April 3rd Fri, 2009 by Goswami AnandbavaShri Rama Navmi in Pushtimarg
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Category: Utsav
The utsav of Rama Navmi is celebrated with a special fervour in Pushtimarg. Tilak, panchamrat, badhais of ‘Shri Raghunath palne jhoole…’ (Shri Rama is resting in the cradle…) are sung sanmukh of Shri Thakurji.
Let us understand why the utsav of Maryada Purushottam Shri Rama is so eagerly celebrated by vraj-bhakta vaishnavs for whom centre of all attraction is Nandanandan Shri Krishna.
Shri Harirai Mahaprabhu has gracefully revealed the bhav of the gopis in celebrating the utsav. He states,
“As a manifestation of Purna Purushottam Shri Krishna, it was Shri Rama who granted the boon of madhurya bhav to the rishis in Dandak-aranya (Dandak forest). So He has the status of Guru for the gopis. So they celebrate it with an enthusiasm equivalent to Janmashatami.”
To understand this revelation of Shri Hariraiji we must first be acquainted with what He has referred to by the mention of the boon of Dandak-aranya.
The Garga Samhita (Gaulok Khand, Adhyaya 4) cites Shri Krishna mentioning the reasons as to why various bhaktas were granted their wish to be reborn as Gopis in Vraj to serve and love Him. Let us discuss one of them here.
Shri Krishna explains that in the Treta Yug during the Rama-avatar, Bhagwan Shri Rama was passing through Dandak-aranya. He entered the ashram of rishis who were eternally meditating on the swarup of Gopal and were awaiting their acceptance in His Rasa Leela. The meditation of all the rishis was broken as they immediately sensed the Supreme presence. They knew that their prayers were about to be answered. On beholding the swarup of the divine with a bow in His hand, they thought that though our Gopal has finally come today, for some reason He has exchanged his flute for the bow!
Shri Rama was very pleased with their unwavering devotion and commanded them to ask for a boon. The rishis asked for what they had been eternally meditating for, “Hay Nath! Please grant us a relation with you.” Shri Rama said, “I am so pleased with you that even if you ask me to accept you as brothers, I will gladly grant you the same position as Lakshman.” The rishis requested, “That would not be what we have prayed for. That would be something that you can grant everybody. The relation that we ask is the one that is unique, the one that you have with Shri Sita.”
The ever benevolent Shri Rama then asked them to wait until the end of Dwapar Yuga to have their wish fulfilled. In the avatar form He was ‘Maryada Purushottam’ – bound by the rules that He had created; so was restricted in His acceptance. But when He would appear in the house of Shri Yashodaji, not as an avatar, but Purna Purushottam Prabhu himself – at that time, unbounded by doctrine, His power of acceptance would be infinite. All the rishis would then be reborn as Gopis and their desire of Seva would be granted.
On the other hand, even though being Maryada Purushottam, there are several instances where Shri Rama acted according to the principles of Pushti (Kripa) and thus broke the maryada:
- He accepted fruit that had first been tested by Shabri, because it was her devotion that made her separate the sweet from the sour ones by tasting them.
- He placed his feet on Ahalya, a woman and wife of Rishi Gautam, to free her from the curse due to which she had turned to stone.
- He allowed writing his name ‘Rama’ on the stones that then floated without drowning to form the Rama Setu (bridge) to Lanka.
- He had to endure so many years in the harsh forest due to the vow taken by his father Dashratha. Also on His return He had to separate from Shri Sita because of some people of Ayodhya. But due to Kripa, removing the dosha of their actions, He didn’t deny them a place in the heavens and everybody including Dashratha attained moksha.
Even in the 84-252 vaishnav vartas one can find mention of very interesting events related to Shri Rama. Shri Nanddas was the brother of the famous Rama-Bhakta Shri Tulsidas. When Tulsidas came to know that his brother had become a sevak of Shri Gusainji and now composed kirtans in the praise of Shri Krishna, he went to him to attempt bringing him back to his fold. But Nanddas was clearly past the point of no return. His eyes and words were now only for the Lord of Gokul. So accepting the fact, Tulsidas went for the darshan of Shrinathji. There he wouldn’t prostrate before Shriji. Nanddas noticed this and requesting Shriji to have Tulsidas comprehend His swarup, he sang…
तुलसी मस्तक तब नमे, धनुष बान लेहु हाथ
Tulsidas will only bow when you will grasp the bow & arrows in your hands.
