Dussehra’s Inner Ritual – Conquering the Ravana Within

When the monumental day of DUSSEHRA approaches, a minuscule feeling of sympathy arises for the gigantic Ravana also referred to as Satan. The 10 heads of Ravana actually symbolise the 5 vices in men and women each i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Unfortunately, today these 5 vices (Ravana) are ruling the entire world and the victory over the Ravana sitting inside would be the real Dussehra. Having unknowingly permitted him to rule mightily over the lands (and over us!) for time immemorial, we now want him to die.  A powerful warrior, religious scholar, and pious devotee of God Shiva – the INCORPOREAL SUPREME AUTHORITY – and yet, Ravana is the most villainous entity of Kaliyuga…  

What went wrong?

The festival to destroy the 10 heads of Ravana should be honoured by every individual, irrespective of religion or nation.  We retell the grand epic of Ramayana every year; we show our children the consequences of righteousness and immoral behaviour; we watch Ravana, Kumbakarna and Meghnath perish firecracker by firecracker, but do we question why their effigies, enlarge annually?  Will a ritual of burning physical effigies eliminate evil from the world?  Is the festering negativity around, (and within) us being cleaned out thus?

Poets, philosophers, and religious founders have long personified Good and Bad as living-beings.  And why not, it’s easier to enjoy and remember fables than a lecture on values and morality!  It is a challenge to live by ethics in the cyber-age, but considering that the same actors and situations of the epics re-emerge from time to time, these principles serve as the best protection.

Lessons from Ravana

Ravana is one of the few characters who have left behind a daunting impression.  He has taught us how NOT to live our lives.  Although intelligent and powerful, his one major flaw of EGO nullified all other qualifications; arrogance blinded his reasoning.  Goodness and humility only handicap us when not balanced with wisdom.  SPIRITUALITY awakens our self-respect, helps us recognise our specialities, aim for the stars (perfection) but never forget that we are constant students in this journey of life.  

Greatness lies in humility, as our minds are then free from jealousy and comparison; these negative traits drain us of energy which otherwise could be positively used in building our personality and life.  Ego hides itself well and only a deep cleansing can remove it.  Ravana died when Lord Shri Ram shot an arrow at his navel; killing one head at a time was fruitless as they re-appeared each time…what an apt description!  Evil will only die when the roots are destroyed, and in spirituality, the seed of vices in man and woman is body-consciousness.  A practice of reviving the inner self of purity, truth, love, mercy, wisdom, bliss – the atma / ruh / soul – takes us beyond the senseless battles over religion, caste, language, age, and gender.

Where from here?

To follow the right path, we need the Supreme Guide.  Interestingly enough, our scriptures relate that both Lord Shri Ram and Ravana worshipped God Shiva, the One Incorporeal God (Nirakaar).  God Shiva alone has the power to eradicate evil from the world and establish one true religion of peace, purity and happiness.  We Bharatwasis, heirs of Bapuji, long to see Ram Rajya once again, but when will we join God’s (spiritual) army to de-throne Ravana?  The gallant monkey army that supports Lord Shri Ram is memorial of those human beings who gave their all for the death of evil.  

This is the most auspicious era when the old, impure world changes.  The holy swastika symbolises cyclical time and its four equal ages: Satyuga (Golden Age), Tretayuga (Silver Age), Dwapuryuga (Copper Age) and the present Kaliyuga (Iron Age).  As surely as day turns into night and vice versa, this darkest period in the history of civilization will transform into the Age of Truth, Paradise.  Now is the time to spiritually awaken ourselves and witness God’s magic.  Let us not be Kumbakarna – lost in the sleep of ignorance – and turn a deaf ear to God’s shrimat.  Weaknesses have harmed us for yugas, but the tribulations are now to end…

When the third eye of consciousness, the soul, awakens and re-connects with the Supreme Being (process of Rajyoga meditation), it gains control gradually (self-sovereignty) and defeats the real Ravana, the vices.  This is God’s guarantee to His universal family.

As we attend Ravana’s cremation this year, let’s each donate one short-coming as aahuti (offering) for the great pyre. An honest step of courage will elicit God’s help a thousand times in turn…

Experience it yourself!