Ashwin Shukla Dashami is known as Dusshera. It is one of the biggest festivals, also known as Dasahara, Dussehra, or Dashain. It is observed on the day of Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day of Navaratri. It is the occasion to glorify and rejoice in the victory of good over evil. On Dussehra, we burn effigies of Ravana outside in surroundings but nurture Ravana inside our hearts. That was Treta Yuga, where only one Ravana existed. Lord Rama assassinated him and acquired victory.

Types of People in Kalyuga

In Kalyuga, every human being has the mentality of Ravana inside. But, as we all know, two types of people exist in this universe- Sur and Asura. Those who worship the Lord are counted as Sur, and those who are not devotees or do not follow the Lord’s orders are considered Asura.

In different Yugas, Sura and Asura stayed in unalike places. In one Yuga, Sura lives on one planet, and Asura lives on another planet. Later on, Asura lived in one country and Sura in the other. But now the time has changed, Sura and Asura are present in every person concomitantly in this era. We all have Sura and Asura simultaneously in ourselves.

The nature and personality of a person totally depend on how strong and determined he is. The day we can kill the malicious, vicious behaviour, we can kill the Asura or Ravan from our selves and that day will be the real Dussehra for us. Do you know? It becomes very painless to do if you are a devotee and listen to Lord’s pastimes.

How You Can Kill Ravana Residing Inside You

One oil lamp is enough to end darkness, similarly to cease Ravana inside, one thought is enough, and we get that thought from our Shastra. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells us three ways to hell-lust, anger and greed. These three are clearly visible in Ravana, and by learning the lesson from his life, you can save yourself from its fury. In the 2nd chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says about how declination of a person takes place, how a person starts to flunk.

A person’s declination starts by thinking about sexual desire. In creating, it is similar to a small seed. Still, if this seed slowly gets irrigated by contemplation, it becomes Asura. Ravana was also such type of giant Asura. Even many great deities palpitate by his name. He had done many austerity and Tapasya to acquire strength, but Ravana aimed to satisfy all sexual desires for an unlimited period. So his senses became the reason for his end.

Ravana had all the desirable things of this world. But on hearing about the beauty of Mata Sita from his sister Surpanakha, his mind filled up with sexual desire, and that is the beginning of his declination. He always considered himself as strongest, but he never had control over his senses.

Your Senses Could be the Reason for Your End

So it’s true that even if a person achieves victory in this whole world but if his mind is not in control of his will, he will indeed get defeated. Mata Sita is Lord Rama’s wife. If Ravana did not had any wrong intention and served her as he was a great scholar and he knew who is Sita mata, he might have become a devotee.

Still, due to lust he had chosen a wrong way and started thinking that he can get anything. Even after knowing who is Lord Ram, he had started thinking lord as his rival. He had decided to get Sita Mata and for that he was ready to stoush with lord Rama.

So in that condition, his lust  for her got transformed into anger and became the reason of his end. This only happens with us; when we get hyper, whatever we desire to get when we do not get that, we loose our temperament. Due to that anger, a person loses his ethics and morality that is the sense of thinking about what to do and what to not.

How Ravana Cheats

Ravana also forgot his ethics and made a plan and went to Marich. Marich acquired the form of golden deer. Ravana himself attained the form of a saint. He was the son of a brahmin and also was a great scholar. But lust, anger and greed deformed his personality.

Similarly, when someone’s heart gets filled with lust, his heart becomes filled with fraud. Then he starts to cheat everyone as Ravana cheats Mata Sita attaining the form of the saint. Ravana forcefully takes Sita Mata to Lanka with him. Sri Ram sends all soldiers of Hanuman Ji and Sugriva in all directions to search Sita Mata. Hanuman Ji crossed the sea and searched Mata Sita.

After reaching there, he gave Lord Rama’s message to Sita Mata. He destroyed Ashok Vatika. Later on, he burnt various places in Lanka. He gave a warning to Ravana that I am the slave of Sri Rama. So it will be better for you if you return Mata Sita. Otherwise, wait and see what Lord Rama will do with you.

