Showing posts with label Prasadam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prasadam. Show all posts

Monday, March 29, 2010

Hanuman Jayanthi / Hanuman Vijayotsavam

          ! Om! Ham! Hanumathey! Sri Rama Dhootaya Namaha !!!!




Hanuman Jayanthi is the birthday of Lord Hanuman, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It is generally celebrated on the full moon day (chaitra poornima) of chaitra masa. 
Hanuman known as Bajranga  bali , Anjineya and Maruti is one of the powerful Gods, an exceptional brahmachaari and more importantly a sincere devotee of Lord Rama .He is also known as pavanasuta  or pavanakumara, as he was born to the Wind God (Vayu )- Kesari and Anjani devi.  Hanuman is either worshipped individually or with Rama. 

Greatness of Hanuman - is the significance of Hanuman jayanthi:-
The idol of Hanuman is generally coated with kumkuma / Sindoor/ vermilion because according to the legend, Hanuman once enquired Sita about her putting Sindoor to the forehead.... to this Sita replied that sindoor ensures the long life of her husband. Upon hearing this, Hanuman applied sindoor all over his body for the immortality of His Lord Rama. Such was the devotion of Lord Hanuma towards Rama, desireless and a selfless service without expecting any fruit in return for his worship. Rama  was deeply indebted to Hanuma for the deeds he did to him - like the crossing of the ocean simply by uttering the name Ram, burning the city  Lanka with his tail , bringing Sanjeevani from mountains and saving Lakshmana, sita etc.,..  Rama gave him a boon of an everlasting life and told hanuma that his murti will be placed infront of him and he will be worshiped first.


Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam;
Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim;
Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam;
Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam

MEANING: “We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his palms folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down his eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung”

Hanuman Jayanthi Celebrations: 
Sankata Mocha temple situated in Varnasi is one of the famous temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
On this auspicious day, devotees read Hanuman chalisa ( attached below) and recite the name of Rama, visit temple and apply sindoor/ kumkuma from his body considering it holy. In many temples we see that Vada mala will be put on Hanuman, so a special vada  made with Udad dal with lots of peppercorns is offered as prasadam to God on this day. Its a traditional recipe in South India.
                                                

I found this on net that on this day,the Principle of Sree Hanuman (Maruti) is 1000 times more active on Earth. Thus we benefit more by chanting 'Sri Hanumate Namaha' as much as possible...!!!
Links:
 Hanuman Chalisa - in English with meaning
Kannada - Anjineya songs by balamurali krishna





Facts Taken From Valmiki Ramayanam :- ( Info emailed to me by my friend Raji nallan)
1. most of the people think or say that sita is elder to rama but the fact is sita is younger to rama and the difference is 7yrs.
2. there is nothing called lakshmana geetha or lakshmana rekha that sita should not cross while lakshmana was going to search rama.
3. when Ravana came to the place where rama lived in the forest in the disguise of saint ..sita came forward to offer him fruits...then he asked who she was and why was she here...then sita herself said that she was sita and they came here for vanavasam ...then Ravana did not break earth and took sita...he changed his disguise to raavana and dragged sita by catching her hair and stepped into pushpkavimanam and he held her tightly with his hands and made her sit on his laps.
4.when sita rama kalyanam was going on  rama's age was 13 and sita's age was 7 and when they went for vanavasam rama's age was 25 that of sita's was 17.
5.rama ruled ayodhya for about 11thousand yrs
.



EKA SLOKA SUNDARAKANDAM: 
dhrutyaa sagara langhanam,hanumatho lanka madotsaranam
thatra sokha vanecha margana, mata srijanaki daarshanam,
rama kshema nivedanam,vanataru pradvamsanam,
samyuge raakshasamhananam ,puri pradahnam ,ramayane sundaram






Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Sri Rama Navami

Sri Rama Navami - 24th March 2010
Sri Rama Navami, a very important Hindu festival celebrated all over India irrespective of cast and creed. It celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This festival occurs on the ninth day (navami) of shukla paksha ( the period between new moon day and full moon day) in chaitra masa as per Hindu calender.

Here are a few details about Rama 
Significance of the word Rama : Divided in 3 syllables : Ra + Aa + Ma
Ra = Rudra, Aa = Brahma, Ma= Vishnu.  Hence Brahma . vishnu maheshwara is Lord Rama. If chanted as Rama , it is a name and if chanted as Ram, it is a Mantra and if chanted as Sri Rama , Power of Goddess Sita is added to it.
Date of Birth : Chaitra Masa,shukla paksha, Navami thithi
Birth star ( karnataka Raasi ) : Punarvasu ( 4th charanam)
Place of birth : Ayodhya
Parents : King Dasaratha and Kauslya Devi
Step Mothers : Kaikeyi and Sumithra
Brothers : Bharatha ( born to kaikeyi) , Lakshmana and Shatrugna ( twins born to Sumithra)
Wife : Sita ( Eka Pathni Vratha)
Sons : Lava and Kusha ( twins)
Power of the word Rama ( Info given by my friend Raji Nallan) : 
1.The name "Rama" in telugu consists of 2 letters "Ra" and "ma".
2.The first letter "Ra" is taken from the ASTAKSHARI that is "Namo Narayanaya".In this astakshari "ra" is called Pranabeejam. Without this letter "ra" astakshari's meaning changes to "a shubham"(in telugu).
4.The second letter "ma" is taken from PANCHAKSHARI that is "Namah sivaya".In this "ma" is the Pranabeejam.without this letter panchakshari's meaning changes to "a mangalam"(in telugu).
5.So the name "RAMA" is the combination of 2 pranabeejam's and thus its found to be very powerful.


In many parts of south India , it is also celebrated as the wedding ceremony of Lord Rama and Sita, hence referred as Sri SitaRama Kalyanum which is performed very grandly at Bhadrachalum temple in Andhra Pradesh.  Temples of Rama are decorated with flowers and lights, vedic chants and mantras and special pujas are performed.

Procedure :
On this auspicious day, devotees observe fasting till noon .The idol or picture of Rama Sita is decorated with  flowers and fruits placed in front of it. A special prasadam is prepared for this festival known as Panakum (telugu) / panaka (kannada), which is a mixture of jaggery, dry ginger, crushed black pepper and cardamom. Also  Kosambri (in kannada)/ vada pappu , i.e.,  Moong dal (soaked) + grated coconut +  grated mango+ chopped green chillies is offered as neivedyam .An aarthi is performed at noon and special slokas of Rama are chanted on this day.

Navami celebrations in south India is the narration of stories from the epic Ramayana. It is believed that listening to the stories of Rama and chanting His name cleanses the soul. One is advised to Read/listen Vishnu Saharanamam (1000 Names of Lord Vishnu ) or Sri Rama Rakshaka Sthothrams (audio attached below) this day in praise of  Lord Rama.

 Slokas that are generally recited on this day: -

Sri Rama Mantram :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Rama Slokam :
Rama Rama Namoustute
Jaya Ramachandra Namoustute
Ramachandra Namoustute
Jaya Raaghavaaya Namoustute
Deva Deva Namoustute
Jaya Devaraaja Namoustute
Vaasudeva Namoustute
Jaya Varadaraaja Namoustute

Taraka Mantram :( Sthotra from vishnu Sahasranamam ) - Taraka mantra means the one that helps to cross the ocean of samsara and free us from the bondage cycle of birth and death. This is the family mantra of Lord Shiva.

Sree Rama Rama Ramethi Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasranama Tat Thul-yam Rama Nama Varanane

Meaning : It is only Rama Naamam which is equal to thousand names of vishnu.

( Prayer sloka of Hanuma) :
Yatra Yatra Raghunatha Keerthanam
Tatra Tatra Kruthamasthakanjalim
Bhashpavari Paripoorna Lochanam
Maruthim namatha Rakshasanthakam

Meaning : Hanuma says that wherever rama Naama is sung, He is present though not visible, with eyes full of tears and hands folded in prayers to His Lord.

Attached below are some links related to Rama bhajans, songs and slokas