Dussehra or Vijayadashami - Why Do We Celebrate It?

Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami is celebrated as the victory of good over bad or dharma over adharma. The Puranas and Ithasas give us parallel references to this origin.

According to the Valmiki Ramayan and later the Puranas

Prince Ram of Ayodhya was sent on exile for 14 years. During this exile, his wife Princess Sita was abducted by Ravan of Lanka.

Ram and his brother Lakshmana, along with the vanaras led by the mighty Hanuman and Sugriva built a bridge, the Ram Setu to cross the ocean to Lanka. An epic battle followed between Rams mighty army and Ravans army of Rakshasas On the tenth day of this war, Ram invoked the mighty Brahmastra by worshipping the sun. The weapon was given by the great sage Agastya. The Brahmastra struck down Ravan and ended his reign of terror.

With the fall of Ravan, dharma prevailed over adharma, marking victory across the land

A key verse often cited:

"Yatra dharmas tu satyaḥ syāt satyaṃ yatra dhṛtiḥ sthitā |

Yatra trāṇāya bhūtānāṃ sa dharmo dhārayatyuta ||"

(Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa)

Dharma is that which upholds truth, courage, and the protection of beings. Rāma’s victory over Rāvaṇa is seen as the establishment of such dharma.

According to the Devi Mahatmya and Markandeya Purana, Vijaya Dashami marks the day when Shakti in the form of Durga, destroyed the buffalo demon Mahishasura, freeing the world from his tyranny.

Mahishasura was a buffalo-demon who through Tapasya has gained a boon from Brahma that no Man or God could kill him. Feeling empowered, he conquered the heavens and drove out the devas.

The Devas approached the mighty Trinity for help and the Gods combined their energies to create the resplendent Durga.

Goddess Durga rode into battle shaking the three worlds on her mighty lion. After a fierce combat she leapt upon him, pressed him down with her foot , pierced him with a spear and beheaded him with her sword.

With the defeat of Mahishasura, the Devas regained their realms. They praised Durga as Mahishasuramardhini, the slayer of Mahishasura and the protector of Dharma.

This Vijayadashami is also a celebration of Devi restoring balance by destroying adharma.

From Devī Māhātmya (Chandi Pāṭha), a very central shloka:

"Ya Devī sarvabhūteṣu śakti-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā |

Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ||"

(Devī Māhātmya 5.16)

And the declaration of her victory:

"Jaya jaya Mahīṣāsuramardinī ramyakapardini śailasute"

(Devī Māhātmya 5.108)

Salutations to the goddess who manifests as strength in all beings, who is the slayer of Mahīṣa.

According to the Skanda Purana and Matsya Purana, Ashvina Shukla Dashami Tithi or Vijaya Thiti is auspicious for new beginnings and ventures, since it is the day when the devas attained victory.

In ancient times, The devas and Asuras waged a long and fierce war. For a while, the Asuras gained the upper hand in the battle and the Devas were troubled by the situation.

On the tenth day or Ashvina, the Devas gathered their strength, performed worship and invoked divine blessings. Empowered, they fought back with renewed strength and might.

This day was marked as Vijaya Dashami to mark the victory of the Devas over the Asuras. Dharma over Adharma once again prevailed.

From Skanda Purāṇa:

"Aśvinasyāṃ śuklapakṣe daśamyāṃ vijayā smṛtā |

Tasyāṃ jayanti devāśca surāsuramahāraṇe ||"

(Skanda Purāṇa, Kāśī Khaṇḍa)

In the bright fortnight of Aśvina, the tenth day is called Vijaya. On this day, the gods were victorious in the great battle against the asuras.

In essence:

As per the Ramayana, we celebrate the victory of Ram over Ravan.

According to the Devi Mahatmya, it marks the victory of Durga over Mahishasura.

As per Skanda Purana, Vijaya Tithi is cosmically marked as the day of divine victory.

Which is why we worship Rama, Durga and all our tools/weapons (Ayudha Puja) and begin new ventures on Vijaya Dashami. It is a day where Divine Victories set the template for Human success.

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