Vedic astrology says that a devotee may follow a set of rituals on Ram Navami, the Navami of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra when Rama was born — on 10 April this year — for the lord’s blessings of happiness and prosperity. It is believed that Rama was born in the Cancer ascendant at noon on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra, with Moon in the Punarvasu Nakshatra and Sun in Aries. Fasting on Ramnavami and performing havan with sesame barley and guggul after worship is the ordained ritual for the day. A divine instrument referred to as Rama Yantra enhances the impact.

In the ingredients for the havan, sesame should be twice as much as barley and the ingredients of guggul should be equal to that of barley. This havan wards off negative energy while bringing happiness and prosperity into the household.

To make Rama Yantra, you need a bhojapatra, pomegranate, pen and saffron ink, but if you can’t gather all these things, you just take a sheet of white paper and a red sketch pen or pen. Now make a point on the bhojapatra or on the paper and draw a triangle enclosing this point. Draw another triangle opposite to that triangle to make a hexagram. Now draw a circle outside the hexagram and make eight lotus petals outside the circle as the following image illustrates.

After making the Rama Yantra, the puja involves staring at it without batting the eyelids as long as you can. Close your eyes and you will see the yantra with its colours inverted. Invoke Rama facing the east, with your closed eyes focussing on the triangle and recite “Om” six times.

Then inhale through the right nostril, hold it and exhale through the left nostril, naming Rama. Do this six times. Then open your eyes, and keep reciting ‘Rama’ until you have finished chanting the name 108 times. The ‘device’ has now turned empowered by the lord.

Blessings of Rama

Keeping the Rama Yantra before you brings marital bliss and happiness, which accentuates if the devotee chants the following mantra 108 times: ह्रीं रामाय नमः

For better education or in careers of education such as teaching, one must chant ऐं रामाय नमः 108 times, keeping the Rams Yantra in front of oneself.

For the sake of profits in business, sports or politics, chant क्लीं रामाय नमः 108 times, keeping Rama Yantra in front of you.

Praying for a better financial condition, chant श्रीं रामाय नमः 108 times, placing the Rama Yantra in front.

Further, while Ramcharitmanas was composed in the mediaeval era, sadhakas found many parts of the verses by Goswami Tulsidas suffice as instruments of communion. Most of these verses are chaupais, a poetic form comprising four parts. Some of the celestially powered chaupais are

जे सकाम नर सुनहि जे गावहि।
सुख-संपत्ति नाना विधि पावहि॥

Offering tulsi leaves to Rama and chanting the chaupai above five times will make your finances strong.

दीन दयाल बिरिदु संभारी।
हरहु नाथ मम संकट भारी॥

Offering peda to Rama and chanting the above seven times rids you of all troubles.

सीता राम चरन रति मोरे अनुदिन बढ़हिं अनुग्रह तोरे॥

Offering fruits to Rama and chanting the above five times is recommended for childless couples.

सुफल मनोरथ होई तुम्हारे।
राम लखन सुनिमये सुखारे॥

Offering yellow flowers to Rama and chanting the above five times removes graha obstacles that impede one from getting married.

प्रभु की कृपा भयहु सब काजू।
जन्म हमार सुफल भी आजू॥

Offering boondi laddus to Rama and chanting the above 11 times gets you success in legal cases.

पवन तनय बल पवन समाना।
बुधि विवेक विज्ञान विधाना॥

Offering sooji pudding to Rama as well as chanting the chaupai above 21 times will increase your intellectual capacity with the blessing of the lord and Hanuman.

For special desires, offer sweets made of gram flour to Rama on Ram Navami and chant a rosary of the following chaupai:

मोर मनोरथु जानहु नीके।
बसहु सदा उर पुर सबही के॥

Finally, offering saffron to Rama and chanting the following chaupai 11 times will increase your wealth as well as honour and respect:

मुद मंगलमय सेत समाजू।
जिनि जम जंगम तीरथराजू॥