Acceding to the request of a sevak, Shriji did so and immediately Tulsidas fell to His feet. Tulsidas then accompanied Nanddas for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. The omniscient Shri Gusainji asked his fifth son, Shri Raghunathji whom He called Ramchandraji to give darshan to Tulsidas. On experiencing this and prostrating before them, Tulsidas composed a pad…
बरनौ अवध श्रीगोकुल गाम, उत बिराजत जानकी-वर, इतही श्यामा-श्याम
Glory to Gokul because the Lord of Sita, my Rama resides here as Krishna & Radha…
Ram Navmi is one of the four jayanti vrats included by Shri Mahaprabhuji in the seva pranalika of Pushtimarg. In addition to Ekadashi – Agyaras, fasting (upvas) on these four jayantis is to be observed by vaishnavs.
Badhai for the Utsav.
I offer dhanyavads to Goswami Shri Manmathraiji for sending in the picture of Shri Vallabh sitting with Shri Rama & Shri Sita. Shri Lakshman as Shesh Roop is offering them shadow in the company of Shri Hanuman. This is the prasang of Chitrakut Baithakji.
The Internet is all about ‘interaction’. You may like/dislike an article, find something missing, come across an error – even a spelling error, have a request…Comment on it. I can understand Hindi, Gujarati, Sanskrit, English etc, for the rest there are enough translation tools. Your contribution in words is most awaited and welcomed.
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Jeje very nice article
Prabhu Dandvat…
Aap jeevo mate bauj shram lai ne janavoo cho….jeev ne samjavoo cho….
Dandavat Pranam
JEJE
I read the informative lekh about Ramnavmi i was not knowing anything about Ramnavmi can YOU please let us know about other 3 Jayantis
Pranam
Ranjanji,
Will keep that in mind.
Glad that you liked the lekh.
Ashirvad.
Dunwat JeJe,
Thank you JeJe for giving guidence for bhakti. I have one question which want to ask. If suppose vaisnav is doing Parikrama of Shree Goverdhan nathi ji and during that parikrama one bird is injured and its infront of vaishnav doing who doing parikrama. Then what vaishnav should do continue with parikrama or help that bird. And if help bird than is it a seen (Su a pap kahevay ?)
If vaishnav will going to help during parikrama.
Chiragji,
One of the main reasons for parikrama or any other seva, satsang is that our hriday should become komal.
The varta of the vaishnav who let the insect remain in his wound or Shri Gusainji’s varta where he ordered to give water to the old woman even if it meant changing the jhari afterwards are all examples of this. So please, definitely help the bird or any creature or person. No sin only punya in that.
I would be glad to know the reason behind your thinking of such a scenario.
Ashirvad.
Charan vandan avam dandvat jaijai. The article here really clears many thoughts, but more than that picture of Shree MahaPrabhu Ji sitting with Shri Ramaji and Shi Sitaji is more surprising because i have never seen such picture.
dandvat jeje.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful article and looking forward to more insights of such pushti gyan.
Question for you: You mentioned that Rama is one of Krishna avtar (thakorji). Does this mean that Ram-bhakt Hanuman is also a vaishnav?
I have also heard that Shivji is considered pratham vaishnav.
Please shed insights into the above questions.
Thank you. dandavat jeje.
koti koti danvat je je…
this is the first time i entered this blog and i am very happy that such a blog by aapshri is maintained.. it will definately answer many questions that we as vaishnavs have..
regarding this article on ram navmi.. i always had this question that y we being into pushtimarg also celebrate the birth of maryada marg festival.. but u very clearly made us understand this.. thanks alot and danvat..
though i have a question as to y did shri vallabh only explained to celebrate and do vrat(upvas) only on 4 jayantis and not the other 5??
kindly accept my danvat pranam..
Dandvat Pranam JJSHRI……..
Today i read the article dat y v celebrate ramnavmi???? I always use to have question in my mind dat inspite of following vaishnavism y v celebrate ramnavmi n that too in the same manner as we celebrate janmashtami???????
but today with ur ashirwad and grace i cleared my querries……..
thankyou jj 4 clearing my querries……..i m lucky enough 2 have u as my GURUJI…….
Dandvat Pranam……..
Dandvat Pranam JJShri……..I read ur article abt Upnayan-Yagnopavit sanskar. As per my thoughts this is the best medium of conveying pushtimarg shiksha. I ve known many things from this site which were never known to me. It is really a praiseworthy effort. Thankyou JJshri. Hamesha amara upar avij krupa banavi rakhjo….
Dandvat Jeje,
Thankyou for giving us this wonderful gyaan on the reason for keeping agayaras on the four jayantis. My mother asked me to keep agyaras and I always kept agayaras on these jayanti without knowing the reason behind it. I can now share this gyaan with my mother and my children. Thankyou again for giving us this laabh. I will be looking forward to receive more gyaan.
