“Like the demigods obtaining ambrosia, King Dasharatha, after performing great austerities and great deeds, obtained You as a son.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 66.3)

Download this episode (right click and save)

महता तपसा राम महता चापि कर्मणा
राज्ञा दशरथेनासि लब्धोऽमृतमिवामरैः

mahatā tapasā rāma mahatā cāpi karmaṇā
rājñā daśarathenāsi labdho’mṛtamivāmaraiḥ

On the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami, we celebrate the great fortune bestowed upon the city of Ayodhya and its leader, King Dasharatha, many thousands of years ago. Those blessings continue to flow, as simply remembering the person who appeared in that place, in His divine janma, is as good as returning to the setting of the original event.

The appearance was not an accident. It was not a chance occurrence. Though certainly predestined, put together in the mind of Vishnu and even announced beforehand, there was some work involved by the key participants. They acted in ways that made them eligible to receive the benediction of close association.

We have confirmation from a conversation between Shri Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana. Rama is the person to whom we offer our prayers, our appreciations, our remembrances, our hopes, our dreams, and our vows to continue in devotion, into the infinite future. In the manner of Lakshmana building a cottage and showing eagerness to serve for one hundred years straight, if so requested, devotees of the Supreme Lord will try to maintain that link in consciousness, yoga, and overcome any obstacles they should encounter.

परवानस्मि काकुत्स्थ त्वयि वर्षशतं स्थिते
स्वयं तु रुचिरे देशे क्रियतामिति मां वद

paravānasmi kākutstha tvayi varṣaśataṃ sthite
svayaṃ tu rucire deśe kriyatāmiti māṃ vada

“O Rama, for as long as You shall stand before me, even if it be for one hundred years, I will always remain Your servant. Therefore You should be the one to choose a beautiful and appropriate place for the cottage. After You have selected a spot, please then command me to start building.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 15.7)

One time Lakshmana felt compelled to remind Rama of His importance in this world. That devoted younger brother, who can also be addressed by the name Ramanuja, recalled that their father had received Rama as a son only after certain conditions were met.

1. Deeds

The Sanskrit word is karmana. The deeds for Dasharatha were mahata, or great. The name of that king itself has an interesting origin. We might not believe that someone has that capability, but this was no ordinary person. Dasharatha was so named because of the chariots charging his way from the different directions.

The directions number ten. Up, down, north, south, east, west, and the four corners. Imagine a chariot-fighter approaching, with full vim and vigor, ready to release arrows with pinpoint accuracy. These will be targeted strikes.

On the other side, the defender has to respond with the strictest attention. They cannot rely on advanced machinery. There is no blip on a radar to watch or alarm to sound a warning. The defender has to do just that, defend. If they are the leader of the community, then others are counting on them to protect.

It is in illusion that we find miseries in brief disruptions to utilities such as the electricity, heating, cooling, and internet. We are upset that we missed the important game on television or that our favorite character did not win the latest season of the reality television competition.

These are “first world problems”, and a place only develops to something like a “first world“ if there is overwhelming protection against injury. If the criminals are held in check. If foreign nations desist in their approach for world domination. If enemies have to think twice before attacking the innocent.

Protection requires protectors. Dasharatha was the most capable in this area. He could fight off that single chariot rushing his way. He could do the same for chariots attacking him from all ten directions simultaneously. It is no wonder that the demigods would often rely on him for assistance in military combat.

2. Austerities

Dasharatha was also mahata in tapasya. His austerities were great. It was a chance meeting with a brahmana named Rishya-shringa that led to the appearance of Shri Rama in the house of Raghus. Dasharatha conducted a yajna, with his chief queen, Kausalya, involved. The couple followed protocol. They did as the brahmana advised.

There was a sacrifice with accompanying remnants. The queens in Ayodhya honored those remnants. The wives of Dasharatha soon became pregnant. The janma of Shri Rama was from the womb of Kausalya. Dasharatha was thus blessed with the greatest fortune one can imagine. As described in Bhagavad-gita, such janma is divyam, or transcendental in nature.

जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यम्
एवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर् जन्म
नैति माम् एति सो ऽर्जुन

janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ‘rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.9)

Lakshmana compares this blessing to the amrita received by the amaras, who are the demigods. They once churned an ocean of milk. One of the byproducts of this churning was amrita, which is like the nectar of immortality.

The comparison is appropriate because the association of Rama is greater than amrita. There is immortality in that service. Dasharatha received that nectar through explicit work. He did not simply sit on the sidelines and pray for a better outcome. In the same way, on the occasion celebrating the appearance of Shri Rama, we joyfully remember that event of timeless significance and the auspiciousness that went into making it happen. We beg for the opportunity to carry the tradition forward, such that the highest authority of all may be pleased with our efforts.

In Closing:

By striking void burning,
Then like the ocean churning.

To the gods nectar receiving,
Wives of Dasharatha conceiving.

Such that Shri Rama blessed to appear,
To all of Ayodhya beloved and dear.

Of timeless significance that event,
Celebrated still is Vishnu’s descent.

Categories: holiday, rama navami

Tags: feature, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, rama janma, rama navami