sai_pranam

"Dussehra is the festival that celebrates the victory of the forces of the good over the foes that resist the progress of man towards light. The sages who have decided on these festivals have a high purpose. They want us to imbibe the inner meaning and use each day as a step in Sadhana, as a reminder of the journey, which each person has to undertake alone to the Feet of the Lord. The forces of good (Devas) are combating with the forces of evil (Asuras) in every living being and if they only rely on Mahashakti, the great Divine Force that fosters and fends the universe, they can easily win and reach goal." Sai Baba

Dussehra is one of the significant Hindu festivals, celebrated with much fan and fare in the entire country. Be it any part of India, one is sure to find celebration and revelry combined with religious rituals on this day. It is a festival of color, pujas, a variety of foods and of course ubiquitous decorations. The festival commemorates the triumph of Lord Ramp over the Demon King, Ravana, the victory of good over evil. The day also celebrates the magnificence and omnipotence of Goddess Durga. In fact, the day has myriad ways of celebrations. Dussehra is also reminiscent of the end of the exile and banishment of the Pandava princes in the Mahabharata and their return with their weapons to reclaim their kingdom. But in many places it culminates with the burning of huge images of the demon King Ravana of Lanka and his accomplice; symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.

The word Dussehra comes from the word Dus meaning Ten; and Hara meaning ;annihilated. So Dussehra is the day in which 10 facets of evils were destroyed or the victory over ten-faced one. It is believed that Ravan had 10 faces. They are probably reminiscent of the 10 evil faces of his character. Hence the day is also known as Vijayadashmi, or the Victory Tenth, because of the victory of Ram over Ravana or ten evils. History abounds with the different meanings and celebrations of Dussehra. In ancient times, kings used the feast of Dussehra to cross the frontier and fight against their neighboring kingdoms. This border crossing is known as seemaollanghan and Dussehra marked the beginning of the war season. The day is also dedicated to the worship of weapons, tools and implements along with Sami or in its absence Apta tree. On this day, in many parts of the country, the leaves of Apta trees are presented to each other while greeting one another, as according to legend they symbolize gold.

The Dussehra is considered highly auspicious for the undertaking of any new work or business. As the Navratri or the nine days of the worship of Goddess Durga precede Dussehra, some rituals in honor of Goddess Durga are also carried out on this day. Ram (the incarnation of Lord Vishnu) was a great believer in the prowess of Goddess Durga, and He prayed to Her for nine days before He Himself entered the battlefield on the 10th day to kill Ravana. During Dussehra the whole country reverberates in the form of Pujas (worship), Archnas (offering to God), taking out decorated tableaux depicting the life of Rama and annihilation of Ravana. While the Northern India wears the colorful garb of Ramlila (depicting scenes from Epic Ramayana) and takes as a period of fasting, the Eastern India celebrates Dussehra as Durga Puja. The whole region comes alive during the festival. The idols of Goddess are welcomed in the houses. The Goddess is Shakti, the cosmic energy, which pervades all beings is worshipped for nine days to be followed by immersion in the river on the 10th day.

The glorification of Goddess Durga is such that even Holy Trinity i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh approached her to vanquish and kill the mighty buffalo headed demon Mahishasura. The Southern India celebrates Dussehra or Navaratri by worshipping Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth), Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) and Durga (Goddess of power or shakti). Vijayadashmi is an auspicious occasion for children to commence their education in classical dances and music and to pay homage to their teachers. Every house has a Kolu; a decorated stepped platforms with dolls and clay figurines, representing Gods, Goddesses and animals. People also decorate their houses with lamps and flowers and exchange gifts of coconuts, clothes and sweets.

The Western India celebrates Dussehra in the form of Navratri (festival of Nine nights), which is devoted to the propitiation of Shakti or Divine Mother. The most common form of celebration is the performance of garba or dandia-ras (stick dance). The women dance around an earthen lamp, decorated with flowers and betel leaves while singing devotional songs accompanied by rhythmic clapping of hands. The festival is essentially religious in nature. It is celebrated with true devotion in the various temples dedicated to the Mother or Mataji, as she is popularly called.

The festival of Dussehra was very dear to Sai Baba and sacred to his devotees. Baba respected all religions and saw no distinction among them and their devotees. He celebrated all festivals including Dussehra with equal fervor. People of all religions took part with the same zest and enthusiasm. His mission was the synthesis and amalgamation of all religions and makes people understand the meaning of love and humanity. Also Baba never tolerated any disrespect against any festival, be it Urs or Ramnavami. He permitted without any distinction Hindus and Muslims to celebrate their fairs and festivals.

Baba often said He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most. Thus in Shirdi, there is as such no religion and only religion of love to humanity is practiced. On account of this, Shirdi assumes greater significance in the sense that it is only holy shrine in the world where people from all religions celebrate their festivals, pay their obeisance, partake of food and sing the glory of the Sai Baba together and forgetting their caste, color and creed to fulfill His dream. Baba also considered Dussehra as His Seemollanghan (crossing the border of life). He gave an indication of His passing away in 1916 but nobody understood it then. It was on Dussehra day on 15th October, 1918 that Baba left His mortal coil and took Maha Samadhi So, Dussehra is considered very auspicious and pious. It has immense significance in everybody's life.

The importance of Dussehra is to burn the evil within ourselves and follow the path of virtue and righteousness. It is a day to come over our negative tendencies. It is the day to win over our enemies of lust, anger, ego, avarice, greed and so on that predominates the human birth and start a new life. Dussehra teaches us the efficacy of an ideal life and reminds us the instance of Ravana, who was a great scholar and staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, but in spite of his dedication, might and majesty, his ego, evil nature, thoughts and action destroyed him.

Rajesh Anand

Quote:

"Festivals like Dussehra are designed to make man aware of his divinity, to endow him with purity, to become aware of its holiness, to imprint on his heart the wisdom won by sages after years of yearning." -Sai Baba

Volume 8 - Oct 02

Contents: