Ram Navami 2018: Date, Puja Muhurat Time, Puja Vidhi & Mantras to Conclude Chaitra Navratri
The puja vidhi for Ram Navami starts with meditation, followed by offerings to the Lord, praying for welfare and finally taking the prasad.
Ram Navami is celebrated to rejoice the happiness and birth of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was born on Navami Tithi during the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month of Hindu calendar. It will be the last day of the ongoing Chaitra Navratri celebrated on March 25, Sunday. On this day, people worship Lord Ram, observe fasts and seek his blessings. Along with him, Lord Lakshman, Lord Hanuman and Goddess Sita are worshipped, as they placed a significant role in the epic of Ramayana.
A puja is performed on the day and a special bhog is also prepared for the feasting later. The Ram Navami is celebrated on both the 8th and the 9th day of the Chaitra Navratri. The enthusiasm is high in the Southern parts of India. But Ayodhya, the place where Ram was born comes alive for this day. There are fairs and processions organised here for the day.
Muhurat of Ram Navami Puja:
Rama Navami Puja Muhurta = 11:14 to 13:40
Duration = 2 Hours 25 Mins
Rama Navami Madhyahna Moment = 12:27
Navami Tithi Begins = 08:02 on March 25, 2018
Navami Tithi Ends = 05:54 on March 26, 2018
The muhurat is according to Drikpanchang. The Ram Navami puja should always be performed in the noon time. Lord Ram was also born during the noontime, hence the afternoon is ideal.
Ram Navami Puja Vidhi:
There are a certain set of procedures that need to be followed whenever there is a religious puja. Similarly, the puja vidhi for Ram Navami starts with meditation, followed by offerings to the Lord, praying for welfare and finally taking the prasad.
Here are some of the rituals that should be followed:
- First of all, clean your house before the puja.
- Place Lord Rama's idol in the room and it is advised to keep even idols or pictures of Mata Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman.
- It is advised that all the family members should be together while performing the puja.
- Before performing the puja, pray to Lord Ganesha for removing all the obstacles.
- Offer flowers, sweets, light diyas and incense sticks in order to please Lord Ram.
- Offer tulsi leaves and fruits too.
- After the offerings, sprinkle some holy water, kumkum, rice to the deities and lit the diyas.
- Read out the holy mantras to please the Lord.
- Seek blessings and then distribute prasad to everyone.
- One can also sing Ram Bhajan or Vishnu Sahasranama. Family members should be in attendance while performing the bhajan.
Ram Navami Mantras:
The following Mantras should be recited while performing the Ram Navami puja.
- Rama Mantra
“Neelambhuj shyamal komlang Sita Samaropit vambhagam
Pano Maha saikacharoochapam
Namame Ramam Raghuvanshnatham”
- Rama Gayatri Mantra
“Om Daserathaya Vidhmahe
Sita Vallabhaya Dheemahe
Thanno Rama Prachodayath”
- Shloki Ramayana
“Aadi Ram Tapovanadi Gamanam, Hatva Mrigam Kanchanam,
Vaidihiharanam Jatayumaranam, Sugreevsambhashanam,
Balinirdalanam Samudrataranam, Lankapuridahanam,
Pashchad Ravan Kumbhkaran hananam, Ayetadhi Ramayanam”
There is a belief that these mantras will clean your sins, purify your heart and prevent you from falling to worldly desires. Ram Navami is celebrated in much fervour by devotees of Lord Rama and people seek blessings for the entire family. They also visit temples and listen to stories narrated about the Lord.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 23, 2018 01:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).