Today is Vijaya Dashami
Vijayadashami, also known as Dasara, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. It is observed on the 10th day of Navaratri in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin.
Vijayadashami is celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana and also the triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
Vijayadashami is a composite of two words, “Vijaya” and “Dashami”, which respectively mean “victory” and “tenth”, connoting the festival on the tenth day, celebrating the victory of good over evil. The same Hindu festival-related term, however, takes different forms in different regions of India and Nepal, as well as among Hindu minorities elsewhere.
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. In the eastern and northeastern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon to help restore Dharma. In the northern, southern, and western states, the festival is synonymously called Dussehra (also spelled Dasara, Dashahara).
Lord Shri Rama achieved victory on this day. On the tenth day of Ashwin Shukla, a star named Sandhya rises, and during its rise a phase comes known as “Vijaya Kaal” that is considered auspicious to complete any work. There is a story related to the celebration of this festival, which is as follows:
Once, Devi Parvati was curious to know about the importance of this festival. She asked Lord Shiva to give her the answer and clear her curiosity. Lord Shiva told her that in the evening of Ashwin Shukla’s tenth day, a star rises in the sky during which a phase comes known as “Vijaya Kaal” and this phase is auspicious to gain victory over enemies, and all wishes are fulfilled during this Kaal.
If Shravan Nakshatra falls on this day, then it becomes more auspicious. Lord Rama attacked Lanka during this phase and achieved victory over Ravana.
It is a significant festival for Kshatriyas. They believe that when there is no war, the kings must exceed the limit of their kingdom on this day. Once King Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna about the significance of this day, to which Lord Krishna told him that on the day of Vijayadashami all the kings should decorate their slaves, elephants, and horses and celebrate the festival with full zeal and enthusiasm.
The king, along with his priest, should depart towards the eastern side of his kingdom to exceed the limits of his kingdom’s boundaries and worship Vastu Dev, Ashta-Digpal, and Partha Deva. He should make a mannequin of his enemy and shoot an arrow into its chest while chanting the Vedic Mantras. After completing all the rituals, he should return to his kingdom. Any king who performs these rituals will always get victory over his enemies.
Shami Pujan and the Ashmantak tree should also be worshipped on Vijayadashami. There is a story related to this Pujan, according to which Devi Parvati asked Lord Shiva about the significance of the Shami Tree. Lord Shiva said that Arjun hid his weapons in the hollow of a Shami Tree during his time of exile and started living as Brihannala in the kingdom of King Virat.
Later, with the help of the king’s son, Arjun retrieved his weapons from the tree and achieved victory over his enemies. This way, the Shami tree protected Arjun’s weapons. Apart from this, when Lord Rama was marching towards Lanka, the Shami tree assured him that he would achieve victory. This is the reason the Shami tree is worshipped on the day of Vijayadashami. If one is unable to find a Shami tree, then the Ashmantak tree can also be worshipped.
People exchange the leaves of the Shami tree among friends and relatives as gold. The Aparajita and Vishnu Kranta plants are also worshipped on this day. These plants bring victory and are dear to Lord Vishnu. Along with praying for victory, people also pray for joy and prosperity.
By worshipping weapons on this day, people invoke the power of God. They clean their weapons that are used in daily life, arrange them in a row, and worship them. This is an important festival for Kshatriyas, and they worship Devi Aparajita on this day. People achieve happiness in all spheres of life by worshipping on this day.
