Dussehra and its Significance

Come October & we see the hustle & bustle all around. There is a festive mood in the air.  The calendar is marked with a chain of festivals one after another. First among the list is Navratri, then Dussehra or Vijayadashmi followed by Diwali & Bhai Dooj.

Dussehra marks the victory of Rama over Ravana in the famous Hindu epic Ramayana. In Ramayana, Ravana kidnaps Rama‘s wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama & his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister Surpanakha. In the end Rama wins the battle & rescues Sita. Thereafter, this victory is celebrated by burning the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarana & Meghnatha. Dussehra(the tenth day) is the climax of the nine-day long celebrations of Navratri. Navratri (nine nights) is the time to reflect on oneself, observe silence & practice fasting. Fasting cleanses the body of toxins and silence purifies speech & mind. Satguru says, “Kabira Aisa Kathin Vrat Le, Jo Le Saake Na Koi; Ghadi Ek Bisrun Ram Ko Toh Brahm Hatya Mohe Hoe”. Ramlila is the main event conducted in northern parts of the country.

Also, Puranas opined that on this day Goddess Durga defeated & killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura.

Her victory is celebrated as Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, by many people following Hinduism. In the eastern state of West Bengal, Vijayadashmi is observed as the day of ‘visarjan’ (submersion) of the idols of Goddess Durga, after the celebrations of Durga Puja in the preceding nine days.
Dussehra & Durga puja are celebrated throughout the country at the same time with great enthusiasm and with varying rituals, and with the same motive to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

SIGNIFICANCE OF DUSSEHRA

Ravana the king of Lanka was a devout follower of Lord Shiva. He was highly intellectual but a cruel & arrogant demon king. Ravana had ten heads which signifies his thorough knowledge over the four Vedas & six Upanishads, which made him as powerful as ten scholars. Another interpretation for the ten heads is the ten indriyas {five gyan (sensory) indriya + five karm (instruments of bodily action) indriya}. He used his powers for evil purposes. Ravana personifies worldly personality who runs after the materialistic things & has prominient characteristics like lust for power, women & greed. Despite his high stature & the kingdom made of gold, Ravan could not stay happy. Satguru says, in life when there is only knowledge but no love & compassion then one becomes egoistic.

On the other hand, Rama the king of Ayodhya was called Maryada Purushottam, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lord of Virtue. Rama’s life was one of perfect adherence to dharma despite harsh tests of life time. For the sake of his father’s promise Rama abandoned his claim to the throne & lived in exile for fourteen years. Rama personifies our spiritual personality, Our Own Self which is Love, Peace & Bliss.

Ravana symbolizes Ego & Rama symbolizes Goodness (Our Real Self which is Sat Chit Anand). There is an ongoing fight between the good (Rama) & the evil (Ravana) in every man at the physical, mental & emotional level. With the advent of a Divine Soul “Satguru” in our lives, ego & negativity starts losing its grip. With surrender & unconditional love, Rama’s strong hold becomes evident. Ego & negativity is replaced by Divine knowledge, love & happiness – that is the victory of Rama over Ravana {good over evil}.

On the auspicious occasion of Dussehra let us all take a pledge to burn all the vices mushrooming inside. With Satguru comes in our lives, we let Rama win. When Rama wins then there is only Light (Eternal Happiness). So the choice is ours. Either we become Ravana & get entrapped in the worldly pleasures or become Rama (A spiritual being).