Rama Navami Vrat Katha | Legends of Rama Navami

Rama Navami Vrat Katha

In ancient times, in the lineage of Sage Pulastya, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and other demons were born as the sons of Sage Vishrava. Although they were born in the pure, noble, and incomparable lineage of Sage Pulastya, due to the curse of a previous birth, they all became sinful in nature. They were capable of assuming any form at will, wicked, deceitful, merciless, violent, sinful, and tormentors of living beings. In due course of time, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana, the three brothers, performed extremely severe penance in various ways and obtained boons from Lord Brahma, thereby becoming immensely powerful. However, Vibhishana had asked Brahma Ji for the boon of selfless devotion to the Lord's feet.

After obtaining the boon, Ravana and Kumbhakarna began to create disturbances in all the worlds. The gigantic Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months after drinking liquor and for the remaining six months would torment everyone with his atrocities. Ravana's son Meghanatha was also a tremendously powerful and illusion-wielding warrior. The very movement of Ravana would cause the entire earth to tremble. Filled with pride in his strength, Ravana began to challenge the Gods to battle. He started committing atrocities upon Deva, Naga, Kinnara, humans, and all beings. Under the guidance of Ravana and Meghanatha, all the demons began to create havoc in all ten directions. Wherever they found cows and Brahmin, they would completely devastate those cities and villages. Due to their terror, righteous acts such as Yajna, Shraddha, Tarpana, recitation of the Veda, and devotion disappeared from the world, and unrighteousness spread everywhere.

At that time, frightened by the moral decline, disinterest, and lack of faith in Dharma among humans, Devi Prithvi became extremely distressed. Taking the form of a cow, She went to the place where the Gods and sages were hiding out of fear of Ravana. Hearing the sorrow of Goddess Earth, all the Gods, sages, and Gandharva went to Satyaloka before Brahma Ji. Brahma Ji was already aware of their suffering, so he said to Goddess Earth - "O Prithvi! With patience, meditate upon Lord Shri Hari. He knows the suffering of His devotees and will surely remove your distress." Saying this, Brahma Ji, along with Goddess Earth and all the Gods, began to pray to Lord Vishnu.

Seeing Devi Prithvi along with all the Gods frightened and distressed, at that very moment Akasha Vani i.e., a divine voice was heard - "O sages, Siddhas, and Lords of the Deva! Do not be afraid! In the future, I will assume a human form to protect you and destroy unrighteousness, and I will take birth in the sacred Suryavansha along with My Anshas. Kashyapa and Aditi performed severe penance, as a result of which I have already granted them a boon. They have now appeared as Dasharatha and Kaushalya in Ayodhya. I shall be born in their house in the Raghu Kula in the form of four brothers along with Parashakti i.e., My divine energy. I will relieve the Earth of its burden. O Deva(s)! Become fearless."

Hearing this divine proclamation of the Lord, the hearts of Goddess Earth, the Deva, Gandharva, and sages were pacified. Brahma Ji then instructed all the Gods to assume the form of Vanaras and be ready to serve the Lord on Earth. Receiving this command, the Gods returned to their respective realms.

In due course of time, in the city of Ayodhya, the mighty King Dasharatha was born. He was righteous, virtuous, and extremely wise. His three queens, Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra, were also of pure conduct and humble nature. At one time, the king felt great sorrow thinking that he had no sons. Immediately, he went to the refuge of his Guru and, bowing at his feet, humbly expressed his sorrow.

Guru Vashistha consoled the king and said - "O King! Be patient, in the future you will have four sons. They will be renowned in all the three worlds and will remove the fears of devotees." Saying this, Guru Vashistha performed the Putrakameshti Yajna through Sage Shringi. From the sacrificial fire, Agni Deva appeared carrying Charu, that is, the sacrificial Kheer.

Agni Deva said to King Dasharatha - "O King! The desire that was in the heart of Sage Vashistha has been fulfilled. Now divide this sacred Payasa among your queens as you wish. By its effect, you will certainly be blessed with sons." Thereafter, Agni Deva disappeared from the sacrificial place.

The king became extremely joyful and immediately called his beloved queens. Then the king gave half of the Payasa to Queen Kaushalya and divided the remaining half into two parts. One part was given to Queen Kaikeyi, and the remaining portion was again divided into two parts. With the permission of Kaushalya and Kaikeyi, the king gave both portions to Queen Sumitra.

In this way, by the effect of that divine Payasa, all three queens became pregnant in due course of time. Experiencing this divine joy, their hearts were filled with happiness. From the very day Lord Shri Hari entered the womb while performing His divine Leela, peace and happiness began to spread throughout all the world. Endowed with beauty, virtue, and radiance, the three queens began to spend their time happily in the palace. Gradually, time passed, and the auspicious moment of the Lord's appearance arrived. Yoga, Lagna, Graha, Vara, i.e., weekday, and Tithi all became favorable. Both the animate and inanimate became joyful, for the birth of Shri Rama is the source of all happiness.

