Prominent Mythologies Behind Dussehra

Pandavas end their Agyatvas

The Pandavas who lost a game of dice with Kauravas were exiled from their kingdom and sentenced for 12 years vanavasa and 1 year life without revealing their identity. The bothers hid their divine weapons under a tree and planned to live in the kingdom of Virat. The five brothers and their wife spent the year in disguise but as the kingdom faced an attack from the Kaurava army, the brothers shed their disguise, went back to the Shami tree and for the first time in a year took their weapons in their hands on this day.

Pandavas who were living in disguise shot into action as their kingdom was being attacked by the Kauravas. The brothers collected their weapons back and retaliated defeating kavuravas, which is thought to be the start of Kurukshetra war.

Goddess Durga slays Mahishasur

In a war between demons and gods, one of the demons over threw the gods and created chaos on earth. Feeling sad at the scene all the Gods combined their energy to give birth to Goddess Durga. The goddess Durga had ten hands and all other Gods assisted her in killing Mahishasura by supplying their weapons.

The myth says that the war between Durga and Mahishasura stretched for nine days and nine nights eventually defeating and killing the demon on the tenth day, celebrated as vijayadashmi.

Kautsa's Gurudakshina     

Another legend about the festival does not depict any demons or Gods but a Bramhin boy, Kautsa who wanted to pay Gurudakshina to his Guru, Varathanu. As his master demanded 140 million gold coins as the dakshina, the boy approached king Raghu who eventually had to meet Lord Indra for the boon. Indra in turn asked Kubera, the lord of wealth to rain gold coins in king Raghu’s city. The King collected the coins and gave it to Kausta who offered them to Varathanu. As Guru wanted only 140 million gold coins he returned the rest to his Kausta. The brahmin boy distributed the excess amount to the people of Ayodhya; and that day is thought to be celebrated as Dussehra.
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