Ramayana Masam: The Month Dedicated To Ramayana In Kerala

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Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya, as the son of Dasaratha, the descendant of Ikshavaku dynasty on Chaitra Shuddha Navami on Punarvasu star with five planets in exaltation in his horoscope. It is said that the muhurat having five planets in exaltation is a sacred hour in which only Gods are born. Human beings hardly have two or three in exaltations. Ramayana has been translated into all the major languages of the world. Ram Lila in north India and Kathakkali down South, is very popular among the devotees of Ram. Cambodia Indonesia and Thailand also have deep influences of Ramayana on their cultural ethos.

Rama's Date Of Birth:

As per the planetary positions historians have concluded that Rama was born 7000 years back as per the planetary position. But according to the latest discovery, the date of Rama's birth matches the description given in the scriptures. Ramayana is composed of 24000 verses that come in 7 cantos which explain the events in Rama's life in a chronological order. The name Ramayana when translated means The name Ramayana has derived from two words, Rāma and Ayana which means ''Rama's Path" It was the course of his journey that had universally significant milestones. The author of this work was Valmiki who was a hunter turned Rishi.

Rama's Life Journey:

Rama was sent to exile from the kingdom to which he was rightful heir for 14 long years, during which he annihilates the demons including Ravana, the King of Lanka who had abducted Sita. Rama involves Sugreeva the Vanara King and his general Hanuman in his battle with Ravana and won it, and travelled with Sita back home to Ayodhya. To prove Sitas chastity and innocence, Rama even exiles Sita to Forest where she bears him his sons Lava and Kusha. Ultimately Sita, unable to bear the insult of tests on her character, merges back to mother earth which is where she came from.

Ramayana Month

Karkidam is the last month according to the Malayalam calendar which occurs in the month of July and August usually. To eliminate the risks due to excessive rain that happens during this month, the Ramayan is read in temples. New ventures are not started on this month and the Amavasya of Karkidam is dedicated to dead forefathers. Nalambalam which is a string of four dedicated shrines to Rama and his brothers to which devotees go on a pilgrimage tour, from Thriprayar , Payammel, Koodalmanikyam, Moozhikulam, and back to Thriprayar. Ramayanam written Malayalam by Ezhuthachan is recited. Sales of Adhyatma Ramayana reaches the record high in sales during this month.

Rama Nama

There is a sloka in Rama Raksha Stotra reciting which, as per Lord Shiva, one would receive the benefits of chanting the thousand names of Lord Vishnu.
Sri rama rama rameti rame rame manorame,
Sahasranama tattulyam rama nama varanane
Uttering Ram Nam would eliminate sins committed in past present and future and it is a story that imparts moral wisdom so that even a diehard agnostic would take a minute or two to savour the spiritual and moral significance of the Ramayan
A pilgrimage to these temples on a single day during the holy month of Karkkidakam believed to shower blessings and ensure prosperity.

How Is The Ritual Done?

Malayam month of Ramayana, also known as Karkidam which involves month long prayers, austerities and fasts. The daily recitation of Ramayana along with it some rituals bestow maximum benefits in all the ways to the devotees. Karkidam is a sankramanam time when Sun transits from one rashi to another. Praying and lighting diyas to Sun is considered utterly sacred and beneficial at this time. People consecrate their homes with cow dung mixed water and the eldest lady of the house lights the diya in order to welcome bhagavathy Goddess.

Ten different varities of flowers each symbolizing a God or Goddess and ashtamangalyam, the eight sacred objects placed near the diya shows that Bhagavathy has arrived and Ramayana recitation can start after a puja to Ganapati. Alternatively you can keep a photo of sri rama pattabhishekam which must mandatorily consist of images of Sri Rama, Sita, Hanuman, four brothers of Rama, Sri Parameswara, Brahma, Ganapati, Vasishta and Narada rishis.

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