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The holy festival of Vijayadashami i.e. Dussehra is celebrated with great enthusiasm, joy and devotion across India. This festival is celebrated every year as a symbol of the victory of righteousness over unrighteousness, truth over untruth and good over evil. On this day, while on one hand huge fairs are organized to celebrate the killing of Ravana by Lord Shri Ram and effigies of Ravana are burnt, on the other hand another very ancient and unique tradition is followed in the Indian Sanatan culture, which is called ‘Shastra Puja’. On the day of Vijayadashami, weapons and tools are worshiped with rituals in various corners of the country, especially in the royal houses, security forces, police departments and every Hindu family. This question often comes in the minds of common people that what is the reason for worshiping weapons in this atmosphere of peace and celebration and what deep historical and spiritual secret is hidden behind it.
This glorious tradition of weapon worship has its roots in our ancient epics and mythological history. According to mythological beliefs, Vijayadashami was the day when Lord Shri Ram conquered Lanka by killing Lankapati Ravana. Before entering the battlefield and after achieving victory, Lord Rama worshiped the weapons of his army so that they would always be ready to protect the religion. Apart from this, a very important context of this is also found in the Mahabharata period. When the Pandavas attained the thirteenth year of Agyatavas, they hid all their powerful divine weapons on the Matha or Shami tree in Uttar Pradesh to hide their identity. When the day of Vijayadashami came after the end of exile, the Pandavas took out their weapons from under the Shami tree and worshiped them and then achieved a historic victory over the Kauravas. Since then, this tradition has been going on that worshiping weapons on the day of Dussehra leads to victory over enemies and success in every field of life.
In the modern era, even though on hearing the word weapon one thinks of violence or war, but in Sanatan culture, weapon has never been considered a means of aggression or torturing others. According to our scriptures and saints, the main purpose of weapons is to protect the weak, maintain the sovereignty of the nation and destroy the evil forces that create peace in the society. By worshiping weapons on the day of Vijayadashami, it is resolved that force and power will never be used for injustice, but only for the protection of religion, truth and humanity. This tradition also teaches us that a person should always be mentally and physically prepared and strong to face every major challenge or crisis that comes in life.
The ritual of Shastra Puja is performed very sacredly and with discipline. On the day of Dussehra, after taking bath in the morning, all types of weapons, guns, swords or modern security equipment at home or workplace are kept on a clean platform covered with a red cloth. After this they are purified with Ganga water. During the puja, roli, sandalwood, akshat (rice), flowers and durva are offered on these weapons. Along with this, his Aarti is performed as per rituals by lighting incense sticks and lamps. At many places, tilak is applied on weapons and sweets are also offered. At the end of the puja it is wished that these weapons should always be able to protect the country and family and should never be misused. Even today in many traditional and rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, people worship their swords, sugarcanes and agricultural equipment, which are the main basis of their livelihood and security.
With time, society and technology have changed, and with this the scope of this ancient tradition of worship has also expanded considerably. In today’s time, it is not possible for every person to have battlefield weapons, but every person definitely has his own ‘weapons of action’. In today’s modern age, businessmen worship their ledgers and computers, students worship their books and pens, doctors worship their medical instruments and artisans worship their tools. All these things are the weapons of modern life on the basis of which man earns his livelihood and serves the society. Worshiping all these karmic instruments on the day of Vijayadashami symbolizes that we are completely dedicated to our work and give the highest place to our art and duty.
In this sacred ritual of Shastra Puja, there is also a special provision for worshiping the Shami plant or tree. It is believed that divine powers reside in the Shami plant and its leaves are considered a symbol of gold and presented to each other, which is also called ‘distributing gold’. This tradition gives the message of mutual love, brotherhood and forgetting animosity and starting new relationships. When we burn the ego, anger, jealousy and evil within us along with the burning of the effigy of Ravana, the symbol of evil, on the day of Dussehra, and then take the pledge of our duties by worshiping the weapons, then our life becomes meaningful. This festival teaches us that a wonderful balance of strength and humility creates a great man.
Shastra Puja performed on Dussehra is not just a traditional ritual, but it is a medium to awaken the self-confidence and courage hidden within us which teaches us to fight every difficulty of life. This festival reminds us that no matter how powerful evil is, ultimately truth and religion prevail. On this Vijayadashami, connect with this great tradition of your culture, respect every positive means of your life and resolve to establish brotherhood and justice in the society.