Why Vijayadashami is counted as one full muhurat among the three and a half auspicious moments

Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is counted as one full muhurat among the three and a half muhurats. In Indian culture, festivals are not merely about following a religious tradition. They also carry spiritual, cultural and social significance. Behind every festival lie a mythological tale, a message of life values and a vision of an auspicious life. Dussehra is one such important festival.

The festival is celebrated on the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the month of Ashwin. It is considered highly auspicious in Hinduism. On this day, starting a new business, buying a house, a vehicle or gold, and beginning any new venture are considered auspicious. The day also carries the traditions of shastra puja (worship of weapons), Saraswati puja, vehicle puja and Seemollanghan (crossing the village boundary). People exchange apta leaves as a symbol of gold, offering wishes for happiness and prosperity.

The questions are why Dussehra alone is regarded as a full muhurat, what the religious significance of the day is, and what sentiment lies behind starting new work on Vijayadashami.

In Hinduism, there is a tradition of consulting the muhurat before undertaking any auspicious task. For weddings, housewarmings, Vastu Shanti, the start of a business, vehicle purchases and religious rites, the tithi, day, nakshatra and other aspects of the panchang are considered. But some days of the year are believed to be such that a separate muhurat is usually not needed for an auspicious task. According to religious belief, these days have been granted special auspiciousness.

In Hindu tradition, Gudi Padwa, Akshaya Tritiya and Vijayadashami are counted as the three full muhurats. Balipratipada, the day after Diwali, is counted as the half muhurat. This idea of three and a half muhurats gives certain days of the year special importance for new beginnings.

Dussehra is the day that concludes the Navratri festival. After nine days of worship of the different forms of the Goddess, Vijayadashami is celebrated on the tenth day. The day is regarded as a symbol of the worship of Shakti, the victory over evil tendencies and the protection of dharma. Devotees hold the sentiment that work done on this day will succeed, bring prosperity to life and give a good start to a new path.

According to religious tradition, Vijayadashami is considered auspicious, but for every kind of work the local panchang, religious rites or any special rule that applies are also taken into account. It is therefore better to understand the idea of the entire day being auspicious in the context of faith and tradition.

The Ramayana tale is cited behind the significance of Dussehra. Ravana, the king of Lanka, abducted Mother Sita. Lord Shri Ram then marched on Lanka with the help of the vanara sena (army of monkeys). In the war between Ram and Ravana, Shri Ram finally slew Ravana and rescued Mother Sita, as the Ramayana tells it. In memory of this event, Vijayadashami is regarded as a symbol of the victory of dharma over adharma.

Another religious context of Vijayadashami is the tale of Goddess Durga and Mahishasura. According to the mythological story, Mahishasura began to torment the gods, relying on his strength. Troubled by his tyranny, the gods prayed to Adishakti. Goddess Durga then fought Mahishasura and slew him. In memory of this victory, the different forms of the Goddess are worshipped during Navratri, and the victory of Shakti is celebrated on Vijayadashami.

On shastra puja, it is said that in Indian tradition weapons were regarded not merely as instruments of war but also as a means of protecting dharma and society. In earlier times, kings, warriors and soldiers performed shastra puja on Dussehra. Training in the art of warfare, respect for weapons and the wish for victory are sentiments linked with this tradition.

The success of any undertaking does not depend on the muhurat alone. Proper planning, hard work, financial discipline, foresight and perseverance are equally important. An auspicious muhurat serves as an inspiration and a source of positivity for a new journey.

As one full muhurat among the three and a half, Dussehra holds a special place in Hindu culture. The victory of Shri Ram over Ravana, the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the tradition of shastra puja, Saraswati puja, Seemollanghan and apta leaves as gold all add to the importance of the festival.