VijayaDashmi : Dassera : Significance

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VIJAYADASHAMI : The Victory of righteousness

 

 

This is among the most auspicious days in

the Hindu calendar and comes as the finale

of the nine-day festival, Navaraatri. this

festival of victory is preceded by worship

of Saraswati the Goddess of Learning and

of Durgaa the Goddess of Strength. Grand

processions of all Gods and goddesses are

taken out in every town and village on this

day, signifying the victory of the forces

of righteousness over those of wickedness.

Various have been the names of the Goddess

of Strength - Durgaa, Mahaa Kaali, Mahishasura

Mardini etc., under which that supreme protectress

of the good and the holy put to rout, time

and again, the demoniac forces and established

the supremacy of the righteous.

 

 

Vijaya Dashami is resplendent with many an

inspiring episode reflecting the victorious

culmination of deeds of valour of our illustrious

ancestors. The tradition in southern parts

depicts Sri Rama's triumphant return to Ayodhya

after fourteen years of banishment entailing

endless hardships, dangers and mental anguish

like separation from Sita and finally the

slaying of Raavana, as coinciding with this

day. Symbolic of the victorious occasion,

Raama-Leela is observed with great enthusiasm

and eclat in the northern parts.

 

 

Shree Raama, it is said, worshipped Shami

tree before proceeding to Ayodhya. On the

same day, the Paandavas too, took out their

arms hidden in the Shami tree and revealed

their identity after their one year of Ajnaatavaasa

(living incognito) after twelve years of

exile to a forest. That marked their preparation

for the victorious war of Kurukshetra. Invoking

these inspiring memories the Shami is worshipped

on this day and the holy leaves are distributed

by one another as an auspicious omen for

the coming year. The following couplet is

repeated on the occasion:

 

 

Shamee shamayate paapam shamee shatruvinaashinee|

 

Arjunasya dhanurdhaaree Raamasya priyadarshinee||

 

 

(Shami, the remover of all sins, the destroyer

of all enemies bore witness to Arjuna taking

his bow and Shree Raama coming back to his

near and dear ones.)

 

 

 

Vijaya Dashami is preceded by the Aayudha

Pooja on the Mahaanavami day, when not only

the weapons are worshipped by the warriors,

but the blacksmith, the potter, the carpenter,

the tailor, the mason, the typist, the musician,

the artist and every type of technical worker

- worships his instruments and tools. Buses,

trucks and huge machines in factories are

all decorated and worshipped It is the Vishwakarma

Divas -

Source: http://www.gsbworld.com/festivals/navratri.html

-- devishakti_india( divyabhakti )( http://spiritualhinduism.blogspot.com

)