just, rule and governece.
The same
day, the chariot ride of Seto Macchendranath, which lasts at
least four days begins. Seto (White) Maccendranath is the
Kathmandu manifestation of Patan's most popular Rato (Red)
Macchendranath, whose extended chariot ride takes place later in the
year, before the monsoon. Macchendranath is variously
viewed. By Hindus as the historical Yogi/saint who performed
feats and miracles, tested the faith of kings, and brought succor to
the common people. The Buddhists consider him to be the
compassionate God of Mercy, Karunamaya, as well as Padmapani,
Padmapani
is one of the most popular divinities in the Buddhist Panteon.
He is known as 'the lotus carrier', a form of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. 'The lord of compassion' is an emanation of the oldest of the five cosmic Buddhas, Amithaba, who symbolises the stream of life and represents the summer. Padmapani is believed to have created the fourth world, which is the actual universe and is supposed to have created all animate things. His famous mantra is: 'Om mani padme hum'. Padmapani is the personification of the all-pitying one and the power of creation, of which the padma (lotus flower) beside his left shoulder is the symbol.
He is known as 'the lotus carrier', a form of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. 'The lord of compassion' is an emanation of the oldest of the five cosmic Buddhas, Amithaba, who symbolises the stream of life and represents the summer. Padmapani is believed to have created the fourth world, which is the actual universe and is supposed to have created all animate things. His famous mantra is: 'Om mani padme hum'. Padmapani is the personification of the all-pitying one and the power of creation, of which the padma (lotus flower) beside his left shoulder is the symbol.
As Seto
Macchendranath, this very popular deity dwells in a temple on one of
the busiest streets of old Kathmandu's Ason Tola. He is carried
from his temple in a joyous procession to a tall towered chariot at
jamal near Rani Pokhri, said to be the spot where the image of the
deity was discovered by a farmer (Jyapu) plowing the fields. The
farmer took the statue home and kept him in his rice-storage clay
pots. After a while the farmer noticed that no matter how much
rice he scooped out of storage, his supply never diminished. And
so Seto Maccendranath's statue was discoverd some ten centuries
ago. Needles to say, the Jyapus are some of his most ardent and
enthusiastic worshippers.