Destroying the Ravan Within

A Special Message on Dussera

After nine days of Navratri festivities, we celebrate Vijayadashami or Dussera that is derived from the word Dasa-Hara (Dasa means ten and Hara means destroy).  

During their exile in the forest, Sri Ram ji’s wife Sri Sita ji was tricked and abducted by Ravan and Sri Ram ji rescues her from him. Here Sri Ram ji symbolizes virtues or righteousness. Sri Sita ji represents inner power. The golden deer signifies worldly attractions. Ravan is depicted as having ten heads symbolizing our vices. Lakshman Rekha stands for soul-consciousness. Lakshman means Mann ka Lakshya or the aim of the self which is soul-consciousness. When Sri Sita ji (inner power) was tricked into worldly attractions (golden deer), she crossed the boundary of soul-consciousness (Lakshman Rekha). Hence she was imprisoned by the evil forces of body-consciousness (Ravan) or the vices namely lust, anger, greed, laziness, jealousy, malice, deceit, stubbornness, attachment, ego. Only virtues (Sri Ram ji) could fight the evils and rescue inner power. Ravan died when Sri Ram ji shot an arrow at his navel (representing ego) because ego is the root of all evil. Shifting from body conscious ego to pure soul consciousness, shifts us towards purity, peace, love, power, compassion and truth. As long as we are within the Lakshya Mann rekha and not get tempted by the golden deer, we are safe and pure.