Vijayadasami

Once Devi Parvati was curious to know about the importance of this festival. She asked Lord Shiva to give her the answer and settle down her curiosity. Lord Shiva told her that in the evening of Ashwin Shukla's tenth day a star rises in the sky during which a phase comes knows as " Vijya Kaal" and this phase is auspicious to get victory over enemies and all the wishes are fulfilled during this Kaal. If Shravan Nakshatra is formed on this day, then it becomes more auspicious. Lord Rama attacked Lanka during this phase and got victory over Ravana.

Simollanghan

It is a significant festival for Kshatriyas. They believe that when there is no war, the kings must exceed the limit of their kingdom on this day. Once King Yudhishthira asked Lord Krishna about the significance of this day on which Lord Krishna told him that on the day of Vijayadasami all the kings should decorate their slaves, elephants and horses and celebrate the festival with full zeal and enthusiasm.

The king along with his priest should depart towards the eastern side of his kingdom to exceed the limit of his kingdom's boundaries and worship the Vastu Dev, Ashta-Digpal and Partha Deva. He should make a mannequin of his enemy and dig an arrow into his chest while chanting the Vedic Mantras. Complete all the rituals and head back to his kingdom. Any king who performs these rituals will always gets victory over his enemies.

Sami Puja

“The word Vijayadasami can be split as ‘Vijayata’ and ‘Sami’ when it gives the meaning that victory comes to one who worships the Sami tree (a holy tree whose wood when struck to gether produces fire necessary for the performance of Yajna). In Mahabharata there is mention of the Pandavas hiding their weapons in the Sami tree during the year they had to remain incognito during their exile, so that they could emerge victorious later.

Another important point that has to be remembered is the firmness necessary to succeed in any enterprise. So victory being synonymous with this day, those who succeeded in their lives is especially worshipped on Vijayadasami, like Indra, Arjuna, Hanuman and Durga.”

- Sugunendra Theertha Swami of Puthige Math

वन्हि வன்னி Vanhi
Sami Flower

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनि ।

अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारि रामस्य प्रियवादिनि ।

shamI shamayatE paapaM shamI shatruvinaashini |

arjunasya dhanurdhaari raamasya priyavaadini |

Meaning: Sami tree destroys our paapaa, it destroys our enemies. It was holding the Dhanas of Arjuna for one full year and it is Sri Ramachandra’s favourite tree.

Sami Pujan and Ashmantak tree should also be worshipped on Vijayadasami. There is a story related to this Pujan, according to which Devi Parvati asks Lord Shiva about the significance of Sami tree on which lord Shiva says that Arjun hid his weapons in the hole of a Sami tree during his time of exile and started living as a Vrihanna in the kingdom of King Virat.

Later on with the help of king's Son, Arjun collected his weapons from the tree and got victory over his enemies. This way Sami tree protected Arjun's weapons. Other than this, when Lord Rama was marching towards the Lanka, Sami tree told him that he will get victory. This is the reason that Sami tree is worshipped on the day of Vijayadasami. If one is unable to find Sami tree, then Ashmantak tree can also be worshipped.

People exchange the leaves of the Sami tree among friends and relatives as gold. Aparijita and Vishnu Kranta plant is also worshipped on this day. This plant brings victory and is dear to lord Vishnu. Along with paying for victory people also pray for joy and prosperity.

Gurudakshina and Sami Tree

A young brahmin named Kautsa in Ayodhya, during Tretayuga, once after completing education from Guru asked his Guru to accept a Guru Daskhina – a present offered by students to Guru named Varatantu, after completing their studies.

Guru Sri Varatantu at first said he did not want any Dakshina. But young Kautsa insisted that he should take a Dakshina. Guru Varatantu to get rid of Kautsa asked him for 14 crore (140 million) gold coins. One hundred million for each subject taught.

The student then went to Sri Raghu Maharaja, who was ruling Ayodhya and asked for the gold coins needed to pay his Guru Dakshina. Sri Raghu Maharaja promised to help Kautsa and asked him to wait near the Sami tree. In three days time, Sri Raghu Maharaja with the help of Lord Kuber, the God of wealth, showered gold coins from the leaves of Sami tree. The leaves of the trees became gold coins.

Kautsa collected the coins and gave 140 million gold coins to Guru Sri Varatantu. The rest of coins were distributed to the needy by Kautsa. This happened on a Dussehra day. To commemorate this event even today people collect leaves of Sami tree and present it as gold.

Shastra Puja

By worshipping the weapons on this day people call for the power of god. They clean their weapons that are used in daily lives, arrange them in a row and worship them. This is an important festival of Kshatriya and they worship Devi Aparajita on this day. People achieve happiness in all spheres of life by worshipping on this day.

Auspiciousness of Vijayadasami

• It is the beginning of harvest season, where prayers are observed to Mother Earth for bountiful harvest.

• It is also the beginning of a new season, when it is considered highly auspicious to start anything new, like business venture, moving into a new house, buying of assets or property. It assures one of success and prosperity.

• It is an auspicious occasion for children to get initiated into learning of all arts like classical music and dance and start education. It is called Vidyarambham or introduction to education.

• All forms of auspicious ventures are embarked upon on this day, without the need to calculate the auspicious time through Panchang.