He is before us and when we utter an exclamation, we say his name, ‘Hai Rama. Hai Rama’ means ‘Oh Rama,’ ‘Oh God. ‘or ‘Goodness Gracious.’ It is typically used to express surprise, shock, distress or exasperation. While Rama refers to the deity, ‘Hai Rama‘ acts as a sigh or exclamation of divine appeal in everyday conversation, similar to saying, ‘Oh, my God.’

‘Hey Rama’ translates to Oh Rama or Lord Rama. It is a heartfelt, devotional exclamation used by us to call upon Lord Rama. It is used to seek help or solace, during prayer. This phrase expresses devotion, seeking refuge or a sense of awe.

These are two different exclamations and are used by us, Hindus fairly often in our daily interactions.

Rama is revered as an avatar of Vishnu, the ‘ideal man’ (Maryada Purushottam) and a model of virtue, truth and duty. Rama is described as the Lord of the mind and senses, perfect in character–calm in adversity; brave in battle and committed to protecting dharma, advising devotees to cultivate these qualities.

The best description of Rama is given by Swami Sivananda

Rama as the Ideal: Rama is considered the pinnacle of perfection—a noble son, loving husband, just king, and valiant warrior who lived for his subjects.

Glory of Ramayana: He emphasized that chanting Rama (Ramanama) is a powerful tool to purify the heart, destroy ego and gain mental concentration.

Ram Rajya and Righteousness: He taught that the ideal state of Rama Rajya (Rama’s rule) was marked by righteous conduct, peace and prosperity which can be achieved through unwavering adherence to truth (Satya) and duty.

The Essence of the Ramayana: In his teachings he emphasized that the Ramayana is a practical guide for living a divine life. He encouraged studying it to learn obedience, devotion and courage.

He highlighted that Rama was a living consciousness and that true worship of Rama requires embodying his virtues.

Dear ones, the easiest way to emulate Rama is by chanting his name, Ramanama japa. It is ‘Rama, Rama, Rama.’

Aim Hrim Klim