Holy Ramayana month begins in Adi month.
Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya
pravarthathe Uthishta narasardoola
karthavyam daivamahnikam
1. Sri Rama! Kausalya's endearing son! Wake up, dear;
You have to do Your day-to-day duties; Do wake up please.
2. Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta
garudadhwaja Uthishta
kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru
2. Sri Govinda! All the three worlds are under Your rule;
they have to prosper. Wake up, my child.
Holy Ramayana is one of the the most widely read epics in India. In Kerala
Ramayana month begins on 1st karkadakam (16th July 2004). In almost all
Hindu families one will read the holy Ramayana and other members will
listen. The climate during the period is almost rainy and many people will
not have any work and it is also considered as a month for preventive
treatment. Elaborate arrangements will be made in the temples to read
Ramayana and preach the divine message to lead an ideal life.
Paramacharyal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in his characteristic simple
language has said "There are two powerful 'Taraka Namas'. One is Aum and
another is Ramá. All mantras have to be prefixed with Aum for obtaining the
benefits of those mantras, whereas there is no need to prefix Aum when the
name 'Ramá' is recited because the name itself is 'Tarka Namam' ".
We do not seek a preceptor when we are not in trouble or when we feel that
there is nothing lacking in us. The more we are besieged by troubles the
more often we go to worship in temples or seek the darshan and advice of
great men.
"Just as the Veda Purusha (Virat Purusha) was born as Dasaratha's earthly
son, the Vedas are born from Prachetasa (Valmiki) in the form of The
Ramayana."
The Ramayana is the very form of the Vedas that have come down to us from
the heavens to the earth. The Vedas are divided into four parts, viz., Rig
Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharvana Veda. Lord Rama is the embodiment
of Rig Veda, Lakshmana, the Yajur Veda, Bharata, the Sama Veda and
Satrughna, the Atharvana Veda. The four Vedas became the four sons of
Dasaratha and played at his palace. The Rig Veda and the Yajur Veda consist
of Mantras which are related to Yajnas and Yagas. That is the reason why
Sage Viswamitra took Rama and Lakshmana along with him to safeguard his
Yajna. While Rama was in exile, Bharata left Ayodhya and stayed in a village
called Nandigrama, all the time singing the Divine Name of Rama for 14 long
years. It is for this reason that Bharata is described as the
personification of Sama Veda. It was Satrughna who safeguarded the places of
sacred rituals like Yajnas and Yagas from the invasion of evil spirits and
demons. Do not think that the Ramayana is different from the Vedas. In fact,
it is the very essence of the Vedas.
Rama exemplified three kinds of righteous behaviour (Dharma), namely, the
Dharmas relating to 1) the individual 2) the family and 3) society. To
uphold these three-fold Dharma, Divinity manifested in a triangular flow, in
the form of the Trimurtis (the Triune form). The Ramayana manifested to
elaborate the human values. The period of the Mahabharata was well over 5000
years ago and the Ramayana was enacted aeons earlier. Even after the passage
of countless ages, if it is still occupying the hearts of the people at
large, you can well imagine its importance. There are two kinds of messages
dominating Ramayana: One pertains to Rama and the other to Ravana.
It is said "aakarah vishnu vasaha " that is to say in aakara resides Vishnu.
In Aum, aakara leads and in Ramá he resides. Lord Parameshwara says that by
chanting Ramá nama thrice one can obtain the benefit of having chanted the
thousand names of Lord Vishnu i.e., Vishnu Sahasranamam. Such is the
greatness of this Ramá nama.
It is believed that breathing one's last in the banks of holy Ganges in Kasi
puri the mokshapuri one gets mukthi, moksha, for Lord Parameshwara is ever
chanting the Ramá nama here as Kathyayini Kamukan in the ears of all people
in Kasipuri. Listening to or uttering the name Ramá at the time of death
relieves everyone from sins and the jevathma obtains the mukthi. Hence the
Kasipuri has come to be known as mokshapuri.
Since the jevan transcends samsara to moksha , mukthi by the Ramá nama, the
Ramá nama is Tharaka nama , Tharaka mantra.
The Ramayana (The Journey of Rama) belongs among the world's oldest
literature. Cherished throughout India and Asia for millennia, it has been
faithfully preserved and passed on in varied forms of popular expression -
epic poems, folk tales, music, dance, drama, puppet shows, sculpture,
painting and even films and comic books. Its story and characters have
captured the hearts and minds of countless generations.
