Till date #IgnorantHindu has shared basic information on Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, SHRADH and PITRA SHRADH, AATM SHRADH, Adhik Mass and Navratri. Here is the info on DUSSEHRA or VIJYADASHMI.
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When is Dussehra Celebrated?
DUSSEHRA ( Dasara or Dashain or Vijayadashami ) is celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It usually falls in September or October. In the Hindu calendar, it is the 10th day of the Ashvin or Kartik month. In 2020, it will be celebrated on Sunday, 25th October .
South and East of India celebrate Dussehra / Vijayadashami as the end of nine days of worshipping Maa Durga and slaying of the demon Mahishasura.
In the northern, central and some western part of India, Dussehra is the culmination of Ramlila. Lord Rama kills the highly powerful and learned Ravana; the son of great sage Vishrava and princess Kaikesi. This is seen and celebrated as the victory of Good over Evil. As per Ramayana, Ravana abducted Mata Sita ( wife of Lord Ram) while Rama and Site along with Lakshman (Ram’s younger brother) were at Panchvati during their exile from Ayodhya. Lord Rama traced out Maa Sita at Sri Lanka with the help of Monkey King Sugriva and Hanuman. The fight that lasted 9 days ended on the 10th day of Ashwin Month.
Watch the cartoon film RAMAYANA in Hindi here.
When did the war between Lord Rama and King Ravana end?
Based on the clues of Nakshatra positions in various scriptures, it is believed that King Ravana was killed on Dec 04, 5076 BC in Sri Lanka. Another probable date listed is Nov 15 7292 – as it also satisfies most of the parameters and positions of Nakshatras in most of the narratives. Some Jain accounts of Ramayana state that it was Lakshman and not Lord Rama who killed mighty Ravana.
Mahabharat and Dussehra.
Mythologically, it is also is the day on which in the epic Mahabharata, Arjun killed more than 10,00,000 soldiers of Kauravas, thus defeating the Kuru army. Once again Dharma winning over Adharm. But this is not the main battle of Kurushetra.
AGYATVAS and the disguised Pandavas.
Pandavas were sent on 12-year Vanvas ( Van – Forest Vas= stay). Where they were supposed to stay in the forest. The 13th year of the exile was the year of Agyatvas. A period when they were not expected to be identified. And if they did, they were to go back to another 12 months of exile.
So in the 13th year, the Pandavas with their wife Draupadi disguised themselves and went to stay in the kingdom of King Virata. They find a job in the palace.
Yudhistir the intellectually honest but a gambler by instinct takes the name Kanka. He is employed in the court of King Virat as a game entertainer.
Bheem became the cook Ballav.
Arjuna became Brihannala (a eunuch) and becomes a teacher of arts to the Prince Uttar Kumar and Princes Uttara. Princess Uttara later marries Abhimanyu- son of Arjun and Draupadi. As per stories, when Arjun has visited Indra ( his father in the dev lok)- Urvashi, the Devlok Apsara liked him and wanted to have a Gandharva marriage with him. Arjun rejects her proposal saying she is like his ancestors and in many kinds a mother to her. Urvashi then curses him to lose his manhood. On request of Indra, she reduces the curse to 1 year period and also gives Arjuna a choice to select that year. Arjun uses the 13th year of exile for fulfilling the curse.
Nakula became Granthika the expert of horses and worked in the Raj stables.
Sahadaeva became Tantipala ad took care of cows in Raj Cowshed (Goshala).
Draupadi took the name Sairandhri and got employed as the maid of the queen Sudeshna.
The Killing Of Kitchak.
Kitchak, the commander of King Virat’s Army ( some also place him as the brother of Queen Sudeshna) sees Draupadi and want to sleep with her. Bhima comes to know of it and traps Kitchak. He then kills Kitchak.
Duryodhan Search for Pandavas.
When Duryodhana comes to know of Kichak death, he is sure that knows Pandavas are hiding in Matsya. But as per the rule, he has to prove it. Kaurava warriors attack Virata under the disguise of being Cattle thieves. A large section of the Kuru army led by Susharma (the King of Trigarta and brother of Bhanumati, Duryodhana’s wife) engages Matsya army and lures them to a different battlefield.
