Though Vijay Dashami is celebrated as the victory of good over evil, the actual battle is not merely between the two. From the Vedantic point of view, the victory is of the absolute reality over apparent duality. Mother Divine, or pure consciousness, pervades all forms and names. Recognizing the one divinity in every form and every name is what this celebration is truly about.
The battle between the divine and the demonic is not only external; it also takes place within us all the time. On Vijay Dashami, effigies of Ravana are burnt everywhere. Ravana symbolizes the ego. Ego is a false sense of separation; it builds walls around us. Ego needs the other, while self-respect does not. An egoistic person feels superior to others. Lord Rama, on the other hand, is the symbol of Atma Jnana (Self-knowledge); He represents the soul itself. Lord Rama embodies both the Self and Self-knowledge. When Self-knowledge (Lord Rama) dawns within, the Ravana within—symbolizing ego and negativity—gets eradicated.
On this day, we symbolically let the fire of knowledge burn away all negativity, offering it into the sacred fire as Aahuti (a holy offering). In doing so, we begin to blossom from deep within. Intense joy is kindled in us, benefiting not only ourselves but the entire society as well.
This day signifies victory over the cravings and aversions of the mind accumulated through the year. When divine qualities awaken within us, that is the real victory. Then peace, happiness, and prosperity naturally dawn in life. When negative forces take over, sorrow and misery follow. That is why, in the Vedic tradition, people greet each other on this day with the prayer: “Be healthy, be content, may all your endeavors progress smoothly.”
Ravana can only be destroyed by the Ram-baan (the unfailing arrow). This means that only Self-knowledge can truly conquer all negativity and distortions of the mind.
But how can one access Self-knowledge? It can be kindled through deep rest, for as the saying goes: “Vishram mein Ram hai” (Lord Rama can be experienced only in deep rest). The distortions and disturbances we see in society today are the result of a lack of Self-knowledge and spirituality.
Ask yourself, “Who am I?” And also, “Who am I not? I am not the body, not the mind, not the intellect…” See what remains. Reflecting on our true nature in this way lifts the spirit and brings deep contentment. The very moment these questions arise in the mind, misery and negativity begin to fade away.
But instead of such inquiry, we remain trapped in the knots of the mind, which are of our own making. This confusion of the mind is what the seers called Maya.
To rise above Maya, we need meditation. That is why we have been given so many ways to pierce this veil: through celebration, worship of the Divine Mother, and by reminding ourselves that the Divine is within us—present in all beings as pure consciousness.
This entire universe is nothing but the play of that one Consciousness. We must keep reminding ourselves of this, again and again.
