Vijaydashami: The Victory Begins From Within

Vijaydashami: The Victory Begins From Within

By Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

There is a very well-known story in Vedanta of ten people who wanted to cross a river in a boat. After crossing the river, they counted themselves, but each person left himself out. Every time, their count stood at only nine people. They got worried, thinking that one person had been lost. Just then, a wise man came along. He saw that there were indeed ten people, but they were counting only nine. Then the wise man asked them to count again. He approached the person who was counting and said, “You yourself are the tenth man, my friend” - Dashama tvam asi.

Their sorrow disappeared just as dew vanishes when the sun rises. The idea of the Self is discussed extensively in our Puranas, the Vedas, and Vedanta.

Lord Buddha said, “I couldn’t find anything called the Self. I searched for it extensively.” Adi Shankaracharya later added, “You are the very one who was searching, the one who couldn’t find it.”

Vijaydashami represents the day when all the distortions of the mind, the wrong concepts, and negative tendencies fall away. Lord Rama is the symbol of Atma jnana (Self-knowledge). He represents the Soul. Lord Rama represents both – the Self and Self-knowledge. When Self-knowledge (Lord Rama) dawns within a person, then the ‘Ravana’ within (ego and all negativities) gets destroyed completely. Ravana can only be destroyed and overcome by the Ram-baan (an arrow that never misses its mark). It means that only by Self-knowledge can one gain victory over all kinds of distortions of the mind. 

How can one gain access to Self-knowledge? One can kindle Self-knowledge by Vishrama-that is, by going into deep rest and quieting the mind. It is said, “Vishrama mein Ram” (Lord Rama can be experienced only in deep rest when one reposes in the Self). 

All the distortions and disturbances we see in society today are because of a lack of Self-knowledge and spirituality. Today one doesn’t give deep thought to questions such as ‘Who am I?’, ‘What is my true purpose in life?’, and ‘What do I really need in life?’ The moment these questions arise in a person’s mind, life begins to find a direction.

During the first nine days of Navratri, we celebrate, honour and worship the Mother Divine in all her forms and glories. The tenth day is celebrated as Vijaydashami- the day of victory. This day symbolizes victory over all cravings and aversions of the mind that we had gathered through the year. On this day, we symbolically let the fire of knowledge burn away all the negativities, and we offer it all to the sacred fire in the form of Aahuti (the sacred offering to the holy fire). By doing so, we start blossoming from deep within. Intense joy gets kindled within us, and this benefits not only us but the entire society as well. 

So, on Vijaydashami, remember this: awaken your Self, which you have lost sight of, and continue your work with renewed awareness.