This is a history of a time long past when the world was troubled by a mighty ten headed demon, Ravana: He who makes the universe scream. Even the powerful demigods had no control over Ravana.
Lord Ram married the beautiful Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. King Dashrath decided to coronate Lord Rama as the future king. But Lord Rama’s step mother Kaikeyi had Him banished to the forest for fourteen years. In the forest, Ravana, the mighty ten-headed demon, kidnapped mother Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, and took her across the ocean to his kingdom known as Lanka. With deep sorrow in their hearts, Lord Rama and His brother Lakshman set off in search of mother Sita. With the help of Hanuman and the army of monkeys, they found mother Sita. Ravana had kept Sita in the Ashoka gardens. She was surrounded by fierce she-demons who guarded her day and night. She was crying bitterly all the time thinking of her beloved Lord, Rama. Lord Rama wanted to settle the matter peacefully. Lord Rama sent His messengers to Ravana asking him to return mother Sita. Even Ravana’s wife Mandodari and brother Vibhishan requested Ravana to return mother Sita to Ram, but Ravana didn’t listen to anyone.
Lord Rama had no choice but to attack Lanka, the golden city of Ravana. Soon a great battle ensued. Lord Rama and His army killed all the generals of Ravana. Finally Ravana himself came and fought with Lord Rama. Ravana, the ten-headed demon, used many powerful and magical weapons but Lord Rama destroyed all of them. Lord Rama’s sharp arrows cut every one of Ravana’s ten heads. Every head that was cut off instantly grew back, it was a terrible sight. Then Lord Rama released a divine Brahmashtra weapon. This weapon was dazzling like a sun and sped through the air towards Ravana. It pierced his heart like a thunderbolt and wicked Ravana fell down dead.
Everyone was very happy to see Lord Rama and mother Sita together. Then Lord Rama installed noble Vibhishan as the king of Lanka. Lord Rama thus established good over evil. Since then, this day is celebrated as Dusshera or Vijayadashmi.
On this very special day we can pray to Lord Rama to remove all the evil from our hearts and make it a place for residing Lord Rama and mother Sita. On this day all the temples of Lord Rama and Krishna are decorated very beautifully. Discourses on the life and teachings of Lord Rama are recited from Ramayana. We can also meditate on the virtues qualities of Lord Rama and imbibe in our lives. Jai Shri Rama……