As no senior warrior is present in Virat, the young Prince Uttara, Son of King of Virata attempts to take on the Kuru army. The Pandava suspect what is happening and hence Draupadi suggests that Uttara should take Brihannala (Arjun) as his charioteer. Seeing the vast Kuru army, Uttara attempts to flee. Arjuna reveals Pandava’s identities to Uttara and picks their weapons from the Shami tree. Arjuna helps to defend Virata and defeats all prominent warriors, including Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Duryodhana, Dushyasana, Shakuni and Ashwathama.
Arjun kills Sangramjita (foster brother of Karna). Karna, this time instead of fighting try fleeing the battlefield to save his life. Arjuna invokes Sammohanaastra shastra, due to which the entire kuru army falls asleep. Arjuna alone defeats the Kuru army of 10,00,000 soldiers led by the many Maharathis. Identity disclosed it should have put Pandavas into another exile of 12 years. Still, Pitamah Bhisma successfully argues that the 13th year was over 5 months back as per the lunar calendar and 6 days ago as per the solar calendar. This the Pandava’s are saved. should
One of the names of Arjuna is Vijaya (always victorious), and it is the same day (nakshatra and thithi) on which that Lord Rama Killed Ravana.
How is Dussehra Celebrated?
In many parts of the country, Vijayadashami/Dussehra celebrations start with taking a procession of the Durga Idols ( installed during Navratri) and taking them to a running water source or ocean or river or a sacred tank for visharjan. It is followed by the burning of giant effigies of Ravan.
Many places Dussehra is the last day of the Ramlila. It is the day when Ravan is killed by Lord Ram. Most places it is enacted with Lord Rama shooting a burning arrow into the effigy of Ravana which is filled with firecrackers.
Kullu Dussehta, Mysore Dusseha, Jabalpur Dussehra procession are well known celebration and tourist points of interest.
Other Rituals During Dussehra / Vijyadashmi.
Vijayadashami is also the day when people worship their armaments and tools of the profession in a few areas of the country.
Vijaya Dashami in Kerala and Karnataka is considered auspicious to begin the learning for the young ones through the traditional Vidyarambham ( Vidya- Knowledge Arambham- start) ceremony. Here children are formally inducting children to education by writing a mantra on rice or sand spread in a plate with the help of the father or any other elderly member of the family.
TRIVA AROUND RAVANA AND DUSSEHRA.
The Place Where Ravan is Worshiped.
Some of the scheduled tribe in Gond, mainly in the Paraswadi Village in Palaghar, District Dahanu, Maharashtra celebrate Ravan. They carry his image of him riding an elephant and singing praises to him. These Ravana worshipping Gond consider Ravan as the tenth dharma guru of their people and the ancestor-king of one of their four lineages.
Another Place Where Ravan’s Effigy Is Not Burnt?
Mandodari was the daughter of Mayasura, the King of the Asuras (demons), and the apsara (celestial nymphs) Hema. Mansour in Madhya Pradesh is the maternal place of Manddari. Hence, the effigy of Ravan; son-in-law of Mansour is not burnt. Namdev Community of this area pray to Ravana and kanpura area has a statue of Ravana.
Why did Ravan did not forcefully married Maa Sita?
King Ravana could not touch Sita or force her to marry. Ravana was cursed in the past. Once Ravana forced himself on an apsara; a celestial damsel. He was then cursed that if he ever attempts to force himself on an unwilling woman, his head would explode into a thousand fragments.
There is another story. Once Ravana was trying to crossing over the mountains. Nandi (the bull of Lord Shiva) informed him that Lord Shiva and Parvati were enjoying their time on the mountains and no one was allowed to pass over the mountains. Ravana himself a Shiva Bhakt mocked Nandi. Nandi then cursed that a monkey will become the conduit of his end.
How Long Was maa Sita held captive In Sri Lanka?
As per Padma Purana, Ling Ravana kept Mata Sita in captivity for 11 months and 14 days.
REFERRED SITES: Hindustantimes.com, Britanica.com, New18.com, IndianExpress.com, Oyorooms.com, NDTV.com, TimesofIndia.indiatimes.com, Hinduwebsite.com, Rudrakhsa-ratna.com and walkthroughindia.com
