Ram Navami Puja
Rama's birth at midday: the cradle, panakam and his name
Common way — most homes
Ram Navami, Shukla Navami of Chaitra, with the main worship at midday, in Madhyahna. Muhurtha shows the time on the festival card.
About 40 minutes
Rama was born at noon, so the household gathers at midday to welcome him. A small image is placed in a cradle, cooling drinks are offered for the summer heat, and his name is repeated. If a mantra is hard, "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›Ramaya Rama Bhadraya ›Sri Rama Rama Rameti ›Om Jai Jagdish Hare ›
Get ready
The day before
- Clean the puja place and decorate a small cradle, if you use one.
- Buy tulasi, flowers, jaggery, dry ginger and cardamom for the panakam.
In the morning
- Bathe and keep the fast until midday if you wish.
- Make panakam and neer mor or kosambari, and keep a copy of the Ramayana or Ram Raksha nearby if you read it.
What you need
For Rama
- 1Picture or idol of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman
- 1Small cradle, with flowersOptional.
- A handfulTulasi leaves
- 1 jugPanakam: jaggery water with dry ginger and cardamom
- 1 plateKosambari, neer mor or kheer
- 1Ramayana, or a sheet of the Ram RakshaOptional.
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
- A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Settle in
Sit facing east or north before the deity on a mat or folded cloth. Keep the plate on your right. Take a breath and let the day wait for a few minutes.
Achamana — sip water three times
Pour a little water into your right palm and sip it three times, saying the first three names, one with each sip. Then wash your right hand with a little water while saying the fourth.
ōm kēśavāya namaḥ. ōm nārāyaṇāya namaḥ. ōm mādhavāya namaḥ. ōm gōvindāya namaḥ.Salutations to Keshava, Narayana and Madhava; salutations to Govinda.Purify yourself and the place
Hold a flower dipped in water and sprinkle a few drops on yourself, the plate and the altar while saying this verse.
ōm apavitraḥ pavitrō vā sarvāvasthāṁ gatō'pi vā. yaḥ smarēt puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ.Whether pure or impure, in whatever state, one who remembers the lotus-eyed Lord is pure within and without.Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Dhyana — invite the deity
Close your eyes and picture the deity before you. Offer a pinch of akshat as you invite them to be present.
ōm śrī rāmāya namaḥ. dhyāyāmi, āvāhayāmi.Midday — the birth
As Madhyahna arrives, gather everyone. Ring the bell or blow the conch, and call out his name with joy. Place the small image in the cradle and rock it gently.
Gandha — sandal paste
Apply a dot of chandan or kumkum to the deity with your ring finger.
ōm śrī rāmāya namaḥ. gandhaṁ samarpayāmi.Pushpa — flowers
Offer the flowers at the deity's feet, one or a few at a time.
ōm śrī rāmāya namaḥ. puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi.Dhupa — incense
Light the incense and wave it gently before the deity three times, clockwise. Ring the bell with your left hand if you have one.
ōm śrī rāmāya namaḥ. dhūpam āghrāpayāmi.Deepa — the lamp
Lift the lamp and show it to the deity, circling it clockwise three times.
ōm śrī rāmāya namaḥ. dīpaṁ darśayāmi.Naivedya — panakam
Place the panakam, kosambari and fruit before him, with a tulasi leaf on each. Sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with folded hands.
Praise him
Say this verse together.
rāmāya rāmabhadrāya rāmacandrāya vēdhasē. raghunāthāya nāthāya sītāyāḥ patayē namaḥ.To Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra, to the creator, to the lord of the Raghu line, the husband of Sita: salutations.Repeat the name
Chant "Rama" on a mala 108 times, or read a chapter of the Bala Kanda, where his birth is told.
rāma.Aarti
Light the lamp or camphor and sing Om Jai Jagdish Hare with the family, circling the flame clockwise.
Pradakshina — circle in reverence
Turn around clockwise in your place three times (or walk around the altar if there is room), saying this verse.
yāni kāni ca pāpāni janmāntarakr̥tāni ca. tāni tāni vinaśyanti pradakṣiṇapadē padē.Whatever wrongs were done in past lives are destroyed with every step taken around the Lord.Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.Share the panakam
Give the panakam and kosambari to everyone, and to anyone passing by if you can. In summer, tradition counts a cool drink given to a stranger as worship.
Fasting
Many fast until the midday puja or through the day, with fruit and milk. Elders, children, the unwell and those who are pregnant should eat as they need.
Good to do
- Read or tell the story of his birth to the children.
- Give water or a cool drink to someone working in the heat.
Tradition avoids
- Do not rush past noon; the timing is the point of the day, though a later puja is still a puja.
- Avoid onion and garlic in the food offered.
Rama is remembered for keeping his word. A promise kept today honours him as much as any offering.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.