Dandvat Pranam,
Rita
jjshree ne danvat,
very happy to read the story of shri ram .
Dandwat J J,
J J, Why we give importance to Ekadashi vrat ? I mean,what is the importance and why we should have a fast on ekadashi in Pushtimarg.
Nihar,
Will be answering the question as a separate post.
Ashirvad.
Dandwat JJ.
Jai Gokulke Chandki.
THank you JJ for this indepth explanation. I have a question though.
The four instances where Shri Rama broke the maryada and acted on basis on Kripa..I understood the kripa factor for Shabri, Ahalya & the people in Ayodhya who were against Him. But the floating stones? Isn’t that weighing more towards miracle? I mean who’s the kripa patra here? THe vanar sena?
Dandvat JJ for explaining pusti leela of maryada purushottam
Dandwat Pranam JeJe. Aapne khub sundar vaani se hum par krupa ki jo is paavan utsav ke bare me vistar kiya. Hamare Madan Gopal hain Ram. Khub sunder article diya hai aapne. Aapko khub khub badhai and looking forward to more insights on upcoming utsavs. One point I would like to know is why does Badhai start 15 days prior to any utsav e.g. Mahaprabhuji’s badhai started today but the utsav is 15 days ahead, Same is for Shree gusainji’s utsav..
Aapke shree charno me sevak ka dandwat pranam.
Anoop Purohit
a Wonderful & a very useful Article by aapshri (Anandbavashri)….my namaskaars to him.
“रामस्तु रसरुपत्वात अस्मत प्रभो समो मतः”…। (प्रभुचरण-श्रीगुसाँईजी)
Shri VITTHALNATHji GUSAIji says,that in our PUSHTIMARG, Bhagwaan Shri RAMA is considered ras-roop (as we all know that Shri RAMA performed 4 works of PUSHTI)
apart from this, Shri MAHAPRABHUji himself, in “Purshottam Sahastranaam”,names shri raam as “सेव्यो दशरथात्मज”…
I heartily wish “RAAM-NAVMI” to Aapshri & all the members of this Blog.!!!!!!!!!!
dandvat jeje
i have thought about the fact for a long time as to why Ram Navmi should be celebrated in Pushtimarg. But this post leaves no doubt.
i wanted to ask as to which are the other three jayantis in addition to ram navmi that are in the pranalika
J J Dandwat, I was aware about the four big jayantis celebrated in our pushtimarg, but was not aware, why we celebrate Ram Navmi.
J J, i’m very much thankful to you for all your online vachnamruts..
Dandwat.
i never knew abt this festival………..thanx jj for explaining this festival through this blog and the story behind this festival and also y it is celebrated
Sachinji,
Glad to know you found the information helpful.
Ashirvad.
Aapashri ke Chanran Kamlome Koti Koti Dandavat
Thanx for sharing such interesting information through internet and giving Labh to aal vaishnavs.
Sachin
Dunwat JeJe,
I found this article so interesting that i never new that Shri Ram had given the Rishi that in his next avatar there will the gopis who will serve Shri krishna.
Jai shri krishna Daksha.
Aapashri ke Chanran Kamlome Koti Koti Dandavat
Thanx for sharing such interesting information through internet and giving Labh to aal vaishnavs.
Sachin
Dakshaji,
The prasang I have mentioned here is just a small part of what has been
revealed in the Garga Samhita. There is another interesting katha in the
same context.
After Shri Rama was separated from Shri Sita due to the gossip in Ayodhya,
he had to perform many yagyas. As his status was that of a Grihast, an idol
of gold resembling Shri Sita was placed besides him as a substitute for the
real one. Now, after many yagyas there were several of these made. Now they
in their adhidaivik swarup approached Shri Rama, to grant them the happiness
of the relation that He had made with them. Then, as in the katha of
Dandakaranya, they were assured of a rebirth in Vraj as a Gopi.
The thing to understand from this is that being a Vrajvasi Vaishnav is not
something accidental, but a result of good karmas done in several janmas.
Ashirvad.
Dunwat JeJe,
I found this article so interesting that i never new that Shri Ram had given the Rishi that in his next avatar there will the gopis who will serve Shri krishna.
Jai shri krishna Daksha.
Dhara,
Many vaishnavs would testify to the same, wouldn't they?
The fine line that divides ashraya from anyashraya is only understood when
you dwell a bit deeper in Shri Vallabh's philosophy.
Glad you found the *lekh* useful.
Ashirvad.
Deepika,
Wherever you read it, you remembered well.
Shri Hariraiji mentions that these Kumarika gopis were 2 years older to Shri
Thakurji! So Shri Yashodaji had them reside in Nandalaya for the seva of
Shri Thakurji.
