Fasting till SUNSET (around 7:45PM) tomorrow (15th April for Sri Ramanavami)!!!

[Praveena (Priya Sakhi DD)]

Hare Krishna,

Tomorrow  is the appearance day of  Lord Sri Ramachandra. Fasting till sunset 7:45PM (as the Lord appeared at the sunset) is recommended. We are  celebrating the festival tomorrow evening and Saturday for the public.

We can have grain prasadam after breaking the fast. Looking forward to seeing you all at the temple tomorrow.

The following are brief summaries of the seven kandas of Ramayana:

Adi-kanda

Narada describes the pastimes of Lord Rama; Valmiki composes the Ramayana; Lava and Kusa sing the Ramayana; Dasaratha’s bringing of Rishyasringa; Lord Narayana accepts the son-hood of Dasaratha; the birth of Vali, Sugriva, Hanuman and other Vanaras (monkeys); the birth of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna; Sage Visvamitra arrives in Ayodhya to take Rama and Lakshmana to slay the Rakshasas (demons); Dasaratha refuses to let Rama and Lakshmana go with Visvamitra at first but later agrees; the narration of the births of Tadaka and Marica; the slaying of Tadaka by Rama; a description of the lineage of Kusa; Visvamitra’s narration of the origin of Ganga; King Sagara gets sixty-thousand sons; Sagara’s dynasty is destroyed by the curse of Kapila Muni [6]; Bhagiratha gets a boon from Brahma; Ganga goes to Patala (the netherworld); deliverance of the sons of Sagara; Indra cuts to pieces a foetus in the womb of Diti; a description of the curse of Ahalya and Indra; the redemption of Ahalya from her curse; Rama and Lakshmana travel to the sacrificial arena of King Janaka; Visvamitra arrives at the asrama of Vasishtha; Visvamitra steals the Sabala cow; Visvamitra is defeated doing battle with Vasishtha; Visvamitra performs austerities and attains the status of a brahmana; King Janaka obtains the Hara-dhanu (bow of Lord Siva); Ramacandra breaks the Hara-dhanu and accepts Sita as His wife; the marriage of Ramacandra and others; Parasurama’s pride is destroyed; Dasaratha arrives in Ayodhya with his daughters-in-law; Bharata journeys to his maternal home.

Ayodhya-kanda

Dasaratha decides to install Sri Ramacandra as the crown prince; Vasishtha visits Rama and Dasaratha; the discussion between Kaikeyi and Manthara; Kaikeyi requests the boon of the exile of Rama and the boon of the appointment of Bharata as crown prince; Dasaratha laments; Rama decides to go to the forest to honour His father’s promise; Sita and Lakshmana depart for the forest with Rama; Rama, Lakshmana and Sita accept garments made of tree-bark; the further lamentation of Dasaratha; Rama meets Guhaka, the king of the Nishadas (low-caste hunters); Guhaka’s unprecedented devotion for Rama; Rama goes to Citrakuta and to Valmiki; Dasaratha laments again upon hearing the message of Rama from Sumantra; the lamentation of Kausalya; Dasaratha narrates the description of the killing of Rishi Kumara; the death of Dasaratha; a messenger is sent to bring Bharata; Bharata laments upon hearing about the death of his father; Bharata refuses to accept the kingdom; Bharata arrives at Citrakuta with his army; Sri Ramacandra laments on hearing of the death of His father; Jabali gives instructions on dharma to Rama; Bharata returns with Rama’s wooden shoes, hands over the kindom to his guru and departs for Nandigrama; the story of Rama and Kulapati in Citrakuta; the asrama of Atri Muni.

