🏹 Ram Navami Vrat Katha
The story
King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had three queens — Kausalya, Kaikeyi, Sumitra — but no children. On Guru Vasishtha's advice he had sage Rishyashringa perform the putra-kameshti yajna; Agni Dev gave a vessel of kheer — Dasharatha divided it among the three queens. In time, on Chaitra Shukla Navami, in Punarvasu nakshatra, Karka lagna, at midday, Rama was born to Kausalya, Bharata to Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Shatrughna to Sumitra.
In Tulsidas's Manas — 'Naumi tithi madhu maas punita, sukal pachchh abhijit haripreeta; madhyadivas ati seet na ghama, pavan kaal lok bishrama' — this is the midday Abhijit birth muhurat. Vishnu's avatar for the slaying of Ravana and the establishment of dharma; the seventh of the ten avatars.
The story of the 'name of Rama' — Shiva says 'Rama Rama Rama iti rame Rame manorame, sahasranama tattulyam Rama-nama varanane' — one name of Rama equals the Vishnu Sahasranama; hence the tradition of Rama-nama japa and Manas reading on Ram Navami. In the south the story of Bhadrachalam — the devotee Ramadasu and the Sita-Rama Kalyanam.
Why this katha — the significance
Rama is Maryada Purushottam — son, brother, husband, king: the ideal of every relationship; the Ram Navami vrat is kept for family happiness, good values in children and patience in hardship. In the Manas — 'Ram janam ke hetu aneka, param bichitra ek ten eka'.
The hour of birth: midday — Abhijit Muhurat (about 11:40-12:30 pm, exact above); the birth aarti, conch and bell, 'Jai Shri Ram' in it — the infant Rama in a cradle in temples. If the Navami touches midday on two days, the first day.
It is also the Navami of Chaitra Navratri (Maa Siddhidatri) — Kanya Pujan, havan and paran on the same day; in the south the tradition of Sita-Rama Kalyanam (wedding) on 'Shri Rama Navami'.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Ram Navami in {Y}?
The date at the top is this year's Chaitra Shukla Navami — from panchang calculations; the Abhijit muhurat of the birth (about 12 noon, Delhi) is shown too. If the Navami touches midday on two days, the first day.
At what time is the birth aarti?
The midday Abhijit Muhurat — the time given above (about 11:40-12:30); by tradition conch, bell and the cradle at exactly 12. The birth aarti/Surya Tilak in the temples of Ayodhya at this very moment.
Are Ram Navami and the Navami of Chaitra Navratri the same day?
Yes — the Navami of Chaitra Navratri is Ram Navami (Maa Siddhidatri + Rama's birth); Navratri vratis do Kanya Pujan, havan and paran on this day, with Rama's birth celebration at noon.
Why panjiri?
Coriander panjiri is the nourishing powder given to a new mother — for Mother Kausalya at the infant Rama's birth; hence the prasad of the birth celebration; the same on Krishna Janmashtami.
Is a wedding (Sita-Rama Kalyanam) held on Ram Navami?
In South India (Bhadrachalam, Vontimitta) the Sita-Rama Kalyanam (wedding festival) is celebrated on Ram Navami — in the north on Vivah Panchami (Margashirsha); both traditions are valid.
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