Lust Leads to Declination

But Ravana was so indulged in it that he did not take that warning seriously. When Vibhisan tried to make it, he understood Ravana ordered him to get deported. His wife Mandodri kept on trying to make him understand that stay satisfied with me we have a happy family I will fulfil all your desire. Please let Sita go. Can’t you see the hanging rope on you? But Ravana was not ready to understand anyone’s advice, such as his wife, Hanuman Ji, Marich, and his own loving brother.

Such lust, anger and greed in our hearts are similar to Ravana, who steals bhaktirupi Mata Sita from our hearts. And we start to consider Lord as our enemy. And in such conditions, we don’t accept the words of saint and Shastra. There was no other way other than war. Ravan was seated on a wheeled carriage, and Ram was standing on land. In that condition, Indra dev sent the carriage for Lord along with the charioteer. It was a great war, and to witness that all the demigods even convene. It was the biggest war in history.

Lord said in Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4, verses 34

tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya
updeshyanti tegyan gyanistatva darshinen

If we desire to learn the truth, we have to take shelter under Guru and serve him courteously.

Lord Rama himself teaches us by showing his life as an example that if we want to defeat Ravana inside us, we have to serve a true devotee of the Lord as a guru. So, on being happy with Lord Rama, Muni awarded him Aditya Hriday Mantra.

Lord’s one name is Aditya, which means sun. As the sun vanishes all the darkness, a true devotee can acquire control over all such thoughts.

How Devotees Serve to Lord

During this war, Vibhisan reached there; he said to Rama that there is Amrita or nectar in Ravana’s heart. And on drying it, only Ravana can be killed from the heart. Here Vibhishan depicts the role of a true companion devotee.

It teaches us that while fighting with the Ravana inside us, we need devotee companions to remember what learning we obtained from Guru, Sadhu and Sastra.

Further, lord Rama used the arrow on Ravana given by Agasthya muni after reciting the mantras. As a result, Ravana falls from his chariot. The scene depicts as on beating Indra’s thunderbolt any mountain got diminished.

Ravana’s army was wailing, and Vanara Sena was Honouring Sri Rama.

In this way, Lord is teaching us how to win from internal Ravana along with external Ravana present in ourselves. We have to chant mantras because they will provide strength to us.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

This mantra smash lust, anger and greed as in Aditya Hridaya Mantra  Lord Vishnu’s strength is present. Similarly, in Hare Krishna, the maha-mantra concludes all the power of the Lord.

Three Things Needed To Kill Ravana Inside Us

1. Divine the grace of devotees such as Agasthya muni.
2. Vaishnav’s company, for example, Vibhisan
3. Chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord

By following these three points in our life, we can defeat the Ravana inside us. And bring transformation from darkness towards light and celebrate Dusshera every day.

The World Holy Name Festival is an annual event celebrated by followers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and devotees of Lord Krishna worldwide. Every year, devotees worldwide celebrates the “World Holy Name Festival” from September 17 to September 23, to honor the arrival of Srila Prabhupada in America on September 17, 1965. The main purpose of the World Holy Name Festival is to promote the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and the glorification of Lord Krishna.
It carries several key significances and glories:

Chanting the Holy Name

The primary focus of World Holy Name Festival is the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu emphasized that the chanting of the holy name is not limited by caste, creed, or social status. It is a practice that can be followed by people from all walks of life, making it inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Devotional Community

World Holy Name Festival brings together devotees from all over the world to engage in collective chanting and devotional activities. It strengthens the sense of community among devotees and allows them to share their love and devotion for Lord Krishna.

Outreach and Education

During this festival, ISKCON communities often engage in outreach activities, distributing literature about the philosophy and teachings of Lord Krishna and conducting educational seminars and lectures. It’s a time when people who may be unfamiliar with Krishna consciousness can learn about its principles and practices.

