Ram Navami Today

NASA Digital Image showing ancient "Rama's Bridge" between Ramaswaram, India and Lanka (Sri Lanka), or so it is believed by many scientists as well as spiritual people around the world. This image is commonly known, however, as "Adam's Bridge." Rama's Bridge is submerged in the ocean. The "Ramayana," the epic story of Ram, narrates that Ram sank the bridge into the ocean after He and his army had rescued Sita.

(Note: I feel very close to this story. Some years ago, I had a vision of Rama re-enacting the sinking of this bridge with a large crowd of his subjects, along with his twin sons, Kusha and Lava, chanting, "Jai Ram, Jai Ram, Jai, Jai Ram" behind him. Lord Rama sank the bridge by simply and gracefully touching the bridge with the tip of his bow. This was a very beautiful and a deeply sacred experience on the path to Realization. -Utpalavati)

NASA Digital Image showing ancient "Rama's Bridge"

Ram Navami is a major festival for Vaishnavites, the tradition of Swami Vishwananda and his devotees. This year it is celebrated today, April 12, 2011 at Shree Peetha Nilaya, the International Ashram of Sri Swami Vishwananda in Springen, Germany.

Rama is one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. Rama was born at noon. Rama is the height of perfection, the uttama purusha, the world example of dharma fulfilling his duties toward family, friends, devotees, and his subjects, following his becoming King of Ayodhya after his return from 14 years of exile.

Below we have given again Swami Vishwananda’s short talk on Ram Navami and one’s Ishta Dev. Swami tells us that it is very, very important to connect with the Ishta Dev and to chant the name of the Ishta Dev during Ram Navami.

Story of Rama In Brief

Rama was the first of the four sons of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. When it was time for Rama to be made crown-prince, one of the four Queens of Dasharatha (not Ram’s mother), Kaikeyi, persuaded King Dasharatha to send Ram into exile in the forest for 14 years. Rams’s wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana also accompanied him. In the forest, Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, together with Hanuman and his monkey army, built a bridge from Ramaswaram, at the southern tip of India, across to Lanka (Sri Lanka today), killed Ravana, and brought Sita back to Ayodhya, to his kingdom.

Reading or listening to the story of Rama cleanses the soul. Meditating on the noble Rama and chanting his name eases the pains of life and leads one to moksha, liberation or Realization. -Utpalavati

Swami Vishwananda - Ram Navami

"Hey Ram Hey Ram" - Lord Rama Prayer

RAMASWARAM (or Rameshwaram) INDIA