In the month of Margshish they performed the pujan of Shri Yamunaji in the
swarup of Katyayani to obtain Shri Krishna as their husband.
Badhai & Ashirvad for the Utsav.
Dandvat pranam jeje,
Badhai on Ram navami.
Some where i heard that the number of sages in Dandakaranya was 16,000, and they all reborn as 16,000 unmarried gopies who were appointed in Nandalaya for seva. Is it so? or all above gopies were distributed among the Vraj-mandal? I also read that the same gopies did Katyayani vrat. This is just to confirm this knowledge.
Humble dandvat,
Deepika.
i never knew abt this festival………..thanx jj for explaining this festival through this blog and the story behind this festival and also y it is celebrated
Dakshaji,
The prasang I have mentioned here is just a small part of what has been
revealed in the Garga Samhita. There is another interesting katha in the
same context.
After Shri Rama was separated from Shri Sita due to the gossip in Ayodhya,
he had to perform many yagyas. As his status was that of a Grihast, an idol
of gold resembling Shri Sita was placed besides him as a substitute for the
real one. Now, after many yagyas there were several of these made. Now they
in their adhidaivik swarup approaced Shri Rama, to grant them the happiness
of the relation that he had made with them. Then, as in the katha of
Dandakaranya, they were assured of a rebirth in Vraj as a Gopi.
The thing to understand from this is that being a Vrajvasi Vaishnav is not
something accidental, but a result of good karmas done in several janmas.
Ashirvad.
Deepika,
Wherever you read it, you remembered well.
Shri Hariraiji mentions that these Kumarika gopis were 2 years older to Shri
Thakurji! So Shri Yashodaji had them reside in Nandalaya for the seva of
Shri Thakurji.
In the month of Margshish they performed the pujan of Shri Yamunaji in the
swarup of Katyayani to obtain Shri Krishna as their husband.
Badhai & Ashirvad for the Utsav.
Dhara,
Many vaishnavs would testify to the same, wouldn’t they?
The fine line that divides ashraya from anyashraya is only understood when
you dwell a bit deeper in Shri Vallabh’s philosophy.
Glad you found the *lekh* useful.
Ashirvad.
Sachinji,
Glad to know you found the information helpful.
Ashirvad.
Shri Manmathraiji,
My Namaskars,
Can’t thank you enough for the deeper insight of Shri Vallabh-Vitthal’s vachanamruts about Shri Rama and of course, the chitraji.
पधारते रहीयेगा
Jay,
Shri Narsinh Jayanti
Shri Krishna Jayanti (Janmashtami)
Shri Vaman Jayanti
Shri Rama Jayanti (Navmi)
Oops, should have mentioned that in the post itself! Will update it later. Glad you asked.
Ashirvad.
Anoopji,
If a laukik person was about to get something which he was ardently waiting for: A new car, a promotion, get married! – would he feel excited on that very day or would the feeling of happiness start engulfing him quite some time before.
For Vaishnavs Janmashtami, Radhastami, Shri Vallabh & Shri Vitthal’s Utsavs etc are days that they have been waiting for. They start experiencing the anand before many days. So the pranalika has officially offered a time span for the celebration prior to the Utsav.
How does the happiness manifest best – by singing Badhais in the praise of the beloved, of course!
Glad you found the article helpful.
Ashirvad.
Anoopji,
When Purna Purushottam Prabhu wishes to appear on Bhutal; Indra, Brahma etc devtas ofcourse have the prior knowledge of it, because they prayed for it in the first place. So they start their stutis even before the prakatya, when the swarup is still in the ‘garbha’. This period of stuti translates to period of Badhai.
Couldn’t complete the whole answer in the earlier comment.
Ashirvad.
Foram,
Glad you found it useful.
I have also answered yesterday, Heema’s question about manglacharan in the comments section of Basant Panchami – My first Post.
Ashirvad.
Kripa,
I remember reading the 4 instances in the classic Seva-Pranalika book by Goswami Milankakaji (Kamvan-Ghatkopar) ‘Seva Reeti Preeti Vraj-jan ki” long back.
It was mentioned that Shri Rama, by his Prameya Bal, made the stones to float in order to establish the mahatmya of His divine name forever. So not only His Vanar-Sena but all Rama-bhaktas benefited from this Kripa. It certainly worked for Valmiki, who floated out of this material world even when he recited the name backwards. Ashirvad.
Pradeepji,
Welcome to the blog, glad you liked the lekh.
Ashirvad.
Ritaji,
Welcome to the blog and glad to know that you are following the articles and finding them useful.
Ashirvad.