Ram Navami - The Birthday of Lord Rama, the Indwelling Spirit, the Savior of His devotees. (From the Sri Ramacharitamanas of Goswami Tulsidas......) The name of Bhagavan Sri Ram is a wish-yielding tree, the very home of beatitude in this age of Kali (current era – the dark kali yuga), by remembering which Tulsidas was transformed from an intoxicating drug like the hemp plant into the holy basil. Not only in this Kali age, but in all the four ages, at all times (past, present and future) and in all three spheres ( heaven, earth and the subterranean region) creatures have been freed of grief by repeating the name of Sri Ram. The verdict of the Vedas and the Puranas as well as of saints is just this; that love of Rama is the reward of all virtuous acts. In the first age, through meditation; in the second age, through sacrifice; and in the Dwapara age the Lord is propitiated through worship. This age of Kali, however, is simply corrupt and the root of all impurities, where the mind of man wallows like a fish in the ocean of sin. In this terrible age the name of Bhagvan Sri Ram alone is the wish-yielding tree, the very thought of which puts an end to all the illusion of the world. My Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, used to say, time and time again, that by taking the name of RAM the impossible becomes possible. And he always encouraged us to read and sing The Ramacharitmanas of Tulsidas.