Gudhi Padva (also known as Vaisakhi, Ugadi and several other names all over India) is also the first day of the Navaratri festival that actually reaches its full energy-potential on the festival of Rama Navami – the day of Shree Rama’s auspicious birth. Gudhi Padva marks the beginning of creation, and after each of the nine forms of Devi are worshipped, we arrive at Rama Navami and the coming of the highly conscious avatar of Shree Rama. Like the beautiful lotus, that blooms in a swamp, Shree Rama’s life depicts how one can live in this world and yet be above and beyond its bondages. In the Indian culture, he is a striking example of engaging with the materialistic world but staying away from the race of wanting to acquire more and more. Shree Rama and Shree Krishna are both Avatars of Lord Vishnu. Each avatar illustrates certain qualities for the common man to aspire to and attain. Shree Rama demonstrated the art of Karma Yoga i.e. to work and act (according to one’s dharma) without being driven by the expectation of results. He worked purely for doing what is right and best regardless of whether the results were in his favour. He showed us the path of selfless service without attachment or ego. Detachment does not mean one should leave everything aside, or necessarily go away and sit in a cave. Even in a remote Himalayan cave if one is sitting and thinking about worldly objects and fanning one’s own ego by calling oneself a renunciate, it is all in vain. In such a renunciation, even in the mountains one will remain far away from the experience of truth, oneness and bliss that is Shiva. It will be interesting for people to know that when he meditates, Shree Rama chants ‘Aum Namaha Shivaay’. Shree Rama, the Karma Yogi, lights the path to Moksha The ancient culture says that being born human is a golden opportunity to understand the impermanent nature of the world. At the very same time, it is very easy to become absorbed in the temptation to be attached to the things and relationships in this world, and become lost in its myriad attractions. It is precisely to light the path towards Moksha (freedom from mandatory birth and death), that the Supreme has taken birth as Avatars like Shree Rama and Shree Krishna. Shreeguru Dr Balaji Tambe
