Rama Navami: Appearance of Lord Sri Ramacandra
Tulasi Jala Dan Begins
Festival
All day
What is Rama Navami?
On Rama Navami devotees celebrate the appearance of Lord Sri Ramacandra, one of the principal incarnations of Lord Sri Krishna. The festival falls on the ninth day of the moon, and in 2027 it comes on Thursday, 15 April, the same day Tulasi Jala Dan begins.
Significance
Srila Prabhupada explained that Lord Ramacandra appeared in Ayodhya in the Treta-yuga, millions of years ago. The Ramayana tells His life, and Srila Prabhupada accepted it as history. On the eve of His coronation the Lord went to live in the forest for fourteen years to keep His father's word, and Lakshmana and Sita went with Him.
The Brahma-samhita (5.39) names Rama among the Lord's innumerable incarnations and Krishna as the original form. The reign of Lord Ramacandra, known as Rama-rajya, is still the standard of good government, and Srila Prabhupada explained why the Lord came:
Lord Ramacandra appeared on this world to educate or to place ideal example of a king.
Lecture on Rama Navami, Hawaii, 27 March 1969
How to observe it
Srila Prabhupada taught that to chant Rama's holy name, to see the Deity of Rama or to speak of His pastimes is to associate with the Supreme Lord. On this day, then, devotees chant the name of Rama and hear the Ramayana's account of the exile, the kidnapping of Sita and the defeat of Ravana. They pray to Lord Ramacandra together with Sita and Lakshmana.
Questions
When is Ram Navami in 2027?
Rama Navami falls on Thursday, 15 April 2027, in the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra.
Where did Lord Rama appear?
Lord Ramacandra appeared in Ayodhya, in northern India, during the Treta-yuga. Srila Prabhupada explained that this was millions of years before the present age of Kali.
Is Lord Rama the same as Lord Krishna?
Lord Rama is an incarnation of Lord Krishna, and one of the chief ones. Srila Prabhupada taught that Krishna is the original form of God, who expands into innumerable incarnations.
What is Rama-rajya?
Rama-rajya is the reign of Lord Ramacandra, still remembered as the model of good government. Srila Prabhupada said that the Lord appeared to show how a king should be.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Thursday, 15 April 2027
- Also on this day
- Tulasi Jala Dan Begins
- Fasting
- Until sunset
- Appeared in
- Ayodhya, in the Treta-yuga
- Incarnation of
- Lord Sri Krishna
- Remembered for
- Rama-rajya, the ideal kingdom
Seva for this day
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