Today, on Sri Ramanavami Day, in spite of the good fortune of being born in the Rama Janmabhumi (sacred birth place of Rama) you are not recognising the Rama Principle. There is nothing great about celebrating the birthdays of great persons. You must put into practice the teachings of those great figures. What is the use in celebrating birthdays and ignoring the teachings? Practice is the touchstone of devotion.

Rama navami falls in a period of the year when Nature puts on her new vesture after shedding the old. Rama thus represents all that is beautiful in Nature. In the Divine epic of the Ramayana, there is a special profound message. That message is: man must lead the life of a human being; men must seek oneness with the Divine. Man should harmonize the three qualities in him (Sattva, rajas, Tamas). In every human being, all the three natures – human, divine, and demonic – are present. But most men today ignore their humanness and divinity and foster only their demonic nature.

Man, in fact, should strive to manifest his divinity, and not display his weakness or his demonic qualities. Rama chose to go to the forest to fulfil the pledge of his father, and thereby subjected himself to many difficulties. Rama set out for the forest with the same sense of serenity and joy with which he looked forward to his coronation. Rama demonstrated the spirit of equanimity. He showed that pain or pleasure, profit or loss, victory or defeat, were the same to him. In human life, pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow alternate all the time. It is not a good quality to welcome pleasure and turn away pain. You must welcome sorrow in the same joyous spirit in which you greet happiness. Happiness has no value unless there is also sorrow. That is why it is said, ‘Pleasure is not secured by pleasant measure.’ Pain is needed to secure pleasure. Rama demonstrated to the world the truth of this concept. (SSS Vol.31)

In every act, Rama set the example. In individual conduct, in the discharge of duties to the family, and in fulfilling the obligations to society Rama demonstrated the ideals to be followed. All should begin with fulfilling the obligations of the individual. The duty of the individual is to manifest the divinity within him. As an individual, Rama revealed the divinity in him by his ideal conduct. (SSS Vol.31)

The word ‘Rama’ consists of the two letters ‘Ra’ and ‘Ma.’ ‘Ra’ means ‘Atma’ and ‘Ma’ means ‘jiva’ (the individual soul). The Rama principle signifies the unity of the Atma and the jiva (the Universal Spirit: and the individual spirit). The oneness of the Supreme Omni-Self and the Jiva-Atma (individual Self) is indicated by the term ‘Rama.’ This inner truth is not understood by many. (SSS Vol.22 p.203)

The world is based on three entities: Fire, the Sun and the Moon. No one can deny the existence of these three. ‘Hetu Krisanu Bhanu Hima karate.’ Krisanu means the Fire principle. Bhanu refers to the Sun and Himakara refers to the Moon. The combination of these three attracts and sustains all beings in the world. They give pleasure, provoke wonder and also delude men. Because they give pleasure, the three are called ‘Rama.’(SSS Vol.25)

Today, on Sri Ramanavami Day, in spite of the good fortune of being born in the Rama Janmabhumi (sacred birth place of Rama) you are not recognising the Rama Principle. There is nothing great about celebrating the birthdays of great persons. You must put into practice the teachings of those great figures. What is the use in celebrating birthdays and ignoring the teachings? Practice is the touchstone of devotion.

Rama navami falls in a period of the year when Nature puts on her new vesture after shedding the old. Rama thus represents all that is beautiful in Nature. In the Divine epic of the Ramayana, there is a special profound message. That message is: man must lead the life of a human being; men must seek oneness with the Divine. Man should harmonize the three qualities in him (Sattva, rajas, Tamas). In every human being, all the three natures – human, divine, and demonic – are present. But most men today ignore their humanness and divinity and foster only their demonic nature.

Today, the holy day of Rama navami, you should immerse yourself in the Atma as Dharma swarupa, as the motivator of the moral life. There is no place where Rama is not; no being to whom He denies Grace. He does not arrive or depart; He is imminent, eternal. (SSS Vol.4)  

Knowing the ephemeral nature of the body, people should follow the conscience and lead a godly life. That is true devotion to Rama. You should dedicate your body, mind and everything, to God. God is the embodiment of love. You should promote love in your hearts. Turn your mind to God before the end comes. It may come at any time. (SSS Vol.30)

Sweeter than sugar, tastier than curd,

Sweeter indeed than honey is the Name of Rama.

Constant repetition of this sweet name gives

one the taste of divine nectar itself.

Therefore, one should contemplate

on the name of Rama incessantly.

(Telugu poem)