Jai Siya Ram (or Jai Siyaram) is a Hindi expression, translating as "Victory to Sita and Rama".[1] Siya is a regional variant of Sita.[2] Sociologist Jan Breman states that it was used as "a greeting of welcome in the countryside since time immemorial".[3]

Statues of Rama and Sita

Usage

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Worship

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Jai Siya Ram is used while worshipping Rama and Sita. It is often used during the recital of Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, especially the Sundara Kanda.[4][5] Many devotional songs with the theme Jai Siya Ram have been sung by singers such as Jagjit Singh, Mohammed Rafi, among others.[6][7][8] Similar songs have been sung in various regional languages.[9] The chants of Jai Siya Ram are very common in religious places and gatherings, for example, the Kumbh Mela.[10][11]

In politics

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On 5 August 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his Ram Mandir ground breaking ceremony speech with Jai Siyaram.[12][13][14] He also urged the attendees to chant Jai Siyaram.[15] Modi also said, "The call of Jai Siya Ram is resonating not only in the city of Lord Ram but throughout the world today. I express gratitude to all citizens of this nation, Indian diaspora across the world and all the devotees of Lord Ram on this pious occasion."[16]

Priyanka Gandhi also used the expression in a tweet related to Ram Mandir on 4 August 2020.[17]

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used the phrase at an event in 2023, while talking of his Hindu faith.[18][19]

Other uses

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Slogans of Jai Siya Ram had also been chanted in the Supreme Court in 1992 by Vishva Hindu Parishad.[20]

Each stanza of the Punjabi folk song, "Expectation of Today's Wife", starts with the line Jai Siya Ram, Jai Jai Siya Ram.[21] During riots in Jaipur in the 1990s, the phrase was used to indicate that one is a Hindu.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Lutgendorf, Philip (11 January 2007). Hanuman's Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey. Oxford University Press. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-19-988582-4.
  2. ^ Flueckiger, Joyce Burkhalter (15 March 2018). Gender and Genre in the Folklore of Middle India. Cornell University Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-5017-2286-8.
  3. ^ Breman 1999, p. 270.
  4. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Tulsi Ramayan Sampoorna Sunder Kand with Hindi Meaning By Gaurav. YouTube.
  5. ^ "6.1 Many Ramayanas: text and tradition - The Ramayan". Coursera. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Jai Siya Ram by Jagjit Singh". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Making Hinduism a monopoly business: Why Shiv Sena is wrong to prevent Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Ramlila performance". Times of India Blog. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Jai Raghunandan Jai Sitaram (From "Gharana") (Full Song & Lyrics) - Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram". 31 December 1979. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Jai Siya Ram". Spotify. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Chants of 'Jai Shree Ram' fill air as sadhus march for holy dip". The Indian Express. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  11. ^ Balajiwale, Vaishali (14 September 2015). "More than 25 lakh devotees take second Shahi Snan at Nashik Kumbh Mela". DNA India. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  12. ^ "From Laos to Lanka, Ram is everywhere: PM Modi in Ayodhya". India Today. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  13. ^ "'Jai Siyaram' call resonating throughout the world: PM Narendra Modi". The Times of India. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Long wait ends today: PM chants 'Jai Siya Ram' in Ayodhya". Punjab News Express. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Ram Mandir Live Bhumi Pujan Updates: Ram Mandir will become the modern symbol of our traditions, says PM Modi". The Financial Express. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  16. ^ "With Jai Siya Ram, PM Modi departs from Jai Shri Ram chant at bhoomi pujan". India Today. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  17. ^ Khan, Fatima (4 August 2020). "'Ram belongs to everyone' — Priyanka Gandhi endorses Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya". ThePrint. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  18. ^ Ghanghar, Gopi Maniar (15 August 2023). "British PM Rishi Sunak attends Ram Katha at Cambridge, says 'here as Hindu'". India Today. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  19. ^ "A look at the life of charismatic preacher Morari Bapu, whose Ram Katha was attended by Rishi Sunak". CNBC TV18. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  20. ^ Gehlot 1993, p. 216, chpt. 16: Agony and Ecstasy in Ayodhya Tangle: Implications of the Revival of the Ram Temple Issue.
  21. ^ Vaid 2013, p. 57.
  22. ^ Mayaram, Shail (1993). "Communal Violence in Jaipur". Economic and Political Weekly. 28 (46/47): 2530, 2532, 2536, 2537. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4400416.

Bibliography

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