By Dr. T. Selva

Every Dussehra, enormous effigies of Ravana are set ablaze across India as thousands gather to watch the symbolic destruction of evil.

The flames rise, the crowd cheers, and the familiar message is repeated: good has triumphed over evil.

But perhaps the more important question is not whether Ravana has been destroyed outside us. It is whether we have recognised the Ravana within us.

Dussehra, which falls on October 8, commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana, as narrated in the Ramayana, and remains one of Hinduism’s most powerful reminders that righteousness ultimately prevails.

Yet Ravana himself was no ordinary man.

He was a powerful ruler, an accomplished scholar, highly intelligent and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

What destroyed him was not a lack of knowledge. It was his inability to control his ego, arrogance and desires.

This story offers an insightful lesson for all of us.

We may not possess ten heads like Ravana, but symbolically many of us carry our own versions — anger, greed, jealousy, pride, hatred, selfishness, resentment, impatience, envy and ego.

At different moments in life, one of these “heads” can take control.

Sometimes we carry a hurt for years because we cannot forgive.

Sometimes we stop speaking to a relative over a disagreement that began long ago.

Sometimes another person’s success makes us uncomfortable because we silently compare it with our own life.

And sometimes pride prevents us from saying two very healing words: “I’m sorry.”

These emotions gradually become the Ravana within us.

Dussehra, therefore, should be more than a religious celebration or an occasion to watch an effigy burn. It should also become a time for self-examination.

What are we willing to burn within ourselves?

Perhaps it is time to forgive someone.

Perhaps we need to apologise.

Perhaps we should stop holding on to an old grievance.

Or perhaps we simply need to become more patient, compassionate and grateful for what life has already given us.

Lord Rama’s victory also reminds us that following the path of dharma is not always easy.

Doing what is right may require sacrifice, patience, restraint and humility.

The easier path is not always the correct path.

Yet the message of the Ramayana remains timeless, dharma may be tested, but it ultimately prevails.

I often tell people that the same principle applies to the energy of our homes.

In Vasthu Sastra, we pay close attention to how energy moves through a dwelling. We study the main entrance, the five elements, the kitchen, bedrooms, prayer space and other important areas to create greater balance and harmony.

But another form of energy no compass can measure.

It is the energy created by the people living inside the house.

A beautifully designed and Vasthu-compliant home cannot become truly harmonious if family members constantly quarrel, criticise one another or carry bitterness from room to room.

No favourable direction can compensate for an atmosphere filled with anger.

No Yantra can replace kindness.

The strongest positive energy in a home comes from the thoughts, words and behaviour of its occupants.

A house where people respect one another, pray together, forgive quickly and speak with compassion will naturally develop a peaceful vibration.

Vasthu also teaches us to remove clutter and allow energy to move freely.

Perhaps Dussehra offers us the same lesson on an emotional level.

We regularly clean our homes, clear cupboards and discard things we no longer need.

But how often do we clear the clutter within our minds?

Old disappointments, unresolved anger, painful memories, grudges and regrets can occupy so much emotional space that there is little room left for peace.

We cannot change what has already happened.

But we can decide how much space we continue to give it in our lives.

So, this Dussehra, when you see Ravana going up in flames, do not merely watch the fire.

Look within.

Choose one negative quality that has troubled your life and resolve to overcome it.

Clear the clutter in your home if you must.

But more importantly, clear the clutter in your heart.

Because the greatest victory of Dussehra is not the burning of Ravana before our eyes.

It is the moment we find the courage to conquer the Ravana within ourselves.

Award-winning author Dr. T. Selva is a speaker and the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide and Secrets of Happy Living. To purchase a copy, WhatsApp Devi at 0412623017. You can also contact Dr. Selva at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com