Ram Navami Celebrations in Ayodhya
Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. Devotees throng the temples of Ayodhya and Pondicherry. These are the places that are closely connected to the events of the Ramayana.
Significantly, the ancient Egyptians termed the sun as Amon Ra or simply as "Ra". In Latin, the syllable Ra is used to connote light. For example, we have Radiance which emission of light, or Radium, which means any substance emitting light or brilliance. The common element is the syllable Ra that in many languages is used to derive words for describing Sun or light.
The Significance of Ram Navami
Ram Navami is a significant Hindu festival celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. It falls on the ninth day (Navami) of the Chaitra month in the Hindu calendar, which typically occurs in March or April.Significantly, the ancient Egyptians termed the sun as Amon Ra or simply as "Ra". In Latin, the syllable Ra is used to connote light. For example, we have Radiance which emission of light, or Radium, which means any substance emitting light or brilliance. The common element is the syllable Ra that in many languages is used to derive words for describing Sun or light.
The occurrence of this syllable in most names used for Rama along with other clues is strongly suggestive that the festival Ramnavami antedates the R- ayana and it must have originated much before the Ramayana, as a Sun-festival for invoking the Sun who was recognized as the source of light and heat even in ancient times. The importance of the Sun was much more in the higher latitudes from where the Aryans are supposed to have migrated into India. Many royal dynasties portrayed symbols of virility like the Sun, Eagle, Lion etc. as their progenitor. Rama s dynasty considered them to have descended from the Sun. This could have led to the tagging on, of Rama s birthday to a festival devoted to the sun.
The Importance of Sun Worship on Ram Navami
The Sun was recognised as the source of light and heat even in ancient times. The importance of the Sun was much more in the higher latitudes from where the Aryans are supposed to have migrated into India. Many royal dynasties portrayed symbols of virility like the Sun, Eagle, and Lion etc. as their progenitor. Rama s dynasty considered them to have descended from the Sun. This could have led to the tagging on, of Rama s birthday to a festival devoted to the sun.
There is some link between Lord Rama and Sun Worship. The Sun is considered to be the progenitor of Rama s dynasty, which is called the Sun dynasty (Raghukula or Raghuvamsa, Raghu means Sun and Kula or Vansa mean familial descendant). Rama is also known as Raghunatha, Raghupati, and Raghavendra etc. That all these names begin with the prefix Raghu is also suggestive of some link with Sun worship. The hour chosen for the observance of the lord s birth is that when the sun is overhead and is at its maximum brilliance.
Surya Tilak
To commemorate Ram Navami, a three-minute Surya Tilak ceremony was held at noon on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Ayodhya's recently constructed Ram temple. During the ceremony, a beam of sunshine was projected upon the idol of Lord Ram.
This was made possible by a unique mirror-lens setup that astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, created. A team from the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, placed the system in the building.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Ram idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22, this was the first Ram Navami.
The intended tilak size was 58 mm, according to a senior scientist at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, a division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). According to him, the precise duration of the forehead-centered tilak was between three and three and a half minutes, during which there were two minutes of total light.
इस आर्टिकल को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें
Also Read: Ramnavami Puja
There is some link between Lord Rama and Sun Worship. The Sun is considered to be the progenitor of Rama s dynasty, which is called the Sun dynasty (Raghukula or Raghuvamsa, Raghu means Sun and Kula or Vansa mean familial descendant). Rama is also known as Raghunatha, Raghupati, and Raghavendra etc. That all these names begin with the prefix Raghu is also suggestive of some link with Sun worship. The hour chosen for the observance of the lord s birth is that when the sun is overhead and is at its maximum brilliance.
Surya Tilak
To commemorate Ram Navami, a three-minute Surya Tilak ceremony was held at noon on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Ayodhya's recently constructed Ram temple. During the ceremony, a beam of sunshine was projected upon the idol of Lord Ram.
This was made possible by a unique mirror-lens setup that astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, created. A team from the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, placed the system in the building.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Ram idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22, this was the first Ram Navami.
The intended tilak size was 58 mm, according to a senior scientist at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, a division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). According to him, the precise duration of the forehead-centered tilak was between three and three and a half minutes, during which there were two minutes of total light.
इस आर्टिकल को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें
Also Read: Ramnavami Puja