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Dussehra 2024: The Sharadiya Navratri festival of worship of Adi Shakti Maa Jagadamba is going on. Dussehra festival is coming. According to folk beliefs, the effigy of Ravana is burnt on the day of Dussehra. By the way, Dashami of Ashwin month is also called ‘Vijayadashmi’. There is a tradition of worshiping weapons on this day.
After worshiping the nine forms of Adi Shakti Maa Jagadamba for nine days of Navratri, proper worship rituals are always performed on Dashami Tithi to wish for victory, that is why it is called Vijayadashami. Lord Shri Ram, who was born in Tretayuga, also performed Vijaya Puja on the tenth day of Ashwin month. It was only after duly worshiping Adi Shakti that he conquered Lanka by killing the demon king Ravana. Which scholars have called the victory of righteousness over unrighteousness, the victory of truth over untruth and the victory of good over evil.
Columnist Dr. Mahendra Thakur According to this, we already know about the popular beliefs and folklores around Dussehra. One of which is the tradition of burning the effigy of ‘Dashanan Ravana’ along with Kumbhakarna and Meghnath on this day. When we say ‘Dashanan’, a specific characteristic of Ravana is revealed.
That specialty is his having ‘ten heads’, Sheesh means Anan, hence Dashanan means ten-headed. There are many stories in circulation regarding the ten heads of Ravana. In such a situation, it becomes relevant to know what the author of Ramayana, Maharishi Valmiki, has written about Ravana.
It is necessary to write one thing here that there is a debate going on among the scholars regarding Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana regarding ‘authentic and projected’, we are not getting into that debate and everything is being written on the basis of the Valmiki Ramayana available today. Is. For this we are using Valmiki Ramayana of Geeta Press.
In the Uttarkanda of Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana, there is the story of the birth of Ravana, the son of sage Vishrava and Kekasi. Valmiki writes about the birth of Ravana in verses 28-29 of the ninth canto of Uttarkand –
Evmukta tu sa kanya Ram Kalen Kenchit.
Janyamaas Bibhatsam Rakshorupam Sudarunam ॥ 28 ॥
Dashgrivam Mahadanstram Neelanjanchayopam.
Tamroshtham Vinshatibhujam Mahasyam Deeptamurdhajam. 29.
That is – After some time, after the sage said this, Kaikasi gave birth to a demon with a very terrible and cruel nature, whose ten headsBig teeth, lips like copper, twenty armshad a huge face and shiny hair. The color of his body was as black as a mountain of coal.
One thing is proved from this verse that Ravana had ten heads from the time of birth and 20 arms. This ten headed child was named by his father sage Vishrava. Valmiki writes in verse number 33 of the ninth canto –
अथ नामाकरोत तस्य पितामहसमः पिता.
Dashgriva: Prasutoyaam Dashgrivo Bhavishyati. 33..
In other words – At that time, father Vishwava Muni, who was as bright as Lord Brahma, named his son – “It is born with ten cervix, Therefore ,Will be famous by the name ‘Dashgriva’,
One more thing came to light from this verse that Ravana’s ‘Ravana name‘ is also not the first name i.e. he got the name Ravana later. His first name was ‘Dashgriv’.
In this canto there is also the story of Dashagriva becoming powerful and getting the name ‘Ravana’. In verse number 36-37 of canto 16, Lord Mahadev Shankar says
Pritosmi tav veerasya shautiryachch dashanaan.
Shailakranten yo muktsatvaya raoah sudarunah. 36..
Yasmallokatrayam chaitad ravitam bhayamagatam.
Tasmat Tvam Ravano Naam Namna Rajan Bhavishyasi. 37.
That is – Dashanan, you are brave, I am happy with your bravery. Due to being buried by the mountain, which was very terrible Rao (crying noise), the creatures of the three worlds started crying out of fear, that is why the demon king! now you Name of Ravana You will become famous from.
This means that Lord Shankar had given the name ‘Ravana’ to Dashagriva. The story of Dashanan Ravana of Valmiki Ramayana is of Treta Yuga and today Kaliyuga is going on. However, there is no explanation in Valmiki’s Ramayana regarding the ten heads of Ravana, nor is it told what things or evils or goodness are symbolized by his ten heads.
But, it is true that knowledge expands with time and following this tradition of expansion of knowledge, scholars have described the ten heads of Dashagriva Ravana as symbols of evil. The reason behind this was Ravana’s corrupt, corrupt and bad personality and conduct.
If Ravana’s personality and conduct are analyzed holistically, apart from worshiping Lord Shiva, he was purely mischievous, corrupt, adulterous and evil. According to today’s times, he was a symbol of every evil. Following the tradition of expanding knowledge, scholars have described the ten heads of Ravana as symbols of the following evils – 
The ten heads of Ravana can be considered as symbols of the above mentioned evils, because broadly every evil comes under these symptoms. 10 characteristics of religion have been described in Manusmriti, which are also confirmed in other scriptures of Sanatan Dharma. Ravana was a heretic, he had always committed acts against religion. Acts against religion itself mean working against the 10 characteristics of religion.
Burning the effigies of Ravana along with Kumbhakarna and Meghnath every year on the tenth day of Ashwin month means suppressing evil or evil tendencies. Now the question arises that what should a person do to ensure that man is not affected by these evils in Kaliyuga? Or if a person has all these evils or some of them, how can he get rid of them?
Although in all the theology of Sanatan Dharma, remedies to cure bad habits have been mentioned, but it has been explained in great detail in Chapter 104 of Danadharma Parva, which comes under the discipline parva of Mahabharata. It is said in verses 6-9 of this chapter –
अचाराल्लभाते हैयुराचारल्लभाते श्रियम्.
Acharat Kirtimapnoti Purushah Pretya Cheh Cha. 6..
that is – Only by virtue of conduct does a man achieve longevity, only by virtue of conduct does he acquire wealth and only by virtue of conduct does he attain fame in this world as well as in the next world.
Misdeeds are important for men.
Trasanti Yasmad Bhootani and Paribhavanti Ch. 7..
A wicked man, who is feared and despised by all living beings, does not live a long life in this world.
Tasmat kuryadihacharam yadichedda bhutimatmanah.
Api sinful body’s conduct Hantyalakshanam. 8..
In other words , If a man wants to do good for himself then he should follow ‘good conduct’ in this world. whose entire body is sinful, If he also follows good conduct, it suppresses the bad traits of his body and mind.
अचारलक्षनो धर्मः संत्शचारित्रलक्षनाः.
Sadhunaam cha yathavrittametdacharlakshanam. 9..
that is virtue hee characteristics of religion Is. Honesty is the identity of great men. behave like a great man; That is the form or characteristic of morality.
It is clear from the meaning of the verses that the characteristics of religion which have been talked about in Manusmriti, if they have to be defined with one word, then that word is ‘virtue, Ravana was evil. Shri Ram had freed humanity from that evildoer and Lord Ram is called the idol of religion i.e. he was the embodiment of morality. All the people who were with him like Hanuman, Jamwan and even Vibhishana were all virtuous.
In simple words The scriptural solution to avoid the evils symbolized by Ravana’s ten heads is to follow good conduct. To know in detail about morality, chapter 104 of Daan Dharma Parva, which comes under the discipline parva of Mahabharata, can be read. Studying the 16th chapter of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta will also be very beneficial.
Narayanayeti Samarpayami….
Dussehra 2024: Dussehra on 12th October, auspicious time of Ravana Dahan, know the method of worshiping weapons on Vijayadashami.
Note- The views given above are the personal views of the author. It is not necessary that ABP News Group agrees with this. The author alone is responsible for all claims or objections related to this article.
