Ram Nawami

Ram Navami: The Ram Sita Conversation

The 14 years of exile finally came to an end, Sita Ram was returning with glory. Today, I am starting Ramnavami's memoir with a humbly romantic incident between this ideal couple (Sita Ram), on their way back to Ayodhya they began to play hide and seek. Ram hides for a longer period inside the forest. To call back Ram in despair, Sita recited a poem in Ram's name, several poets including Tulsi das, Bhakta Kabir wrote these lines empathizing with Sita however, let me simply translate those lines for you.

Queen Sita says,

O Ram, where are you hiding, Come on Ram, burn the lamp of heart Ram
This world, manifested by men and women, where both are incomplete without each other
Come, Ram, match the missing thread of love and lighten the lamp of my heart
Listen to my words, my king, My Ram

I picked this incident and words from Valmiki Ramayana, TulasiDash wrote the same Ramayana in Awadh language, which is poetically more profound and the "Terai" civilization is comprehensively depicted by TulasiDas in his writings and plots.

TulasiDas writes
राम राम कहि जे जमुहाहीं ।
 तिन्हहि न पापांपुज समुहाहिं ।
 तर्जनीभ्यायं नमः

That is, the effects of sin will be dull for him, who takes the name of Rama even after his every yawning.
Today is dedicated to the glorious daughter of Maharsi Janak, Sita Maharani, and her ideal husband "Maryada Purushottam" Ram. The day is commemorated on the joy of the victory of truth against falsehood, light against darkness, and clarity against all sorts of confusions. The Ramayana is so spread across the world that this prehistoric incident is remembered through stories, poems, and dramas across Asia pacific nations including Nepal, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and everywhere where Sanatana followers reside. Every Ram Temples are crowded by devotees today. The legacy of Ram is probably the world's biggest and highly acknowledged legacy which has redefined the meaning of humanity and justice. The Ramayana was originally written in the Sanskrit language by the great scholar "Valmiki", later Nepali poet Bhanubhakta translated the entire Ramayana into Nepali language and couplets. May the grace of Lord Rama (Raghubanshi clan's pearl) always be upon us. Ram was born in the Chaitra Sukla Navami of Treta Yuga, this day is the day of Ramnavami so the entire globe celebrates the arrival of this Vishnu avatar on this earth. The contemporary date calculation roughly estimates the birth of Ram in 7393 BC, Valmiki Purana states that during birth Ram's five planetary characteristics were on the higher side (Astronomically). Ram later became the responsibility-oriented character who unquestionably performed his all duties and responsibilities without even thinking of any consequences. He was such a profound King that his kingdom is considered to be the first utopia of mankind.

Sometimes when we define a lot on Ram, I feel the importance of bringing Ravana here. Ravana was also equally talented but he lost his battle against Rama. Ravana is still worshiped as a deity in Sri Lanka, Maldives, and several other places, without Ravana Lord Rama, will have no legacy and anecdote to praise throughout these centuries. There are stories that Ravana was destined to be killed by Lord Rama and it was his only way of obtaining salvation, this is why he assembled every lot to bring the North Indian king to his South Indian capital. The Jain version of Ramayana states Sita Rani as the daughter of Ravana, there are different dimensions of Ramayana, a hundred logic and thousand sentences, and however, every word leads to a single meaning that truth and righteousness is only the key to mankind. Ram today is only confined as the ancestor and god of Sanatan followers which is not true, Ramayana is a legacy of mankind and Rama Sita is characters and deities to perish by everyone regardless of any religion and community. For hundreds of centuries to come, the human being can draw several examples and the answers to their quests from the single book of Ramayana. Lord Rama shall always boost our courage to follow the truth and express humanity from our actions.

Suyog Dhakal