Happy Dussehra!

In mythology,Ravana is the son of a Brahmin father, the great sage Vishrava or Vesamuni and a Kshatriya mother, the Daitya rakshasa princess Kaikesi. His grandfather, the sage Pulastya, was one of the ten Prajapatis or mind-born sons of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi ,Seven Great Sages, in the first Manvantara.

Ravana was both aggressive and arrogant but at the same time he was also an exemplary scholar, an able administrator and great devotee of Lord Shiva.

Ravana performed an intense penance or tapasya to Lord Shiva, lasting several years. During his penance, Ravana chopped off his head 10 times as a sacrifice to appease Lord Shiva. Each time he sliced his head off a new head arose, thus enabling him to continue his penance. At last, Lord Shiva, pleased with his austerity, appeared after his 10th decapitation and offered him a boon. Ravana asked for immortality, which Shiva refused to give, but gave him the celestial nectar of immortality. The nectar of immortality, stored under his navel, dictated that he could not be vanquished for as long as it lasted.Ravana also asked for absolute invulnerability from and supremacy over Gods, heavenly spirits, other rakshasas, serpents, and wild beasts. Contemptuous of mortal men, he did not ask for protection from these. Shiva granted him these boons in addition to his 10 severed heads and great strength by way of knowledge of divine weapons and magic.

Ravana was a veena maestro and is believed to have composed the hymn known as Shiva Tandava Stotra.  Ravana was an expert on the Sama Veda and a great ayurvedic doctor.  He was the author of the Ravana Sanhita, a book on Hindu astrology. He also possessed a thorough knowledge of political science and after he seized Lanka from his half-brother Kubera, presided over what is believed to be the Golden Age of Lanka.

Undortunately, the following 10 attributes did Ravana in.

Kama vasana (Lust)

Krodha (Anger)

Moha (Attachment)

Lobha (Greed)

Mada (Over Pride)

Matsara (Jealousy)

Swartha (Selfishness)

Anyaaya (Injustice)

Amanavta (Cruelty)

Ahankara (Ego).

If a person wishes to become great, he/she has much to learn from Ravana,but at the same time its important to get a grip of the above 10 vices. Dussehra comes from the Sanskrit Dasha(Ten) Hara(Defeat).And refers to the conquest of the above 10 qualities within ourselves.

So,here’s wishing you victory over your baser self on Dussehra !