Of all Avatāras of Sriman Narayana, Rama Avatāra is the greatest. In the month of Chitra Śukla Paksha, ninth Tithi (9^th digit of the waxing moon - mid-April to mid-May) the seventh Punarpūsa Nakshatra, Rama was born.  Navami though unchosen for auspicious undertakings, we celebrate Rama Navami on that day because Rama was born. Rama established as an exemplary human being goes by other names: Sitaraman, Jayaraman, Kalyanaraman, Janakiraman…

The seventh nakṣatra, as presided over by Aditi. புனர்பூசம் puṉarpūcam

நட்சத்திரம் naṭcattiram , n. < nakṣatra. 1. Star; 2. (Astron.) Lunar constellation, 27 in number, viz., acuviṉi, paraṇi, kārttikai, urōkiṇi, miruka- cīriṭam, tiruvātirai, puṉarpūcam, pūcam, āyili- yam, makam...

SrīPavithra Rama:  Purifying Rama. Ravished by Indra, Akalikai cursed by her husband Gautama Muni to become stone obtained redemption from the curse by Rama’s feet touching the stone. Because Ramah made her pure and blessed her with grace, Rama was called Pavithra (Purity or purifying) Rama.

Udhāra guṇa Rama = Exemplary Guṇa Rama: Since Rama exiled himself with Sita and Lakshmana to the forest on the command of his father and pursued an exemplary noble life, he went by the name, exemplary Guṇa Raman.

BharathaVathsala Rama (Brotherly Love Rama): Consenting to the desire of Bharata who came to the forest in search of him and because of his brotherly love, he gave his foot ware (as representing him in the Royal Court) and earned the name: BharathaVathsala Rama.

Parākrama Rama (Warrior Rama): In Pañcavaṭi Barna Sālai (Five-Banyan-Tree Hut), the demons Karan, Dhuṣāṇan, Trisaran… and their armies were roundly destroyed by Rama’s heroic deeds earning him the name Warrior Rama.

பஞ்சவடி¹ pañcavaṭi=  pañca-vaṭī. The sacred grove of five banyans on the banks of the Godāvari, where Sītā was abducted by Rāvaṇa. பர்ண சாலை =  Barṇa sālai = Hut made of leaves and twigs.

Mokṣa palapiratha Rama: Moksha-giving Rama. When Rama killed Vāli on behalf of his brother Sugrīva, Vāli chanted the name of Rama and received his blessings. Likewise, bound by the love and devotion of the disciples, Rama conferred grace and emancipation on Vāli earning the name, Mokṣa palapiratha Rama.

Dhāraka Nāma Rama: Rama the Protector: Jadāyu bird’s wings were cut by Ravana and restored to its original state by the utterance of Rama’s name. Jadāyu’s older brother Sampāthi revealed to the troop of monkey warriors the place where Sita was. Because Rama’s name gives salvation to all, he was named: Tāraka Nāma Rama.  தாரகன்¹ tārakaṉ , n. < dhāraka. Protector, preserver.

Dhukka-nāsaka Rama = Grief-destroying Rama: When Sita was incarcerated in Asoka forest, Hanuman gave her the signet ring of Rama and narrated the happy tidings of Rama. Sita looking at the signet ring felt an exhilaration of seeing Rama in person and forgot her grief. Since Rama destroyed her grief, he is Dhukka-nāsaka Rama.

Karuṇākara Rama = Compassionate Rama: When Ravana stood bereft of weapons in the battlefield, Rama took pity on him and said, “Go today and return tomorrow (with weapons).” Since he showed compassion to an enemy bereft of weapons and gave him the gift of grace, he is Karuṇākara Rama.

Saraṇāgatha Rakṣaka Rama = Surrender-protector Rama:  Vibhīṣaṇa pleaded with his brother Ravana to handover Sita to Rama. Becoming angry, Rāvanā exiled him out of the country. Vibhīṣaṇa surrendered to Rama with his four ministers. Since Rama took the enemy’s brother as his own brother, he is Saraṇāgatha Rakṣaka Rama