Dasara is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with pomp
and show across India. This vibrant festival is celebrated right after nine day
festivities of Navaratri. The day is also known as Vijayadashmi.
According
to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama, killed the great demon and king of Lanka,
Ravana, who had abducted Ram's wife Sita. Ram, along, with his brother
Lakshman, follower Hanuman, and an army of monkeys fought a great battle for
ten days to rescue his wife Sita. This victory of Rama is regarded as the
victory of good over evil and light over darkness. That is why by celebrating
Dussehra we commemorate victory of Lord Ram.
Another
legend that is linked to Dussehra is that of the Goddess Durga slaying the
buffalo-demon, Mahishasura. According to popular mythology, the gods were
compelled to grant Mahishasura indomitable powers for his unparalleled
meditation. As expected, the omnipotent buffalo-demon Mahishasura raised hell
at the gates of heaven, astounding the gods with his mammoth dominion. The
infuriated gods then created Durga. It is believed that Durga was actualised by
the combined effort of all deities. Durga possesses a weapon of each god and is
said to be more powerful than all of them put together.
There
is one more myth associated with the celebration of Dussehra. Kautsa, the young
son of Devdatt, a Brahmin, was living in the city of Paithan. After studying
under the guidance of Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting a present,
or gurudakshina. Initially the guru refused but later asked for 140 million
gold coins, one hundred million for each of the subjects taught. The obedient
student went to the King Raghu to ask for the money, as the king was renowned
for his generosity. Within three days the king made the God of Wealth Kuber
make a rain of gold coins near the shanu and apati trees. After giving the
promised amount to the guru, Kautsa distributed the rest of the coins among the
needy on the day of Dussehra. Even today, in Ayodhya, the capital of King
Raghu, people loot the leaves of the apati trees and present to each other.
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