Sri Rama Mandir, Gondavale
Shree Ramanavami – 1
Today we have celebrated the birthday of Rama with great e' clat. Now, does everyone feel sure that this joy will last till the next celebration a year hence? Have we bid good-bye to all fear, anxiety, yearning? If not, this enthusiasm is but a nine-days' wonder. In that case, even a month-long celebration would be useless. If we don't celebrate the day in the proper spirit, how will the joy thereof be durable? Fanfares for mundane celebrations create enthusiasm that lasts only for a day. If the joy of Rama's birthday is only daylong, what is the net gain beyond the bother and pother of it all? The Lord is by no means eager for celebrations for their own sake. Therefore, I say, remember not to make this a routine celebration. It should rouse enthusiasm among rich and poor, grown-ups and young ones, for Rama-nama, make them more devotional to God and affectionate to each other.
Rama's life is a model for all of us to follow. The true duty of every ruler is to protect the good, and it is to perform this that God appeared on the earth as Rama; this is the main principle that we should never lose sight of. True Rama is not the picture or the idol in a temple or the worship room; He is in every heart. The celebration of Ramanavami can only be said to have been fruitful if we see Him in everyone and everything. We have eyes but no sight due to the cataract of passion and desire. The surgeon may remove the cataract and its opacity. This has to be followed later by using the prescribed medicine and precautions. Similarly, it is essential to take nama with fervour and love and follow the moral code.
Use the Ramanavami festival to see how the seed of nama-smarana will sprout and grow. The true benefit of the celebration of the festival is that as years go by, love for nama is continually enhanced, as also the joy derived from it. The true fruition is the strengthening of the conviction that Rama is the true doer, and of the love for nama.
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