Prof. Dr. Jayadeba Sahoo
The cycle of time keeps rotating but its memories remains. To freshen these memories, memorials are made, stories are written, birthdays are observed, in which self-respects, love, true feelings are imbibed. Unfortunately, a day comes when respects and love ceases and rituals remain. It would not be exaggeration to say that festivals now-a-days are being celebrated just to continue the tradition. India is a spiritual oriented country and is one of the richest nations in respect of cultural and spiritual perspective. Bharat is well known for festivals. The festivals of this land form the most important link that sustains its cultural heritage. The number of festivals celebrated here is hardly comparable to festivals celebrated by other countries. Twelve months in a year is filled with thirteen big festivals. Among India’s most colorful and lively festivals is Navratri (Festival of Nine Nights), and Durga Puja is one of the most popular versions of this festival celebrated in Eastern India. ‘Dusshera-Vijaya Dashmi’ has a special importance among them. The auspicious festival had been reduced to an annual ritual hardly reflecting its true significance.
In today’s life, full of chaos, tension and turmoil, festivals bring a new joy, zeal, enthusiasm, mutual love and cordiality in our lives. However, in the absence of true knowledge, we can’t understand the real message behind the festivals and just keep celebrating them by observing rituals. It is only through the real knowledge revealed by Incorporeal God Shiva through the corporeal medium of Prajapita Brahma in the present auspicious Confluence Age that the darkness of ignorance disappears and we are able to live our lives in a virtuous and value-based manner.
The deeper significance of this festival has been lost in the loud of commercialisation and ritualistic traditions marking the day. Unknown to many, this festival is rooted in several myths and a spiritual truth of great significance that reflect its purity and power of protection.
Now what is the esoteric meaning of this festival?
The rich Hindu pantheon of Gods and Goddesses is astounding; each persona harbours an ocean of divine qualities and powers. But how ironic that ‘devotion’ is gradually evaporating from ‘religion’… Though we spend exorbitantly on Dusshera celebrations yearly, do we ever reflect on whether Maa Durga appreciates this pomp, the lavish pooja ensembles, the unending, raucous entertainment that usually bear no religious significance, the uncontrolled use of alcohol, the thumping on the idols during visarjan… We were meant to be honouring a divine being yet Maa Durga is subjected to an atmosphere of grave consequences! Without a doubt honest efforts are being invested to keep traditions alive by camouflaging the Festival with modern paraphernalia. It is commendable and inspiring to witness the unification of families and communities as a result of the celebrations but is the human soul being empowered and coming closer to the Almighty? Can we afford to forsake it? Festivals are precious for lifting our spirits, binding stronger relationships with family and friends, and carrying forth ancient traditions to new generations and the world. The magic of these festivals hold no meaning unless the spiritual significance is realised and emulated.
The Story Behind Durga Puja
Durga Pooja also referred to as Durgotsava (“Festival of Durga”) or Sharadotsav or ‘Dusshera’, or ‘Vijaya Dashmi’, a Hindu festival is enthusiastically celebrated every year in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. Navratri is a celebration of the victory of good over evil, with several variations of the tradition all over India.
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil- buffalo demon- Mahisasur. According to legend, Durga was summoned by the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, to defeat the demon, who had set out to conquer the world. To help her win the battle, each of the major Hindu gods gave Durga weapons and other objects to assist her. Durga went into battle mounted on a lion and on the tenth day of the battle, she finally killed the demon. Navratri commemorates the nine days and nights of the battle between good and evil, but Durga Puja is celebrated only on the Mahalaya and last five days, as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and Vijaya Dashami when according to legend, Durga leaves her heavenly abode to visit earth each year. Dussehra marks the beginning of the festive season, extending up to twenty days till Diwali, which is another largely celebrated festival. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu Calender and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha, “Fortnight of the Goddess”). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya, the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Paksha, “Fortnight of the Forefathers”), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (“Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night”).
Dussehra is also celebrated by burning the effigies of the ten-headed devil Ravana, who was believed to be the King of Lanka. The world is totally ignorant about the presence of Ravana in the human beings. As per great Hindu scripture Ramayana, it is said that Ravana, who, despite being a very ardent devotee of God Shiva, had abducted Rama’s wife Sita, mainly because of his ego and vice of sex-lust. Later, Rama with the help of an army of monkeys (Vanar Sena), fought a war with Ravana and killed him. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and truth over falsehood. According to Godly knowledge revealed by God Shiva, the legends mostly bear symbolic significance, relating to the present Confluence Age.