Spiritual Renewal

For existing devotees, World Holy Name Festival serves as a time of spiritual renewal and deepening of their relationship with Lord Krishna. It’s an opportunity to recommit to their spiritual practices and intensify their devotion.

Public Awareness

The festival helps raise public awareness about the ISKCON and its teachings. Through street chanting, book distribution, and prasadam (sanctified food) distribution, ISKCON communities share their spiritual culture with the public and promote a lifestyle of devotion and compassion.

Unity and Peace

Chanting the holy name is have the power to bring about inner and outer peace. Devotees pray for world peace during World Holy Name Week, emphasizing the idea that by connecting with the Supreme Lord through the holy name, conflicts and disturbances in the world can be mitigated.

Personal Transformation

Devotees often testify to the transformative power of the holy name in their own lives. They share stories of how regular chanting has brought them inner joy, improved relationships, and a sense of purpose.

Legacy of Srila Prabhupada

World Holy Name Festival also honors the legacy of Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, who played a pivotal role in spreading the teachings of Lord Krishna and the chanting of the holy name worldwide.

In essence, World Holy Name Week is a celebration of the profound spiritual and devotional significance of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. It serves as a time for devotees to come together in unity, reach out to the broader community, and deepen their commitment to the practice of bhakti yoga and devotion to Lord Krishna. Through this festival, the glories of the Holy name are celebrated and shared with the world.

“harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Adi 17.21]”

“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”

Maa Durga is a revered goddess for those who follow Sanatan Dharma. Hindus worship her all over the world in the form of Mother Shakti.

Generally, we have seen Maa Durga with ten hands with some weapons and ride over Lion, who displays his infinite powers. It is also concluded that she fights against demonic power who are trying to cause damages to peace, prosperity, and religion. Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Shardotsava, is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia in which Goddess Durga is worshipped. 

Who is Maa Durga? 

According to Shastra, Maa Durga is an expansion of Mother Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. She takes the form of Navdurga and does all the upbringing of this world. Lord Sri Krishna also tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 9, text 10

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracara
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. Therefore, by its rule, this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

Durga Devi is the presiding deity of this material world. It is also believed that the person who is getting diverted from the spiritual world of Lord Krishna and going against the rules, they sent to this material world of Goddess Durga. The comparison of this material world is made with Durg, a type of Fort. This Fort is the correctional home of all the rebellious souls, where they spend their lives protecting Durga Devi, facing the Tritaap (Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika and Adhidaivika).

The trident in the hand of Goddess Durga is a symbol of reminding all the rebels who have come into this material world of Lord through Tritaap (Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika and Adhidaivika). Maa Durga is worshipped to get rid of these tritapas.

When a person comes to this material world, they have to face many sufferings like birth, death, old age, diseases, adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika miseries. Goddess Durga takes care of all these things.

Therefore, worshipping Goddess Durga will help them get rid of these sufferings. However, if you want a permanent solution, you have to come out of this material world. 

To get rid of the cycle of birth and death, people worship Goddess Durga. As a result, such living beings get an opportunity to do devotion to the Lord. As a result, they get rid of Mahamaya, the potency of the Lord, and come under the protection of his own Shakti, Yogamaya. 

Srimad Bhagavatam also mentioned that the Gopis worshipped Mother Katyayani to get Lord Krishna as their husband. It is also mentioned in Brahma Samhita, Chapter 5, Text 44-

srishti-sthiti-pralaya- sadhana-shaktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya che cheshtate sa
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

The external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshipped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primaeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.

The Lord presides over this material world objectively, and those who do not accept it are sent to this world of duality. Therefore, by coming in contact with a pure devotee, if the living entity understands that this material world is not his real home, he becomes free from here and goes to his original home in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana and attains bliss forever.

So on this Durga Puja, let us pray to Maa Durga to give us enough strength to get us out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead.