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It is this journey that is replayed every year in our lives, which leads us from darkness to light lest we forget the way
In about 48 hours navratri begins. Navratri’s nine days are dedicated to the devotion of Maa Durga and her nine incarnations. This year Navdurga and Shardiya Navratri 2023 are marked from the 15 to 24 October 2023. Over the course of the nine days leading up to Dussehra, devotees worship each of the Goddess’s avatars.
The 10th day is celebrated as winning the fight of good over evil, when Lord Ram defeats Ravana.
Navratri is a spiritually significant time
These nine days are a journey to help us to overcome the five vices (lust, anger, greed, ego, attachment) which we call Ravan (Ravana) and to re-establish our soul’s true nature; of peace, purity, love, joy, and spiritual power.
It is a time to remind ourselves of our true identity is with the Divine or Supreme Being – God.
The legend
Sita was residing in a forest, along with Rama, and his brother Lakshman. One day, Rama went into the deeper forest to fulfill a wish (desire) of Sita, which was to get a deer which she saw and found very charming. After a while, when Rama did not return, Lakshman also followed him. Before that, he drew a ‘Rekha’ (a line), famously known as ‘Lakshman Rekha’ around the hut in which Sita stayed. This rekha would protect Sita from any danger.
The significance
The names of characters taken here itself signify the meaning. Laksh, which means ‘aim and objective’ of our life. And lakshman-rekha would mean – the line of our principles (Hindi word is Maryada). And when Sita, who represents us, the souls crosses our ‘rekha’ (line of Maryada) of values and principles, then the Ravana (representing the 5 vices) would take control on us (saying kidnap us) and take us to lanka (representing a world of sorrow). As long as Sita was inside the line of values and principles, Ravana was helpless and could not do anything… But as soon as Sita crosses the line of maryada, Ravan could easily take the control.
We all souls are a Sita who lives in this body. Rama, is our spiritual father, the supreme soul – Lord Shiva. As long as we stay in our Maryada (stick with our principle moral values), we are safe from the vices. If we become careless and cross our line of maryada, then the vices (lust, anger, greed, ego, attachment) would enter and take us to the world of sorrow (that is; our life becomes a misery). In order to free us souls from sorrow, God himself (Ram) has to cross the ocean and enter Lanka. (In other words, the Supreme soul lives in the soul world, while we live in this corporeal world, and hence in order to free us, he has to cross this ocean/border). In order to take us back to home, he has to first finish the Ravan (5 vices).
And how does he do that?
The story also describes that Lord Rama targets the arrow (Hindi word is bana) at the Navel (Nabhi) of Ravana and he falls down. Victory is achieved. Here, navel (nabhi) is taken as the ‘root’, which signifies that ‘body-consciousness’ actually is the root cause of all vices. Aim to finish body-consciousness and you get rid of all those 10 heads (5 vices both in male and female), and you get the victory. This victory of our souls over our own weaknesses (in the form of vices) is celebrated year after year.
But when would we actually get this victory?
In order to overcome our weaknesses, we derive powers from our father, whom we have called God, the supreme soul. How?
Through Yog (connection with God).
This excerpt on the spiritual significance of marking Navratri and the cumulative celebration ending in Dussehra is taken from one of the satsangs of the Brahma Kumaris. However, all religious and spiritual teachings echo the words and message that the Brahma Kumaris explain.
The reality is every year at this time, we have yet another opportunity to introspect and deep clean our minds from the negative energies and habits that we accumulate as we get lost in every day living.
Dussehra is celebrated to mark Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana that signifies the triumph of good over evil.
We too can celebrate our personal triumph of good karmas thus paving the way to yet another immensely significant celebration in 21 days – that of Diwali, when Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman finally reach Ayodhya after killing the demon Ravana.
It is this journey that is replayed every year in our lives, which leads us from darkness to light lest we forget the way. The beauty of festivals irrespective of religion or culture is that they embody similar spiritual teachings. They are significant for every soul who is determined to choose right over wrong; good over evil.
