Rama Navami and Harela

April 2, 2020

Hazaar Rama Temple, Hampi, India

Happy Rama Navami! Happy Harela!

Today is the end of Chaitra Navaratri. I assume for most it had been an interesting Navaratri! Folks in India were fortunate to get a telecast of Ramayana twice a day. What more can one ask in the lockdown? 

Harela is one of our festivals that is celebrated along with the Navratri. On the first day of chaitra navratri, Mustard and Jau (Barley) seeds are sown in a dish with soil and the sprouted plants (called Harela) are then harvested on the Harela day - one day after Rama Navami. Harela is then put behind the ear lobes as a symbol of prosperity. I have been celebrating Harela with this childhood picture for many years now.

Grandmother giving Harela

Without writing my own stories today, I will briefly mention a few shlokas on Lord Rama to ponder. 

Rama Nama

I heard this shloka recently and couldn't stop smiling. This shloka is said to have been recited by a group of tribal hunting folks who lived in the forest.

वने चरामो वसु चाहरामो

नदीस्तरामो न भयं स्मराम: ।

इतिरयन्तो विपिने किराता

मुक्तिं गता रामपदानुषङ्गात् ॥

वने चराम: - we roam in the forest

वसु चाहराम: - we bring wealth

नदीस्तराम: - we cross rivers

न भयं स्मराम: - we know no fear

The word 'Rama' repeats in the shloka. The tribe attained liberation simply by reciting 'Rama' unknowingly and without gaining knowledge. This is similar to Maharshi Valmiki who became maharshi having recited 'Rama' nama by chanting 'Mara-Mara'.

Raghava-Yadhaveeyam

This is an interesting poem by Sri Venkatadhvari. Written with 30 shlokas as 'anulom-volom kavya' (अनुलोम - in natural order, विलोम - in reverse order), this poem has the story of Rama from the Raghu Kula when recited in natural order (as written) and the story of Krishna from Yadava Kula when recited in reverse order. Thus by just writing the 30 shlokas, the composition became 60 shlokas. One of the shloka is mentioned below with its anulom and vilom. One can find others on the internet.

हारिसाहसलंकेनासुभेदी महित: हि सः ।

चारुभूतनुज: राम: अरम् अराधयदार्तिहा ॥ २८॥

Rama, who took away the life of Ravana, the astoundingly brave, the Lord of Sita, the beautiful daughter of the earth, and who destroys the grief of those who resort to him and is honored by all devas.

ह आर्तिदाय धराम् आर मोरा: ज: नुतभू रुचा ।

स: हित: हि मदीभे सुनाके अलं सहसा अरिहा ॥ २८॥

Krishna, who cared for the welfare of Pradhyumna defeated the enemies in heaven, which had elephant like Airavatha, with his bravery and returned to earth.

Hope the devotee in you got invoked with these beautiful shlokas! Happy Rama Navami!