Otherwise, it is impossible for any human being to have ten heads. The mystery behind the same aspect is very clearly explained by Him that in the present Kaliyuga, all human beings are inflicted by Ravana, i.e., five vices (Sex-Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Ego). That is why Ravana- Dassanan is shown to have ten heads, i.e., symbols of five vices presenteach in men and women. In Sanskrit also, Dussehra means taking away of ten vices. Thus, Ravana is more of a symbol of these vices rather than a historical figure. Dussehra symbolizes the burning of these vices from their root, which is possible only when we, the souls who have become vicious and sinful because of bodyconsciousness, birth after birth since Dwapur Yuga and because of ignorance of true knowledge, are enlightened by Almighty God Shiva with these very aspects. Incorporeal God is also known as Paramatma Ram, who is different from Shri Ram of Ramayana fame. However, in ignorance of the true identity of God, we have called Him omnipresent, and thus, abused Him, because by calling Him omnipresent we have assumed that He is present in all the creatures, such as animals, birds, insects etc. In fact, God Shiva is bestowing on us the real Gita Knowledge. Through His Gyan Murli, i.e., the flute of knowledge, He gives us the most elevated Shirmat, i.e., Godly advice. He tells us various codes of conducts, which we must abide by at all costs.
However, if we cross this ‘Line of Control’, which is referred to as ‘Lakshman Rekha’ in Ramayana, we souls, who are Ram’s true Sitas, are put in the cage of Ravana or vices, which is referred to as Shoka Vatika. Thus, the mention of Sita being detained by Ravana is also the symbolic reference of the fact that in this old vicious world all souls are influenced by Ravana. Seeing us in such a distressed and impure state, God Shiva reincarnates, bestows on us His most elevated Godly knowledge and, thus, liberates us from Shoka Vatika of Ravana and takes us to the Ashoka Vatika, i.e. Golden Age for 21 births. The ever-increasing influence of these deeply rooted five vices and their progeny such as jealousy, cunningness, laziness, carelessness etc. can be evidenced from the increasing size of effigies of Ravana which are burnt every year. This proves that despite burning Ravana’s effigies every year, we have failed to burn the real Ravana. This is evidenced by innumerable nuclear weapons and missiles which have been invented by various nations to destroy the enemy countries. According to Godly knowledge, nuclear wars, natural calamities and civil wars become instrumental in the great transformation of the old, vicious, dirty Kaliyugi world. And, in order to give us our birthright of liberation and fruition, He takes the help of us children, who before receiving this Godly knowledge were so vicious and sinful like monkeys. Monkey is such an animal who possesses all the five vices at extreme, more than any other creature. The same fact has been mentioned apparently in Ramayana that in order to kill Ravana, Rama had taken the help of an army of monkeys only not any human being. We must introspect and try to find out the reason why despite celebrating these festivals year after year, we haven’t become viceless or pure? Why even after reading these sacred scriptures a number of times, our minds and intellects are still polluted and we keep on doing misdeeds day after day. Let’s understand that God has given us the slogan, “World Transformation through Self Transformation.”
Quarrels, fights and confrontations have literally become the accepted norms of the day even for petty matters. Not even a single person is happy and peaceful. The cremation of the 5 vices, as mentioned earlier, will be the real celebration of Dusshera. This can only be possible if we attain Godly knowledge, i. e, know the self and God, and practise Rajyoga meditation. Through meditation one can establish the strong link with Incorporeal God Shiva whom we lovingly call Shiv Baba. He is a point of light. God also says that charity begins at home. If I want to change the world, I need to change myself first. In view of the signals from the pathetic conditions of the world including nature, people etc., it can be inferred that destruction is round the corner. So, very less time has been left before we make our final journey to our Sweet Silence Home, i.e., Incorporeal World, for which we must all need to put in our best efforts to burn our past sins and misdeeds through God’s loving and powerful remembrance and thus become viceless and pure.
But this destruction will be followed by the establishment of new world – Golden Age or Paradise, where everything will be pure and fresh. So, in order to be part of the new civilization, on this auspicious occasion of Dusshera, Let’s take a moment for deep spiritual introspection and free ourselves from the bondage of greed, the lust for power and a slave of promiscuity and make God our eternal companion for true peace, happiness and prosperity. Let’s pledge on this Dussehra, to forge all relationships -Supreme Communion (Raja Yoga ) with Supreme Being ‘God’ – Incorporeal Point of a conscient Eternal Light, imbibe 8-Spiritual Powers (Symbolicaly represented as 8 weapons in 8 hands of DURGA) viz. power to withdraw, power to pack up, power to tolerate, power to accommodate, power of discrimination, power to judge, power to face, power to co-operate and burn the vicious Ravana from our mind and intellect completely by the fire of RAJAYOGA Meditation and thus, become entitled to our God Fatherly birthright of Golden Age for 21 births. This will be celebrating Dusshera in the real sense. The understanding of this eternal truth will usher in religious harmony& world peace. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University has been engaged in this task for last 83 years since its inception in 1936-37.
The true way of celebrating ‘Dusshera’ would be to realize the significance of the present auspicious time ( Sangam Yuga, which is end of Kaliyuga – Iron Age and the beginning of Satyuga – Golden Age) and by pledging to discard all negative traits such as anger, greed, ego and lust and by leading a life filled of love, compassion, respect, humility, cooperation, responsibility, divinity to establish a Value Based Better Society of “Culture of Peace and Non Violence”.
Happy greetings on the auspicious festival of “Dusshera-Vijaya Dashmi-Festival of the victory of Good Over evil”.
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