Dusherra is celebrated as the last day of Navratri, after Goddess
Durga Slain Asura Mahisha symbolically signalling harvesting of crops, turning
Green Earth into Red Earth. It marks the
beginning of Rabi Harvest season and Vedic Gods and Goddesses were invoked to
rejuvenate the fertility of the soil and fields.
It also marks the beginning of war season as during the
ancient times kings used to cross frontiers to conquer new territories in neighbouring
states. This practice was known as SIMOLLANGHAN.
The word DASARA or DUSHARA Originated from Sanskrit Word
Dasha meaning ten and Hara meaning defeat, referring to Lord Rama’s victory
over ten headed Rakshas king Ravan [Dashanan].
Ravana’s Ten Heads symbolized Ten Senses [Five Action &
Five Perception] which he could not control; this is in contrast with
Dasharatha [Ram’s Father who had controlled his Senses and had power and vigor
of 10 Chariot Warriors]
The Ten Senses Ravan could not control were Kamavasana (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Moha( Attachment),
Lobha (Greed), Mada (Overpride), Matsara(Jealousy), Swartha (Selfishness),
Anyayaa (Injustice), Amanavta (Cruelty) & Ahankara (Ego). People pray to
Goddess Durga to get rid of these qualities from the household.
Dasara is also known as Vijayadashmi meaning victory on
Dashmi the tenth Lunar Day.
Dusherra also has significance for Guru and Shishya
Tradition:
Kautsa, a disciple of Rishi Vartantu, had to pay 140 million
gold coins to his guru as guru dakshina. He did not have the required gold coins
hence he went to Generous King Raghu of Ayodhya seeking his help. King Raghu unfortunately
had donated all his wealth after performing a Sacrifice. Raghu did not want to disappoint
and turn away Kautsa so he approached Indra and asked him to give 140 Million
Gold Coins or get ready for the War. Indra in turn requested Kubera to rain the
Gold coins on Aapti / Shami trees in and around Ayodhya. Kubera did as told and
Kautsa collected 140 million Gold Coins and gave the remaining gold coins to
King Raghu who in turn distributed it among his subjects. In remembrance of
this incident people still present leaves of Aapti, on Dasara to each other as
Gold.
It is also the day
when Ravana became the Supreme Guru of Lord Ramchandra. A dying Ravana on the
battlefield revealed and shared with Rama his immense knowledge on 10 Subjects
: Darshan Shastra & Vedas (Philosophy), Neeti Shastra (Politics), Sankhya Shastra
(Numerology), Jyotish Shastra (Astrology), Vastu Shastra (Architecture), Artha Shastra(Economics),
Nritya Shastra (Dance), Ayurveda (Medicine), Sangeet Shastra (Music) & Natya
Shastra (Theatre& Fine Arts). This knowledge helped Rama in making him a
better ruler in his later life as king of Ayodhya.
Since the creation of the universe the two forces Positive
(+) and Negative (-) are working and will keep on working till the end of
Universe. The fight of Supremacy between Positive and Negative forces will
always go on. These forces help in
maintaining a balance in Cosmos. Boons and Curses translate into Positive and
Negative forces and are integral part of Vedic Mythology.
In cosmic sense Gods
and Asuras fight continuously for the wealth. Gods pull the wealth from Asuras
and Asuras pull it back from them and then the balance is restored. It’s a fight
between beings residing in Sky (Swarga) and sub terrain (Patal).
Despite having all the wealth by their side Sky Gods are always
insecure as they cannot create wealth like Asuras.
There is also continuous battle between Manavas on one side
and Rakshasas & Daitya’s on other side. This battle is for the control of
Prakriti [Nature] and Sanskriti [Culture]. Rakshas followed Matsya Nyaya
meaning Might is Right while Manavas follow Dharma or code of conduct laid down
by Manu.
Meaning of Dharma is changed on time to time basis and new
rules are formulated to suit the convenience of Gods, Manavas & Rakshasas.
Who was Ravan? Ravan is Jaya the celestial doorkeeper of
Vishnu along with his twin brother Vijaya. Jaya & Vijaya were cursed by 4
Primal sages, collectively known as Sanat Kumars, to take 4 births to experience
the pain of living. In their earlier birth they were Asuras Hiranyaksha and
Hiranyakashyap. In their next Birth they were Rakshasas Ravana and Kumbhakarna.
Vishnu took Avtar’s to slain them and to facilitate their reentry into Vaikuntha.
This justifies the Inhuman behavior of Ravan and Kumbhakarna
to call upon the Lord Vishnu to end their life on earth, can be said as reverse
bhakti.
Dusherra symbolizes victory of Good over Evil. When powerful
people cannot control their Lust, Greed and Desire they change the Code of
Dharma to create new rules which Suit their ambitions and end up pondering the
Wealth of Prithvi which is meant to be shared among all her subjects. It ends
up destroying the Prakriti and Sanskriti. Vijayadashmi teaches us to eliminate
our Evil and Negative tendencies to Protect Prakriti and Sanskriti.
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