Aranya-kanda

Sri Ramacandra enters the Dandaka forest; the slaying of the Rakshasa, Viradha; Sutikshna Muni narrates the story of Ilvalvatapi toRama and chants the glories of Agastya Muni; Sri Rama’s introduction to Jatayu; Rama resides in the forest of Pancavati; Lakshmana cuts off the nose of Surpanakha; the killing of the fourteen thousand Rakshasas sent by Khara; the slaying of the three Rakshasas Dushana, Trisira and Khara; Ravana becomes angry upon hearing about the deaths of Khara and Dushana, Ravana goes to the asrama of Marica and plots to kidnap Sita; Ravana decides to kidnap Sita on Surpanakha’s advice, even after restraint from Marica; Marica assumes the form of a golden deer and departs for the Dandaka forest; Rama leaves to kill Marica in the form of a deer; Lakshmana goes after Rama upon being rebuked rudely by Sita; Ravana abducts Sita; the fight between Jatayu and Ravana; Sita drops jewelry from Ravana’s chariot; Ravana leaves Sita in the Asoka grove and goes to his inner palace; Rama laments on the disappearance of Sita; the hearing of the story of Sita from the dying Jatayu; the performance of the funeral ceremony of Jatayu; Rama and Lakshmana cut off the arms of Kabandha; Rama and Lakshmana go to Pampa-sarovara and meet Sabari; the discussion with Lakshmana about going to Rishyamuka mountain.

Kishkindha-kanda

Hanuman in the dress of a mendicant meets with Rama; Hanuman seats Rama and Lakshmana on his back and takes Them to Sugriva; Sugriva vows to rescue Sita and Rama vows to kill Vali; Rama pierces the seven Tala (palmyra) trees; Sugriva is defeated in his first fight with Vali; the second time, Vali falls down after being pierced by the arrow of Rama; Vali hands Angada over to Sugriva and leaves his body; Tara laments; Sugriva’s coronation and Rama’s lament due to separation from Sita; Sugriva worries upon seeing Lakshmana’s fury; messengers are sent in all directions to search for Sita; Rama gives His ring to Hanuman as an emblem; the Vanaras return without discovering the whereabouts of Sita; influenced by the mystic power of Maya Danava, Hanuman and other Vanaras enter a cave and meet with a tapasvini (female ascetic); Hanuman and others are delivered from the cave; Angada and others decide to fast unto death upon not obtaining any information about Sita; Sampati informs them about Sita; the Vanaras depart for the seashore; the show of power of the Vanaras; Jambuvana (the very powerful king of bears) narrates the birth pastimes of Hanuman; Hanuman increases his size.

Sundara-kanda

Hanuman leaps from the top of Mahendra Mountain; the killing of Simhika; Hanuman’s fight with Lankini who had assumed the form of a Rakshasi; Hanuman enters the inner palace of Ravana, and searches for Sita in the Asoka grove; Hanuman grieves upon seeing the miserable condition of Sita; a description of the birth of the Rakshasi Trijata; Hanuman’s meeting with Sita; Hanuman destroys the pleasure grove; Hanuman’s intense fight with the Rakshasas; Hanuman kills Jambumali, Virupaksha, Akshaya Kumara and other principal Rakshasas; Indrajit captures Hanuman and brings him to the court of King Ravana; Ravana orders Hanuman to be put to death; Vibhishana gives his advice to Ravana; Ravana orders the burning of Hanuman’s tail; the burning of Lanka by Hanuman; Hanuman’s second meeting with Sita; Hanuman returns to Mahendra Mountain; the Vanaras destroy Madhuvana in a mood of joy after hearing the news of Sita; Hanuman gives Sita’s emblem to Ramacandra.

