Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Rameshwar temple on Rama Navami – Johannesburg, South Africa – April 19, 2013
Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. Though an incarnate of Lord Vishnu, Rama never described himself in the entire Ramayana as God. He proclaims himself as son of Dashratha. His life exemplifies how a human being should live righteously, bound to Dharma even in the direst circumstance.
In fact, the entire Ramayana is within us. Each of us is an embodiment of the Ramayana. We are all moving Ramayanas. Dasharatha (the ten Indriyas), Hanuman (the life force Prana), Seeta (the intellect), Rama (the soul), the Dandakaaranya forest (the nerves), Ravana, Kumbhakarna and others demons (the six internal enemies – kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, and matsarya) etc., and the union of Seeta with Rama – the yearning of the intellect to reach the Atman, are all concepts of Vedanta. The Narada Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Tulsi Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Brahma Ramayana, and especially, the Yoga Vasishtha all explain this Vedantic concept of Ramayana. It is a mistake to view Ramayana just as a story. It is a way to spiritual elevation.
Vedanta is actually very simple unlike what many people think. We must make proper use of this rare human birth. We have taken birth millions of times as aquatic animals, as land creatures, as birds and finally as humans. The story does not end here. We keep on taking rebirth until our desires are fulfilled. Each time we beg the Lord for something, the ever compassionate Lord grants us the wish but it takes time to materialize, and thereby so many births. Every day we have a list of new desires. We don’t even remember what we had already asked for previously, but He remembers and fulfils them, so we get entangled in the cycle of birth and death again and again. We are never contended or satisfied in life. The occasional feeling of detachment that we sometimes get towards worldly things due to extreme pain or dejection is also very transient. For example a woman just after delivering a child would want no more of labor pains, but sooner or later gets ready for the next child, forgetting all her pain. The world is full of sorrows and the body is full of suffering. The only way to get rid of the suffering is to remain desire less and get over the bondage of births. We should learn to remain contended and free from desires. This is the essence of the Ramayana.
Worship God and visit temples, not just because it is your duty but also because you love to do it. Make proper use of the temple premises. Spend your time religiously in spiritual activities. Read at least 1 or 2 stanzas from the Ramayana every day. It will go a long way in your spiritual elevation.
Courtesy: Dr. Phanishree
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on the occasion of Rama Navami on ETV (Datta Mata) – April 19, 2013
Om Apadamapa Hataram Daataaraam Sarva Sampadaam
Loka Bhi Raamam Sri Raamam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namaamyaham.
Sri Rama Navami is a day of festivity and joy. Since Rama is the personification of dharma, his birthday causes unexplainable enthusiasm in the minds of one and all! If just hearing the name ‘Rama’ showers bliss in the minds of saints and yogis, worshipping of Rama brings about endless joy to his ardent devotees. This is undoubtedly true.
To the Ashtakshari mantra (8 lettered mantra), the prana beeja (seed sound of energy) is ‘Ra’. To the Panchakshari mantra (5 lettered mantra), ‘Ma’ is the prana beeja. The merger of these two mantras is the ‘Rama’ mantra. Puranas extol the greatness of this Rama mantra and declare that this in itself is the Taraka mantra.
When it comes to Rama, one should adopt 3 approaches- Dharmika drishti (righteous outlook), Tattvika drishti (metaphysical approach/outlook) and Upasana drishti (worshipful outlook).
Dharmika drishti teaches the human dharma & way of life and its adherence at the highest scale. Upasana drishti increases and strengthens the feelings of faith and devotion towards the Supreme and prevents such feelings from getting distorted. Tattvika drishti teaches the Supreme essence (of Paramatma).
Dharma is very subtle (sookshma). When a person is faced with conflicting dharmic courses of action, the situation is said to be ‘dharma sankata’. At such a delicate situation, one should emulate Rama. If we carefully study His actions and policies as Bala Rama (child), Kousalya Rama (son of Koushalya), Ayodhya Rama, Dasharatha Rama, Raghu Rama, Seeta Rama and Kodanda Rama (Rama who took up weapons), we will find answers that will guide us out of our delicate dharma sankata situations.
Rama was a man of his word. Very stringently He abided by truth (satya vak). Due to this, He could procure the grace of Akhandeshwari. He became worthy enough to receive worship even from the Devatas themselves. He practised equanimity in all aspects and treated everyone equally. He was a valiant and courageous warrior who was very humble, selfless and who lead his entire life solely for the welfare of the world. Using friendship he conquered the kingdom of Kishkinda; using dharma He conquered Ravana’s Lanka.
Rama Navami is a very special day as it is not only the birthday of this Supreme soul, but also his wedding day. On this auspicious day, Rama kalyana should be conducted and worship should be offered to Him.
May his grace cause everyone to move on the path of dharma.
Jaya Guru Datta. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla