The Guru’s words are “ Have faith and patience”
Perhaps more than ever before we need to remember the words of Saints and their message to humanity.
Patience is the biggest need of the hour as we meander through days of confusion, surrounded by news of gloom and sickness and await a world which is free to travel, work, live to the best of our capability.
April 21st, 2021 is the Hindu festival of Ram Navami. A beautiful festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama.
Rama , was born during the ‘Madhyana’ period, which is middle of day, on the ninth day of Chaitra month, hence the day is called Ram Navami.
As per Hindu Calendar, Chaitra month is considered as the first month of the New Year. It is also the transition from Spring to Summer, and the day when Lord Brahma started creation of the Universe. Each day of this month is dedicated to different Gods and Goddess. On the first day of the month, devotees worship Lord Brahma. On the second day, devotees worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Gouri. Devotees pray to Lord Ganesha on the fourth day of Chaitra month. On the ninth day is the day of Goddess Durga.
Reading of Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana is sacred this month. During the ‘Navratri’ nine days of worship, a lot of believers eat Satvik food, fasts to balance energy and seek blessings of Goddess Durga. Navratri is also considered auspicious to start new ventures.
On the day of Rama Navami, Rama ( believed to be incarnation of Lord Vishnu) took birth in human form to propagate his message of duty and deliver the world from evil perpetuated by arrogance of knowledge and power. Being the eldest of four brothers, Rama endured extreme hardships while serving duty towards parents and his kingdom. His life was symbolic of duty, righteousness and taking care of the larger good.
Ram Navami is a day to reflect on the attributes of Rama, those that made Him an exemplary human being. Rama , being born to riches, was exiled for fourteen years from his kingdom, yet humbly embraced the duty that was entrusted upon Him. We worship Rama for being a human par excellence, someone who as a king gave up his right to kingship and performed his humanly duties amidst difficulties of a harsh life. His life is symbolic of humility, sacrifice and grace.
Ram Navami also is one of the three main festivals celebrated by Shirdi Sai devotees around the world.
SadhGuru Shri Shirdi Sai Baba was a living Saint and believed to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He lived his entire life in Shirdi, a small village near Nashik, India. The entirety of Baba’s life was devoted to care and welfare of people who sought his blessings. Taking care of the sick, diseased, protecting his devotees from danger and misfortune and using parables and stories to deliver his message to all in simple language was his unique way of blessing his devotees. He lived in a small village, yet people from all over the country, from varied social, religion, caste and creed came to seek guidance for their lives.
As the story goes, at that time in pre-independent India, year 1897, there was a devotee named Gopal Rao Gund, who came to Sai Baba and was granted his wish of being blessed with children. As immense gratitude to Baba, Gopal Rao proposed holding a fair in the village of Shirdi. Sai Baba being the omniscient Guru, declared that the fair will be held on Ram Navami day. People of two different faiths came together to organise and hold festivities. Of the two rituals held on this day at Shirdi, one was a grand procession of Baba’s Palki honouring their ‘Sai.’ The second was to partake a sack of wheat kept in Baba’s living abode ‘DwarkaMai’ and prepare food for all. The temple was decorated with flowers and lights, lakhs of devotees came to participate in the kirtans, satsanga and reading of holy texts.
As Dr Shri CB Satpathy, noted Scholar and Humanitarian; who has tirelessly spread the message of Shirdi Sai’s teachings says, “Festivals are a time for celebration and contemplation. When we pray to Lord Rama or celebrate the birthday of Baba, we need to reflect on His deeds of compassion and the teachings and the morals He imparted to the society. Today is a day when we get a chance to free ourselves from mundane rigmaroles of life and reflect on the values that Shri Rama and Sai Baba of Shirdi propounded and practiced. May Shri Sai Bless you all.”
In times of constraint, one remembers the luxuries of bygone times…yet it is a lesson from a chapter of Rama’s life that our dreams and personal aspirations can wait till we complete what is required of us, what is necessary and dutiful towards the protection of life, society and its citizens.
That there is no constant in this world is the truth we learn today evermore…
We can yearn for what is not there, but what is there is to be cherished…
May the festival of Ram Navami usher in a new era of responsible living, care and compassion, welfare for all and eradication of disease.
Namaskaram to the Guru; Jai Shri Sai
