Sree Rama Navami

Sree Ramajayam

We, in the south use Sree Rama Jayam, the Hindi equivalent being Jai Sreeram!

Sree Navami is fast approaching, as is summer in Rama Janma Bhoomi or Bharat while it is spring in Swiss .i.e Vasantha Rithu. 

Sree Navami brings memories of Sree Rama's birthday celebrations on Navami with oonajl or Uyyala songs, Ma Sita's birthday, Sita Rama Kalyanam in the temples, Radham or Ther on the streets, Malli poo, Panakam, Neer-moor and Vadapappu(Kosambari), discourses and kutcherys in the temple premises .Thyagaraja Swami's Utsava Sampradaya Krithis esp Uyaalalooga vayya, Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame, Mamava Sree Pattabhirama by Dikshitar, Jaya Jaya Janaki Kantha - Purandaradasa and Bhadhrachala Ramadas melodies fill the air. People read Ramayana and also do Likhita japam - writing Rama Nama. 

Rama Nama is in the air - on people's lips and in their hearts. Rama's name evokes such wonderful emotions - the great son, warrior, husband, brother, friend, master, His dignity, grace, righteousness. Amma once pointed out how majestic Kondandaramar is to look at, with the bow in his left hand. 

Vadavur Sri Kothandaramaswamy temple has the most beautiful Utsava vigrahams of Rama and Kothandaramar Temple, Thillaivilagam along with Bhadrachalam are three famous Rama temples in South India.

The mango and malli poo season start from Rama Navami.

I once asked my Appa - why do we make simple neivedhyams like paal payasam, vadai and Panakam, Neer-moor and Vadapappu(Kosambari) for Ramar. In contrast, on Krishna Jayanthi - we make Cheedai, Murukku etc. Appa said Ramar is a Chakravarthi's son and was born in a palace. What we offer will not be equivalent to what an emperor's son is used to; He, who is served the best of best in gold n silver utensils. Further, it being summer, these are more easily consumed. Krishna was on the other hand, born in a prison, bereft of all royal paraphernalia. 

If you plan to visit Kerala during this period, do visit Sree Rama temple in Punkunnam. The temple has a Thanga Vimaanam(akin to Tirumala) and Thanga Ratham, courtesy Kalyan Jewellers. It is home to Trichur Brothers and the temple functions from Rama Navami to Kalyanam are a classical musical treat and well conducted. More info : https://sreeseetharamaswamytemple.com/ . Information about SreeRamaNavami is in the Bramhotsavam page on the site.

We grew up in Andhra, and our colony Cement Nagar (between Kurnool and Nandyal) has a beautiful Rama temple constructed in 1971. The temple is a replica of the Punkunnam temple with a circular sanctum sanctorum. Built under the guidance of Maha Periyava, this temple heralded a diamond age in Rayalaseema. Periyava said Rayalaseema will flourish once this temple is consecrated, and true to His words, the number of Cement factories jumped from 3 or 4 to over 30, bringing in prosperity to the region. The Vigrahams in our Cement Nagar temple - had over 24 lakh moola mantra japa and abhishekam done during the temple sthapana, along with many rituals. 

Sree Rama Navami was the highlight of the yearly calendar at our temple. We had only half a day school because temperatures touched 45 C or more and tar roads would melt. Some of us inevitably lost our shoes. stuck in the tar, such was the heat. 4-5 big gunny sacks of Malli Poo would be off-loaded in the temple Mandapam in the afternoon (many kilos as opposed to ser or 200g, which is how we bought untied jasmine in those days). From the gardens in Panyam, these were hand plucked that morning. The colony women folk would gather to make garlands out of these. The men folk would decorate the temple premises and the Chariot. The motorised smaller Chariot with the Utsava vigrahams would visit different areas of the colony on different days. The big Chariot which was hand pulled would visit only the main temple street on Sree Rama Navami. The 9 days were a celebration with houses spring cleaned, streets filled with big rangolis and people dressed in their best. How we celebrated Rama! Rama temple was the heart of our colony, all roads led to Him only. And it was Ramarajyam in our colony - we were content, happy, united. 

Below some photos of our Cement Nagar Ramar.