Background
My father Ramratan ji and mother Kamalrani ji had in depth knowledge of Ramayan , specially on how to learn & adopt moral values in our life . My father used to organize Ramayan experts all over the India for the lecture series for may years in our hometown Paratwada in Maharashtra. He has developed deep expertise to use excerpt from Ramayan and its relevant in our daily life. He also used to write handwritten letter 5-6 pages to us and explain difficult aspects of life in simple explanation from Ramayan . He also shared with me many versions of Ramayan. Finally, I started reading Ramayan to learn and correlate my own experience for possible improvement in my own life
Since childhood I have participated in recital Akhand Ramayan Paath ( Practice of continuous recital of the entire ‘Shri Ram Charitra Manas’ without any break within 24 hours by a group of Ram ji devotee ) .We moved to US in 1997 and continued our association and got opportunity in Austin and Indianapolis to remain connected with recital of Ramayan .Today Dec 25th to Dec 26th our local group is conducting Akhand Ramayan Paath (first time on line due to COVID) with participation of 20 families . Its amazing each year dedicated members reciting Ramayan for more than 30 years. This was only possible by community leader who started and ensured its done every year
I thought of understanding and write short blog on why we recite Akhand Ramayan Paath
Importance of Ramayan and Akhand Ramayan Paath
Ramayan is an important and wonderful epic close to every Hindu heart. It details the life and teachings of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Ramayan provides guiding principles about duty, honor, devotion and philosophy. It explains the very essence of Vedas in a simplified manner. One of the important and most revered adaptations of Ramayan is Shri Ram Charita Manas, written by great Hindu poet and philosopher Sant Tulsidas.
Lord Rama is also known as ‘Purushottam’ – meaning the ‘Supreme Person’ as he stands for truth, justice, morality and is an epitome example of an ideal son, husband, brother, friend and king.
Hence, Akhand Ramayan Paath is often recited to not only learn about Lord Rama’s life but also to learn and imbibe the qualities of the supreme person within ourselves.
What is included in
Akhand Ramayan Paath includes seven chapters, i.e. Kaands, which depict different stages of Lord Rama’s life. They are –
Baalkand,
Ayodhyakand,
Aranyakand,
Kishkindhakand.
Sundarkand.
Lankakand.
Uttarkand.
Benefits from Akhand Ramayan Paath
Benefits for this Path and Puja includes creation of positive energy and nullifying negative forces. It creates a divine and positive atmosphere at the place where the Puja is performed. One should seek the lord’s blessings before starting a new venture. This Puja protects one against ill health and harm from evil. It also brings peace, harmony and happiness within the family .
The mere recital of the Akhand Ramayan Paath is believed to be auspicious. It removes all the obstacles and the adversities from one’s path to success and prosperity and provides moksha to the soul, which is considered sacred and important amongst Hindus
.Reciting Akhand Ramayan Paath is believed to reap innumerable benefits. Some of them are
- Induces truth, courage and righteousness amongst disciples.
- Provides moksha to soul and rids it from trails of re-birth.
- Prevents harm and danger from evil.
- Protects against ill health.
- Seek blessings of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuma.
- Bringing in peace, understanding, prosperity and happiness within the family.
- Brings success to new business and ventures.
- Auspicious for other new beginnings like entering a new house (Griha Pravesh), Marriage ceremonies, Birth of a Child and so on.
- Creates a divine atmosphere at the place where Akhand Ramayan Paath is recited.
Conclusion
Ramayan reciting helps that a person’s own spiritual progress rests within him or herself. Its key to one’s own self-awakening. When a person, with his or her own lips, tongue and breath, sings the songs of the Rmayan, it begins a chemical chain reaction in the brain. The singing re-patterns the neuro-net so that eventually, in time, the we can perceive directly from example of sacrifice of Ram demonstrating how to live our life.
I found difference in Akhand Ramayan Paath in USA as it read by all the interested community people as compared to some places in India its recited by specific group . Akhand Ramayan Paath whenever possible should be planned with participation of all interested people so that it generate positive energy in the everyone’s heart for opportunity for self-improvement’s
Past 20 years in US we conducted 5 times Akhand Ramayan Paath. Each occasion during recital we felt great pleasure in our inner heart and generated positive vibration to make improvements in our life in 2019 we conducted Akhand Ramayan Paath specially to welcoming new family member Abigail. In my own views enhancing spiritual knowledge and understand scientific reason helps us closer to appreciate the learning from Ramayan. This also helps us to build discipline in our life