It was the sacred Navami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the holy month of Chaitra. It was the Abhijit Muhurta, most beloved to the Lord. It was midday. That auspicious time was capable of granting peace to all the worlds. A cool, gentle, and fragrant breeze was blowing. Joy and excitement spread among the Gods and sages. Flowers adorned the forests everywhere, mountains shone with jewels, and all rivers flowed with nectar-like streams.

When Brahma Ji came to know of the Lord's appearance, he, along with all the Gods, mounted beautifully adorned celestial vehicles and arrived. The entire sky was filled with groups of Gods. Gandharva began singing the glories of the Lord with musical instruments and showered flowers. The sound of Mridanga and other instruments echoed in the sky. Naga, Kinnara, Deva, and sages began offering praises and presented their services in various ways. At that very moment, the Lord of the universe, who grants peace to all worlds, manifested.

The compassionate Lord, who relieves the suffering of the distressed and who appeared for the welfare of Kaushalya Ji, manifested. Seeing the wondrous form of the Lord, which enchants the minds of sages, the mother became delighted. The divine dark-complexioned form of the Lord was pleasing to the eyes. He held weapons in His four arms and was adorned with divine ornaments and a Vanamala. Thus, the Lord with large, beautiful eyes manifested.

Seeing this form of the Lord, Mother Kaushalya, with folded hands, said - "O Infinite One! How can I praise You? The Veda and Purana describe You as beyond Maya, qualities, and knowledge, and without limit. The same Lord, whom the scriptures and sages praise as the ocean of compassion and happiness, the abode of all virtues, and the beloved of devotees, has manifested for my welfare. According to the Veda, countless universes created by Maya exist in each of Your pores. O Lord! Kindly withdraw this form and perform the delightful childhood Leela, for this will be supremely blissful for me." Hearing the loving words of the mother, the Lord of the Gods assumed the form of a child and began to cry.

Hearing the sweet sound of the infant's crying, all the queens eagerly arrived. The maidservants began to move around the palace joyfully. All the citizens of the city were immersed in happiness. Hearing the auspicious news of the birth of a son, King Dasharatha experienced supreme bliss. His heart overflowed with love, and his entire body thrilled with joy. He invited Guru Vashistha. Vashistha Ji arrived at the royal palace along with Brahmins and had Darshan of the child.

Thereafter, King Dasharatha performed the Nandimukha Shraddha and the Jatakarma Samskara and donated gold, cows, clothes, and pearls to the Brahmins. The entire city was decorated with flags, banners, and festoons, and flowers were being showered from the sky. Women arrived at the royal gate in groups carrying Svarna Kalasha and Mangala Dravya, that is, golden pots and trays filled with auspicious items. All the streets of the kingdom were fragrant with mixtures of musk, sandalwood, and saffron, and auspicious songs were being sung in every home.

Thereafter, Queen Kaikeyi and Queen Sumitra also gave birth to beautiful sons. Even Goddess Saraswati and Shesha, the king of serpents, are incapable of describing that supreme joy and beautiful moment. At the time of the manifestation of King Dasharatha's divine sons, the entire city of Ayodhya appeared as splendid as heaven. After a few days, Sage Vashistha performed the naming ceremony of the four princes. Bowing to Sage Vashistha, King Dasharatha said - "O great sage! Please tell me the names that have arisen in your pure mind for my sons."

Vashistha Ji said - "O King! They have many incomparable names, yet I will describe them according to my understanding. Your eldest son, who is an ocean of bliss and whose mere fraction brings happiness to all three worlds, shall be named Rama. He is the abode of happiness and the one who grants peace to all worlds. Your second son, who sustains the entire world, shall be named Bharata. The one whose mere remembrance destroys enemies is known in the Veda as Shatrughna. And the one who is the abode of auspicious qualities, dear to Shri Rama, and the support of the entire universe, shall be known as Lakshmana."

Guru Vashistha, having contemplated in his heart, gave these names and said - "O King! Your four sons are the essence of the Veda and are the Supreme Lord Himself. They are the wealth of sages, the very essence of devotees' lives, and the very life of Lord Shiva. At present, they have manifested only to relish the joy of childhood pastimes out of love for you all."

In due course of time, during the exile, Lord Shri Rama and Lakshmana liberated the world from the atrocities of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Meghanatha, and others. By destroying many wicked demons, they established Dharma, due to which sages and seers once again began to perform Yajnas and other righteous acts.

Thus, for the sake of Brahmins, cows, Gods, and saints, the Lord Vishnu took a human incarnation. He is beyond the deluding Maya, its impurities, and its qualities, i.e., Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, as well as beyond the external and internal senses. His divine body is not formed under the compulsion of karmic bondage or by material elements governed by the three Gunas but is manifested by His own free will.