Despite its huge popularity in Eastern cultures and even though it is
recognized by many Western scholars as a literary masterpiece, most people
in the West have never heard of Ramayana.
The story of Lord Rama is both a spellbinding adventure and a work of
profound philosophy, offering answers to life's deepest questions. It tells
of another time when gods and heroes walked among us, facing supernatural
forces of evil and guided by powerful mystics and sages.
Revered throughout the ages for it's moral and spiritual wisdom, it is a
beautiful and uplifting tale of romance and high adventure, recounting the
odyssey of Rama, a great king of ancient India. Rama, along with his
beautiful wife, Sita, and faithful brother Laksmana, is exiled to the forest
for fourteen years, where Sita is kidnapped by the powerful demon Ravana.
Along with his brother Laksmana and a fantastic army of supernatural
creatures, Rama embarks on a perilous quest to find his beloved Sita.
The Lord Himself says in Ramayana, "If one surrenders unto Me sincerely,
saying, `My Lord, from this day I am fully surrendered unto You,' I always
give him protection. That is My vow." Since the ultimate benefit of hearing
the Ramayana is increased faith in Lord Rama, everyone will want to read
this important book.
Ayodhya
Lord Rama was born and had many of His pastimes here. It is a very holy city
and is an important pilgrimage site. It is said to have once had the
perimeter of 96 miles and was the capital of Kosala. It is on the banks of
the Gogra (Sarayu) River, bathing in which is supposed to destroy even the
sin of killing a brahmana.
Rama Janmabhumi
At Rama Janmabhumi Lord Rama have taken birth. There is a small Lord Rama
temple here. At this location there used to be the Babri Mosque, constructed
in the 15th century by the Moghuls. The mosque was destroyed in 1992 and at
the present time there are plans to build a grand Rama temple here.
Guptar Ghat
At Guptar Ghat there are some nice temples and nearby there is a nice park.
Gupta means disappearance. It is said that Lord Rama disappeared at this
spot. The three temples in the area are called Gupta Harji, Chakra Harji
Visnu and the Raja Mandir. In the Cakra Harji Visnu temple there is an
imprint of Lord Rama's feet.
There are over 100 temples in Ayodhya. At Janma Sthana Lord Rama have been
brought up.
There is a popular temple dedicated to Hanuman called Hanuman-gadhi. It is
located right by the main road where the tempos from Faizabad stop. Kanak
Bhavan, which is an interesting temple, and Kala Rama temple, by the river,
have both Deities of Sita-Rama.
There is a nice area by the river surrounding Laksmana Ghat. Laksmana, the
younger brother of Rama, is said to have bathed at Laksmana Ghat.
Vasistha Kund is a temple with a small round kund (pond) like a well.
Rama is said to have performed a yajna (sacrifice) at Treta Ka Mandir. There
are Sita-Rama Deities in this temple.
Kausalya, the mother of Rama, is said to have established the Ksiresvara
Natha temple for Sita.
Bharata Kund, at Nandigram, 20 km from Ayodhya, is the place where Bharata
ruled while Rama was in exile for 14 years.
One half km north of Janmabhumi is Svarga Dvara or Rama Ghat, which is an
important bathing ghat.
Ramesvaram
There are four dhamas - Badrinath, Jagannath Puri, Ramesvaram and Dvaraka.
Ramesvaram is located at the southeastern end of the Indian Peninsula.
Ramesvaram is on an island, which is the shape of a conch shell, in the Gulf
of Mannar. The island is sanctified by the footprints of Lord Rama. It is
said that Lord Rama bathed at Dhanushkodi, where the Bay of Bengal and the
Indian Ocean meet.
There is a major Lord Siva temple here called the Ramanathasvami temple.
This name indicates that Lord Siva is a great personality, whose worshipable
Deity is Lord Rama. This temple is very popular.
Temple Story
It is said that the Siva-linga in the the Ramanathasvami temple was
installed by Sri Rama on His return to the mainland from the island of
Lanka, after killing Ravana. Rama wanted to install a Siva-linga in
Ramesvaram to absolve Himself of the sin of killing Ravana, who was a
brahmana. Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailas to get the linga. Since Hanuman
was late when the auspicious time for installation neared, Sita made a
Siva-linga out of sand. This linga was then installed by Rama and is known
as the Rama-linga, because it was installed by Lord Rama.
At the time Hanuman came with the Siva-linga from Mount Kailas, he was
disappointed to find a linga already installed. Rama told Hanuman that he
could remove the linga made by Sita and install the one He brought in its
place. Hanuman took hold of the linga with his hands but could not move it.
He then wrapped his tail around it and tried to pull the linga out, but it
did not move. The linga is said to still have the marks of Hanuman's tail on
it. To pacify Hanuman, Rama had the linga he brought, the Visva-linga,
installed alongside the Rama-linga. He ordered that puja (worship) be
performed first to the Visva-linga, which is still being done today.
Gandhamadhana Parvata
This two-story temple is on a small hilltop, about 2.5 km northwest of the
Ramanathasvami Temple. There is a set of Lord Rama's footprints on a cakra
here and the small Ramjharoka temple. There is a good view of the island
from here. The place is called Vedaranyam. It is said that Hanuman made his
great leap to Lanka from here.
Kothandaramsvami Temple
There are Deities of Sri Rama, Sita, Laksmana, Hanuman and Vibhisana here.
It is said that Vibhisana, Ravana's brother, surrendered to Lord Rama at
this place. A series of paintings inside the temple tells the story. In 1964
a cyclone wiped out everything in the surrounding area. The only thing left
was the temple. It is located about 8 km from the southernmost tip of the
island going toward Dhanushkodi.
Dhanushkodi
This is the place where the bay meets the ocean. Pilgrims are supposed to
bathe in the small lagoon here called Ratnakara. This is a place to offer
sraddha to the ancestors. It is especially auspicious to bathe here in May.
Dhanushkodi is about 20 km southeast of Ramesvaram. It is said that Lord
Ramacandra destroyed a small bridge with His bow here due to the request of
Vibhisana.
Darbha Sayanam and Adi Jagannatha Temple
At Darbha Sayanam (Tirupallani, Pullanranyam) Sri Rama observed penance,
lying on darbha grass here for three days. It is said that Adi Jagannatha
appeared before Him, gave him the weapon called Divya Chapa, and blessed Him
with success.
5 km south of Darbha Sayanam at Adi Setu is the Adi Jagannatha Temple. The
Deity of Sri Visnu here is in a reclining posture on Sesa Naga. It is said
that King Dasaratha, the father of Rama, came here to pray for a child, when
all his wives were childless. Hindu couples still visit this temple to pray
for children. The place where Lord Rama built His bridge is not far from
here.
It is said that at the coastal town of Devi Patnam (Navapasanam) Lord Rama
put nine stones standing upright in the shallow bay. They are supposed to
represent the nine planets that He worshiped for success.
Other Places
There are many pastime places connected with the Ramayana in the area. There
is a temple near the bridge that you cross to enter Ramesvaram with a
floating rock inside. When Lord Rama went to Lanka with the monkey army,
they crossed the ocean on a bridge of floating rocks. Near this temple,
close to the bridge, is Laksmana Tirtha and Rama Tirtha. Lord Rama is said
to have bathed in these two tanks. Kodi Tirtha is supposed to be a spring
that Lord Rama created by shooting an arrow into the ground. It is said that
at Jata Tirtha, Sri Rama washed His hair to get rid of any sins that He
might have incurred in the battle at Lanka.
Hampi (Vijayanagara)
Hampi was once the capital of the powerful Vijayanagar empire, which for two
centuries was one of the most powerful empires in Indian history.
Vijayanagara means "the city of victory". It was considered at one time
greater than Rome and "the best provided city in the world". At its height
half a million people lived in the city, and the Vijayanagara empire had an
army of over one million.
At this place Lord Rama first met Hanuman. It is also said to be the spot
where Parvati (known as Hampi) met and married Lord Siva.
Kiskindha
The town of Anegundi, about 5 km from Hampi, is situated on the north bank
of the Tungabhadra River. Local people believe this to be the ancient place
known as Kiskindha where Rama met Hanuman and Sugriva. By Hampi is also the
Rsimukha Mountain mentioned in the Ramayana.
The ancient place, Kiskindha, was ruled by two monkey-chiefs, brothers
Sugriva and Vali. After a quarrel with Vali, Sugriva along with Hanuman were
driven out. They then went to stay at Matanga-parvata Hill. You can get a
good view of the surrounding area from the top of this hill. While searching
for Sita, who had been kidnapped by Ravana, Rama and Laksmana came south and
met Sugriva and Hanuman. Rama killed Vali and restored the kingdom to
Sugriva. While Hanuman went to search for Sita, it is said that Rama stayed
at Malyavanta Hill, which is on the road to Kampili, about 6 km east of the
Virupaksa temple. There is a Ranganatha temple there with a large Deity of
Lord Rama.
