On this auspicious occasion marking the inauguration of Sri Rama Mandiram in Ayodhya, my heart is filled with a tinge of sorrow for not being present in Ayodhya to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event. Yet, in the spirit of turning challenges into celebrations, let me transform this momentous occasion into a literary festivity.

Allow me to commence with a padyam, a poetic offering crafted by me in upajAti-vRttam (crafted in chandas/meter named upajAti) for Lord Shri Rama during the celebration of Rama Navami a couple of years ago. With Lord Rama, the connoisseur of praise, I am confident that He will graciously accept this humble homage from a devoted heart.

श्रीरामनाम्नो जपनाद् यथायं समीरसूनुर् जलधिं ललङ्घे।
उल्लङ्घनार्थं भुवनार्णवस्यापि नाम तस्यैव तथा जपामः॥

Meaning – Much like Hanuman traversed the ocean by chanting the name of Lord Rama, let us also traverse the ocean of worldly existence by chanting His divine name.

In another verse of mine, although not explicitly mentioning Sri Ram, it was composed with Lord Rama in my thoughts in the famous Thotaka-Vrttam (crafted in chandas/meter named Thotakam):

भवसागरमज्जदशेषनृणां
दुरितं परिहृत्य समं दयया /
प्रणतार्तिहराब्धिसुताप्रणयिन्
सकलाभिमतं तनुताद् भगवन् //

Meaning – Oh remover of troubles for devotees! O Divine consort of Sita! May you dispel all troubles in this ocean of existence and bestow upon us unbounded grace and blessings!

I shall conclude this post with:

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे।
रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः।।

Hail, Hail Shri Rama! May all that is auspicious happen! May our lives be filled with joy and prosperity under the divine blessings of Shri Rama! Watching the live program is giving me goosebumps. Let us collectively pledge to visit the grand Sri Rama Mandiram in Ayodhya!

मङ्गलानि एव भवन्तु! शुभं भूयात्।