||Sri Ramakrishna sharanam||
Dear Devotees and avid readers
The Ramayan is a masterpiece of Divine Love to Sri Ram. Throughout the verses of the Ramayan, the learned find knowledge, the singers get celestial music, the writers revel in rich poetry and the righteous, a storehouse of Dharma. In this respect the Ramayan is a repository of all sarva-mangala without parallel.
Here, my mind is humbly reverting to Sri Hari as Sri Ram, beautifully described by Saint Tulsidas (AD 1532-1623) in his magnum opus Sri Ramcharitmanas. Mother Kaushalya’s devotion to Lord Hari was unique in that she wished in her previous birth that Lord Hari be born to her as her son. That was the great benefit that she derived. And when Lord Hari indeed appeared, He came with shankha, chakra, gada, padma in his four arms. That was stunning to her. Immediately Kaushalya went into raptures and started singing hymns to Him. The most funniest thing she felt was that Sri Hari, being birthless, eternal and all pervading was in her womb all these days! This very incomprehensibility of Lord getting a birth for her sake would even shake the steady minds of munis, she wonders!
But she would rather have the Lord as her baby and therefore she prays to Him with both hands folded. “O Lord! Vedas say that you are beyond maya, attributes and knowledge and that the whole universe in all its manifestations resides in your body. Who would ever believe that such as you, resided in my womb for nine months? Please O Lord, give up this appearance and become a newborn child, because that is what will give me infinite joy.” And then the Lord, the King of the divine kingdom, smiled, became a baby and started to cry in the lap of mother. Tulsidas in the last line of this lovely piece says that whosoever sings this passage, would be liberated from this world and will never be reborn.
Every devotee is precious to the Lord, and He is ever ready to help us succeed.
Every Hindu home must have a copy of the Ramayan, and regular reading of this sacred Book will enable us to emulate the exemplary and immaculate lives of Sri Ram, Mother Sita, Hanumanji and a host of bright and wonderful characters found in this gem of our scriptures.
So, dear devotees, on this very auspicious Day of Sri Ram Navami, let us all take a resolve to cultivate faith and love for our dear Lord Ram. Did not our Master say over and over again that “The One who became Rama and Krishna, has now come into this case (showing his body)”? May all who are tuned to our Master be Blessed with spiritual love and enlightenment!
In this entire journey of life – our merciful Master is with us, eager to help when we stumble, forgive us when we make mistake, and encourage us when we falter.
Swami Saradaprabhanandaji also joins me in wishing everyone of you, abundance of love and healthy life.
With love and prayers
Swami Vimokshananda
Vedanta in Practice 
Revered, respected and beloved Maharaj,
OM Namo Narayanaya
Thanks a lot maharaj for this very blessing link!
I didn’t know this day was very auspicious.
OM Shri Ram, Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram !
Thanks a lot for your Love and prayers
I bow down on Your Holy Feet
Isabelle
France
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Aum namo naaraayanaaya,
Its colour of the flowers perhaps depicts the source of the image.
The royal blue robe depicts the royalty of our beloved Sri Rama and Sri Ramakrishna. I was delighted to hear from Maharaj about the position of the heavenly planets for both Raja Rama and Paramahamsa Sri Ramakrishna. I gazed at the sky after satsang, and looked absolutely serene like Sri Rama and our beloved Master Sri Ramakrishna.
Mandusha Maharaj
Durban, SA
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My humble pranam at your lotus feet.
Just a short note to say “thank you” for Swamiji‘s blessings and for everything you do for our spiritual welfare – it is most appreciated.
Jai Sri Ramakrishna!
Nava
Pietermaritzburg, SA
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Adarneeya Maharajji,
Saadar Pranaam.
Maharajji, I was thinking that as soon as our mind have thoughts on Lord Ram, Image of Sri Ram comes in mind as painted by Shri Ravi Varma. (Most popular painting of Ram Darbar). This Idol in the image published in Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam, Tamil monthly magazine brought out by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai is totally different!
Please, can you tell us little more about this image?
Bharat
Mumbai, India
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Aum Namo Narayanaya
Salutations to Master, Holy Mother, Swamiji and Revered Maharaj
I pray you are well. Yes we must cultivate faith and love like mother Sita and mother Shabari knowing well the Lord will come to us in the right time. He knows best. We must continue to worship with unwavering devotion and as sure as the sun will rise know He will help.
I convey my sincere prayers to Lord Ramachandra to bestow His grace and blessings on you, Swami Saradaprabhananda and
all at the centre,
With love and prayers
Yogan
Tongaat, SA
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Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Pranam at the lotus feet of Swamiji!
I have found unfelt joy in reading the Ramayan. How humbly Sri Tulsidas composes his writings, it is in every word that his devotion is reflected.
The Ramayan is truely a form of solace for the depressed and forlorn. I have found immense comfort in reading even a few lines every day. It is definitely the ‘medicine’ for troubled minds, for I have learned no matter what the situation, it is a strong and positive mindset that really brings peace and courage.
Without Swamiji’s guidance, we fail to make use of the ‘ultimate survival guide’.
Prem and Om
Your child
Ashina
Estcourt, SA
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Most Revered Swamijee
Please accept loving pranam at thy feet!
Not only are we blessed to receive Revered Swamijee’s blessings every month (in the form of monthly Class on the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna), but added to this, are the brilliant talks and posts that we receive so often! The radiant, colorful and benign picture of Sri Ram is so captivating. Having read the article on Ma Kaushalya and her devotion to Lord Hari, ……. It is only with True Love and Devotion that we too can receive His Divine Grace and blessings. These posts actually brings one close to God!
Much appreciated Swamijee!
With humble pranam
Avitha
Pietermaritzburg, SA
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Om Namo Narayanaya!
Swamiji Maharaj
My humble pranam at thy lotus feet!
Thank you for the beautiful message on the Ramayana so true!
Roshnee Maharaj
South Africa
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Maharaj ji,
I was spellbound for few minutes after reading this informative and devotional article on Lord Shri Ram. Our humble pranam.
Aniruddha, Dipanwita and Tickloo
Ranchi, India
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