On the way between Virupaksa temple and Vitthala temple there is a cave on
the bank of the Tungabhadra where Sugriva is said to have hidden Sita's
jewels for safety. There are marks and streaks on the rocks, which are said
to have been made by Sita's garments.
There is a huge mound of scorched ash in the nearby village of Nimbapuram
that is said to be the cremated remains of Vali. The birthplace of Hanuman
is said to be a little to the northwest.
Other Places to See
The Hazara Rama temple ("one thousand Ramas") is believed to have been a
private temple for the royal family and was originally called Hajana Rama,
which in Telegu means the "palace temple". It was originally dedicated to
Lord Rama in the 15th century and contains many interesting sculptures of
scenes from the Ramayana on the walls. It is no longer active.
From the Virupaksa temple of Lord Siva along the path on the river bank
toward the Vitthala temple, there is a natural cavern marked with painted
stripes where Sugriva have hidden the jewels that Sita dropped after Ravana
abducted her.
At the Kodandaram ("bow-bearing Rama") temple there are large Deities of
Sita Rama and Laksmana. It is opposite the bathing ghat. Here Rama crowned
Sugriva as the monkey king.
The very ornate 16th century Vitthala temple is dedicated to Lord Vitthala,
after the Deity in Pandharpur. It is on the southern bank of the
Tungabhadra. It has musical pillars, which make different sounds when
struck. It is considered to be the most outstanding temple in Hampi.
The Virabhadra temple is at Matanga Hill, where Lord Rama have stayed.
Nasik
Nasik is a holy city located about 5 hours northeast of Bombay (187 km).
Lord Rama stayed here for some time during His exile and Sita was carried
off by Ravana from this place. Nasik is on the banks of the Godavari river,
which flows to the bay of Bengal. Laksmana cut off the nose of Surpanakha,
the younger sister of Ravana, here. That is why this place got the name
Nasik. Kumbha Mela takes place here every 12 years. Sri Caitanya visited
here.
The Rama Kunda area is the main pilgrimage place in Nasik. Here Rama and
Sita used to bathe, so the tank is considered especially sacred. It is also
called Asthi Vilaya Tirtha ("bone immersion tank") because bones dropped
here dissolve. In recent years the following people's bones were dropped in
the Tirtha after they died: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra
Prasad and many other famous people. Lord Rama is said to have performed
funeral rites in memory of His father, King Dasaratha.
Citrakuta
Lord Rama and Sita are said to have stayed in the forest here during Their
14 year exile. Citrakuta is by the border of Uttarpradesh and Madhyapradesh,
due south of Lucknow. It is 132 km south of Allahabad.
Lord Rama and Sita lived here for 11 years of Their 14 year exile. Citra
literally means "beautiful" and kuta means "mountain".
Bharat, the brother of Rama, came to Citrakuta and begged Rama to return to
Ayodhya, but Rama would not disobey His father's order. Rama stayed on
Kamadgiri ("the hill which can fulfill all desires").
Lord Rama would daily bathe in the river here. Sita's footprints are on the
rocks at Janaki Kund, where Sita took bath.
How is it that Rama could destroy the Rakshasa hordes singly? Really Rama is
not a single person. He has got many forms.
Sahasra Seersha Purushah Sahasraksha SahasraPat.,
(Myriad headed, myriad eyed and myriad footed is the PURUSHA..)
A mere sight of His presence was enough to reduce the Rakshasa hordeto
un-consciousness.
"Sweeter than sugar, tastier than butter, sweeter indeed than the essence of
a beehive, constant repetition of this nectarine sweet name makes you taste
the very divine Amruta itself. Therefore, contemplate on this sweet name
incessantly."
Don't associate with anyone who is afflicted with jealousy even at the cost
of losing your life
Lakshmana said to Sita, "It is even possible to count the waves in the
ocean, but there are no words to describe the manifold powers of Rama. In
Rama, there are transcendental powers which transcend the Trigunas
Let us chant the name of Ramá for obtaining the "moksha" or salvation.
RAMA RAMA JAYA RAJARAM
RAMA RAMA JAYA SITARAM
"Ramam Dasaratham vidhhi, maam vidhhi Janakaatmajam
Ayodhya mataveem vidhhi, gaccha thaatha yattha sukham"
(Consider Rama as your father Dasaratha, Sita as your mother and the forest
as Ayodhya; may the journey be a blessed one).
"