Dussehra or Vijayadashmi
Dussehra or Vijayadashmi marks the celebration of the immense power that is inherent in the feminine form. It marks the celebration of the victory of Shakti (the feminine form of divinity) over evil. Vijay means victory and dashmi means the tenth, thus It is celebrated at the end of nine days of Navratri with great fervor and festivity across the country. Dussehra is derived from two words Dus means ten and Hara means to defeat. It is celebrated in Ashwin month on the tenth day of Shukla paksha.
It is said the battle between Durga Devi and Asura King Mahishasura took nine days with each day a unique and specific form of feminine energy being manifested by Shakti to defeat various ally’s of Mahishasura. The tenth day is dedicated to the victorious Durga as Vijayadashami.
Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja. The idols of Durga are taken for immersion with great fanfare, accompanied by local people gaily dancing to the beats of drums and music thus marking the conclusion of ten days of Navratri festivities.
It is believed that during the nine days of navratri all three types of gunas surge in the environment which is vibrating with feminine energy. The first three days Tamasic energy prevades thus ferocious forms of Shakti such as kali, Bhadrakali etc are worshipped, the next three days Rajasic energy prevades thus is deidcated to more gentler forms of shakti such as Devi Lakshmi and last three days is dedicated to satvic form viz Devi Saraswati.
In the northern parts it is also celebrated as the day when Bhagwaan Shri Rama brought an end to demon King Ravana’s tyrrany by invoking Shakti and resucued his consort Devi Sita. Thus this day marks the end of ‘Ramleela” (large fairs) when towering effigy of ten headed asura king is burnt marking the victory of good over evil. The burning of the effigy is symbolic as it represents the burning away of inner vasanas or material attachments and temptations.
On this day the Shami tree is also worshipped, it is considered a highly auspicious tree and there are several stories from the mythology associated with the worship of this tree. It is said Bhagwaan Shri Ram prayed to this tree before proceeding for the great war with Ravana. It is also said the Pandavas had hidden all their weapons on a Shami tree during the thirteenth year of their vanvaas when they were required to spend a year incognito or aranyavaas. They had prayed to the tree to keep their weapons safe and well hidden and upon their return found the weapons safe on the tree. Shammi leaves are given as a gift on Dussehra as an equivalent to gold.
In southern parts especially in Mysore and state of Kerala, Dussehra is a very popular festival. In Mysore it is celebrated with great fanfare, the entire town and large palace complex is lit with lights, several fairs and rituals and parades are held where large floats from various quarters and sectors are presented to the citizens and visitors. It is believed that Devi Durga defeated the asura king Mahishasura on a nearby hill by manifesting the terrifying form of Devi Chamunda and hence is revered by the name of Chamundeshwari. A nearby hill has a large temple complex dedicated to Chamundeshwari where grand celebrations and worship rituals are held during this period.
In the state of Kerala Dussehra is dedicated to a more gentle form of the Devi viz Devi Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, learning, arts and higher skills. On this day thousands of small children between the age of 2 and 5 are initiated into the world of formal learning or gaining of knowledge also known as Vidyaarambham . As part of the initiation ceremony, the child is seated with a an elderly and learnt person from the family or a priest or a teacher or a well known person of high educational achievement who first writes the holy mantra of Shri Ganesha on the tongue of the child with a gold coin or ring, followed by holding the child’s finger and guiding the first cursive writing on raw rice held on a plate repeating the same Shri Ganesha Mantra. The ceremony is usually held in the house or in a temple where large number of families with their small children gather for this ceremony.
Continuing with my sharing of Devi Stuti from Devi Bhagwatam..
“..Gayatri Ved Vadane Parvati Shiv Sannidhou
Dev Loke TadeIndraani Bramha Seshu Sarawati
Surya Bimbe Prabha Naama MatyanaamVaishnavi Mada
Arundathi Sati Naam Do Rama Surya Tiloktama
Chitthe Bramha Kalanama ShaktiSarva Shariranamll”
With this post I conclude my own version of Devi upasana havin attempted to contemplate and write about various manifestations of Devi swaroopa during Navratri and trying to present some of her qualities and various other facts gathered from various sources about each swaroopa in a simple and easily comprehensible manner.
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