Rama-Nawami
Description:
Rama ruled in his legendary capital Ayodhya. Tradition says that Rama was born at noon, and therefore at sunrise in all Vishnuit temples in the cradle put coconut, and at noon the priest announces the birth of Rama.
During the eight days preceding Rama-Hawami, it is considered particularly virtuous to reread the Ramayana and listen to the stories of Rama. These days, in temples across India, pandits and Vedas scholars are engaged in reading and interpreting the great Ramayana. One way to honor Rama is to repeat his name.
These days the temples are filled with continuous repetitions: “Ram, Ram, Ram...” Another characteristic feature of Rama-Hawami is the presentation of episodes from the Ramayana.
Rama is the hero of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. This classical epic was formed in its completed written form for several centuries BC and widely entered into use, became one of the foundations of Indian culture during the formation of Hinduism, at the beginning of our era.
Ramayana is a favorite poem of Indians. Many of her poems they know from childhood and retell by heart. In the villages, special storytellers, most often Brahmans, chanted it on long winter nights, as did another great epic poem of ancient India, the Mahabharata, to eagerly listeners.
The plot of Ramayana is simple:
Tsarevich Rama, the son of King Dasharatha, heir to the throne, handsome and clever, in an honest duel of the strongest achieves the hand of the beautiful Sita. However, the younger wife of the elderly monarch forces him to change the original decision: the heir will not be Rama, but her son Bharata. Rama, with Sita and his younger brother Lakshmana, leaves his father’s house. Dasharatha is dying of grief. Bharata does not dare to accept the throne and begs Rama to return, but he is adamant that his father has not changed his mind. In the forest where Rama, Sita and Lakshman lived, a demonic beauty appears, trying to seduce Rama. She fails and in anger demands revenge from her brother, the leader of the demons Ravana, seducing him with the beauty of Sita.
Ravana kidnaps Sita, Rama seeks her. He is aided by animals and spirits, including the son of a monkey and the wind god Hanuman. Hanuman easily flies across the strait separating India from Ceylon, and in the kingdom of Ravana on the island of Lanka finds a sad Sita hidden from people. Rama, led by an army of monkeys and bears, arrives in Lanka and in a mighty battle defeats the demons-Rakshassians. Rama wins, frees his Sita, but doubts her. The offended Sita rises to the fire, but in the flame of fire she reappears in the hands of the god Agni: the flame has not touched Sita, she is innocent!
Rama returns to his kingdom and Bharata gives him the throne. True, evil talk about Sita arises again among the people: she is unclean, she was touched by the hand of a demon. Sita retires, away from Rama, she gives birth to his twin sons. But the people demand proof of her innocence. Sita swears, and the earth, confirming her oath, takes her into its bosom. Rama remains alone and reunites with Sita only after death.
So Rama is a hero, a noble husband and warrior, a skilled monarch and a loving husband. His Sita is the personification of female loyalty and devotion, love and nobility, she is the standard of an Indian wife. Her death is also symbolic: the purity of her wife is so sacred that only death washes away suspicion. Although Sita’s death ruins Rama’s happiness, the Ramayana is generally not seen as a tragedy in India. On the contrary, the forces of good triumph, because King Rama receives by law the throne, his sons inherit everything. And the fate of Sita (Rama’s wife) is not tragic at all: she loved her husband, remained faithful to him, bore him children.
In short, the Ramayana and Rama itself eminently reflect the national spirit of the Hindus, their way of life and thought, their ethical and cultural standards. It is not surprising that Rama was deified by the people. The beloved hero became one of the avatars (avatar - Divine incarnation) of the divine Vishnu, and in his honor in India, lush and colorful festivals - Ram-lilas are arranged annually in large squares, dramas on the plot of the Ramayana and much more are played.