The Geeta Ashram Youth would like to wish each and every one a very Happy Ram Navami 🙂 May Lord Rama shower his blessings upon us always 🙂

Do enjoy our article below, written by our youth – Vithal Narula, extolling the glories of Lord Rama, inspiring us to be better people 🙂

Ram Navami is the birthday of Lord Rama, which falls on the 9th day of the month of Chaitra. It is the day when Lord Vishnu was born as the elder son of Dasaratha, the King of Ayodhya. The purpose of His reincarnation was for the destruction of Ravana. Lord Rama was the prince of the Ikshvaku race. He was virtuous and of manly strength. He was the lord of the mind and the senses. Brava and valiant, He was yet gentle and modest. He was a sage in counsel, kind and sweet in speech, and most courteous and handsome in appearance. He was the master of all the divine weapons, and a great warrior. Ever devoted to the good and prosperity of His kingdom and His subjects, He was a defender of the weak and the protector of the righteous. Endowed with numerous wondrous powers of the mind, He was well versed in all sciences – in military science as well as the science of the Self.

Deep and unfathomed like the ocean, firm and steadfast like the Himalayan mountains, valiant like Lord Vishnu, He was the joy of Kaushalya. Though fierce like fire on the battlefield, He was calm like the cool breeze of the Mandara Hills, patient like Mother Earth, bounteous like the god of wealth and righteous like the lord of juctice himself. In the pains and griefs of His people, His heart swiftly sympathised with the sufferers. In the festive scenes which held them in joy, He like a father, shared their joys. By His honour and heroism, as well as by His gentleness and love for His subjects, He greatly endeared Himself to the hearts of His people. Such a great person was Lord Rama!

Though Ram Navami is a major festival which celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, it is widely celebrated by the worshippers of Lord Shiva, too. It is considered auspicious to undertake a fast on the day of Ram Navami, in the name of Rama. The objective of the fast is not to ask for special favours of the deity, but to seek perfection as a human being.

Lord Rama’s primary message is: fulfill your duty without any selfish motives. When he was exiled to the forest, Lord Rama did not complain “but that’s not fair”. He did not fight back in anger. Rather, he helped His father fulfill a promise; He lived according to His duty as a son and as a future king. He did not once think about himself, His own comforts, His own “rights”. Rather, he abided by His dharma and His duty.

Ravana’s ego led to his own demise, first the demise of his spirit and heart, then the demise of his body. he thought he was the one who ran everything. He thought that he was the ‘doer’ of it all. On the other hand, Lord Rama, was always humble, and he never took credit for anything. Even after he victoriously slew Ravana, he reported it to Sita only as, “and this is where Ravana died.”

As we celebrate this holiday, we revel in Lord Rama’s birth, let us ask ourselves, “Has the Rama taken birth inside us? Has the good in our hearts taken birth?” Ram Navami is not only a holiday about Lord Rama. It is a holy day, about examining ourselves. Life is so short. We know when the end will come. For how long do we want to let Ravana live in us? For how long do we want to be controlled by Ravana? We must give birth today to Lord Rama in our hearts.

Jai Shree Ram. Shubh Ram Navami.