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Captain’s log. Stardate 78246.9. After having had a landing page as a placeholder for our domain name over this past fortnight, we’re thrilled to launch a more comprehensive online presence this day of Vijayadashami (2024).

The significance of Vijayadashami

Vijayadashami—or Dussehra as it’s also known—is traditionally the celebration of the victory of good over evil. But, what are we celebrating even after so many yugas have passed?

To disseminate ideals across ancient civilizations, certain days were specifically marked out by the ancestors of the Hindus to pass on messages of faith and spirituality. So this then is the day of good defeating evil. But, what is good and what is evil? When we argue that creation is the balance of equal forces, evil becomes an unavoidable part of creation. The existence of Rama is only relevant till Ravana is there. Good cannot exist in a vacuum without evil. As components of creation, it is up to us which forces we imbibe.

For those who wish to commence a spiritual journey, Hindu ancients put forth practices like Sanatan Kriya. Sanatan which means eternal is relevant in every era of creation and across faiths and religions. The Ram-Ravan conquest is an eternal war, if you choose positivity, evolution, service and the righteous way of life, Dussehra is a day that marks our overcoming many facets of evil—including maya or illusion—which dominate us.

Dussehra is preceded by nine days of fasting, the navratras. To fast does not mean to starve oneself, but it also doesn’t mean that one must abstain from certain types of foods and binge on others. It simply means abstaining from indulging our senses for specific periods of time for a higher purpose. It includes observing austerities and strict discipline, those of satya-asteya-aparigraha-ahimsa-brahmacharya, on each of the nine days and to continue with them as best possible on every day thereafter. The discipline of niyama is the kiln, the heat of which transforms a normal individual into a yogi.

One consideration that arises often is “if a yogi is not bound by time and muhurat, and yog itself is sanatan i.e. without a start and an end, what then is the significance of these nine days in particular?”

It is believed that the nine days of the navratras are the days when the energies of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are considered to be most accessible to us. Shaktis or energy centres are instrumental in opening the three knots—rudra granthi, vishnu granthi and brahma granthi—corresponding to the upper, middle and lower regions of the body respectively, to aid us in our purpose of achieveing higher levels of existence. The cumulative effect of self-purification through fasting and accessing these energies through Sanatan Kriya under the guidance of an able guru is the free upward movement of prana or life energy in the sushumna nadi by overcoming our basic instinct to fulfill our primal desires.

These nine days provide a gateway to our inner world and enable us to realise the divinity within. The tenth or the final day, Dussehra, marks the ultimate triumph, and hence it is called Vijayadashami. Many ancient civilizations believed that a universe exists inside us, and what we experience outside is only its reflection. So as we journey inwards to seek what lies within each of us, Dussehra then is the grand culmination to the very start of our quest.

May this be the first of many days when we endeavour to slay our inner demons:

  • Kama vasana (Lust)
  • Krodha (Anger)
  • Moha (Attachment)
  • Lobha (Greed)
  • Mada (Over Pride)
  • Matsara (Jealousy)
  • Swartha (Selfishness)
  • Anyaaya (Injustice)
  • Amanavta (Cruelty)
  • Ahankara (Ego)

Bon Voyage!