Lanka-kanda

Ramacandra weeps upon hearing of the lamentations of Sita from Hanuman; Rama instructs Sugriva to build a bridge; Vibhishana tries to give good advice to Ravana; Ravana speaks proud words; Vibhishana leaves Ravana and goes to Rama; Ravana sends his spy Suka to the camp of the Vanara army; Rama constructs a bridge; Suka is freed and goes to the court of Ravana; Ravana again sends a spy, Cara; Sita laments upon being shown the illusory head of Rama by Ravana; talks between Sita and Sarama; Malyavan (a Rakshasa) gives good advice to Ravana; Ramacandra views Lanka from Subela Mountain; Rama surrounds Lanka with His army; the battle begins; Rama and Lakshmana are bound by Indrajit; the Vanara soldiers become depressed; Ramacandra laments upon seeing the sad plight of Lakshmana;Rama and Lakshmana are freed from the naga-pasa (snake noose) of Indrajit; Ravana enters the battle after Dhumraksha, Vajradamshtra, Akampana and Prahasta perish; Kumbhakarna’s sleep is interrupted after Ravana’s defeat; Kumbhakarna chastises Ravana; Kumbhakarna enters the battle; Sugriva cuts off Kumbhakarna’s nose as he is entering into Lanka with him; Kumbhakarna again sets off for battle; Rama kills Kumbhakarna; the killing of Narantaka, Devantaka, Mahodara, Trisira and other giant Rakshasas; Indrajit enters the battle and wins; Hanuman brings the mountain of herbs; the Vanaras burn Lanka; the killing of Nikumbha, Makaraksha and other Rakshasas; Indrajit kills the illusory Sita; Indrajit enters Lankapuri for the Nikumbhila yajna; Rama laments upon hearing of the death of Sita from Hanuman; Lakshmana kills Indrajit; Ravana laments; Ravana hits Lakshmana with an irresistibly powerful javelin; Hanuman brings Gandhamadana Mountain; the treatment of Lakshmana; the intense battle between Rama and Ravana; Rama kills Ravana with the brahmastra weapon; the lamentation of Mandodari; the coronation of Vibhishana; Sita hears the message of victory from Hanuman; Sita’s ordeal by fire; Sri Ramacandra accepts Sitadevi; Ramacandra’s conversation with Dasaratha who is brought back by Mahadeva; the Vanara army is revived by the nectar of immortality from Devaraja Indra; Ramacandra leaves for Ayodhya on the pushpaka airplane; the reunion with Bharadvaja, Guhaka and others.

Uttara-kanda

The coronation of Sri Rama; the birth of Kuvera and his taking up residence in Lanka; a description of the birth of the Rakshasas by Agastya Muni; the demigods go to Mahadeva; following the order of Mahadeva, the demigods go to Vishnu; the Rakshasas journey to Suraloka for battle; Malya Vanara flees to Patala after being defeated by Sumali; Sumali’s daughter goes to Visvasrava and Ravana and others take birth from her womb; Ravana and others perform austerities; Ravana conquers Lanka and becomes king; the birth of Indrajit; Ravana goes to fight with Kuvera; Kuvera’s defeat; Vedavati curses Ravana; Ravana fights with Yama on the advice of Narada; Ravana goes to Vali; Ravana conquers the planet of the sun-god; friendship with Mandhata; Ravana sees Kapila in Patala; Ravana enters Lanka and orders Surpanakha, who was burning from the fire of the grief of separation from her husband, to go to the Dandaka forest; friendship with the Madhu demon; Indrajit enters Lanka taking Indra with him; Indra gets free and the story of Ahilya; a description of the fight between Karttaviryarjuna and Ravana; the friendship of Ravana with Vali; a description of Hanuman’s birth; a description of the births of Vali and Sugriva; Ravana goes to Svetadvipa; the Vanaras and Rakshasas return to their respective places; a description of the wanderings of Sita and Rama in the Asoka forest; upon hearing rumors about Sita, Rama orders Lakshmana to banish Sita; Lakshmana leaves Sita in the area of Valmiki’s asrama; Lakshmana returns to Rama; Rama tells Lakshmana about Nimi and Vasishtha; the episode of Yayati; Sri Ramacandra orders Satrughna to kill Lavana; the birth of Lava and Kusa in the asrama of Valmiki; the episode of Mandhata; Satrughna kills Lavana and establishes the capital of Mathura; Rama cuts off the head of the sudra, Sambuka, because he is performing austerities; a description of the killing of Vritra and the Asvamedha-yajna of Indra; Rama goes to Naimisharanya; Valmiki comes to the yajna of Rama with his disciples and Lava and Kusa sing the Ramayana; Sita comes to the court of Rama and enters into Patala; Kausalya and others leave their bodies; the coronation of Angada and Candraketu; Kala comes to Rama in the form of Tapas; Durvasa arrives; Rama banishes Lakshmana; the coronation of Lava and Kusa; Sri Ramacandra enters into the Sarayu with the Vanaras, Rakshasas and other citizens; the glories of the singing of Ramayana.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!! Lord Narasimha dev ki Jai!!! Prahlad maharaj ki Jai!!!

Jai Srila Prabhupad!!

Your servant,

Priya sakhi devi dasi