The birthday of Sri Rama, indeed, signifies an event worth of
remembrance by every one, whatever his country or race or religion, who
cherishes the time honored sublime values of human culture and
civilization. Devotees stay awake on the ninth night, in anticipation of
Lord Ram's birth. A havan is performed and they sing devotional songs in
praise of Lord Ram and rock his image in cradles to celebrate his birth.
A special puja is performed the next morning as a token of thanks.
Ramnavami is festival and celebration and brings its devotees worldly
happiness and salvation. It gives them the strength and courage to fight
against all odds of life.
According to the legends in the place called Kosal, which was situated
on the banks of the river Sharayu. Ayodhya was the capital founded by
the king rishi Manu. During the reign of king Dasarath, Ayodhya reached
a period of great prosperity. But Dasarath had one problem he had no
children. Therefore he decided to perform a sacrifice known as "ashvamedh",
or horse-sacrifice. Elaborate and difficult rituals had to be observed.
A very holy man, rishi Rishyashring, was chosen to conduct the sacrifice
with the utmost accuracy. The performance of this sacrifice was a great
event in Ayodhya. At the end Rishyashring recited a mantra and made an
offering to the fire. Then the gods, gandharvas, siddhas, and rishis
present arid began to pray to Brahma. During that time Ravan, king of
Lanka, was terrorizing the people, and all were longing for liberation
from his menace. Ravan had acquired great power because he had obtained
from god Brahma the boon that he would never die at the hands of gods,
or gandharvas, or yakshas (demigods) or demons. As he was not afraid of
men he did not care to include men in the list of his potential slayers.
So Brahmadev declared that Ravan would die at the hands of a man. Then
the gods went to Vishnu for help and requested him that Dasarath is a
glorious king so please, take birth in the wombs of his three queens in
four different incarnation of your divinity. When Dasarath's sacrifice
came to an end a shining figure appeared over the sacrificial kund, and
offered the king a divine beverage called "payasam" to be
given to his queens Kausalya, Kaikayi, and Sumitra. In due time Kausalya
gave birth to Rama, Kaikayi to Bharat and Sumitra to Laxman and
Shatrugna. Rama was born at noon of the bright ninth day of Chaitra. He
was believed to be the embodiment of half degree of Vishnu's divinity,
(ardha ounsh).
