21/03/2018
Beginnig of Chaitra Navaratri ~ Ramnavami
Navaratri is observed twice in year, Once in the month of Chaitra (March/April) and then in Ashwin ( September/October). It lasts for 9 days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga.
The beginning of Summer and the beginning of Winter are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for worship of Divine Mother. The bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change an account of the change in nature. Goddess Durga is worshiped during Navaratri and Lord Rama during Ramanavami.
Ramnavami, is the birthday of Lord Rama, falls on the 9th day. This celebration is a moment for us to saturate ourselves with the spirit of Lord Rama. Devotion of God is the result of intense dispassion and purity of Heart. From devotion arise knowledge, from knowledge comes the realisation of the pure self. Knowing this perfectly one goes to the Supreme Abode and merges in the Supreme Self.
The name of Lord Rama is a great purifier of the heart. It is sweeter than the sweetest of objects. It is the heaven of peace. It is the purifier of all purifying agencies. With or without knowledge, correctly or incorrectly, when the word ‘Rama’ is pronounced it showers a rain of good upon the devotee.
On ‘Ramnavami’ from 4 in the morning to late night, there is ‘Rama’ and ‘Rama’ everywhere! On this day, earnest seekers take resolves to accelerate their spiritual progress. We shall be celebrating if we make honest efforts to destroy the demon of our ego, and radiate peace and love wherever we Go.
~ Swami Sivananda Saraswati (The Divine Life Society)