Dussehra Special | Mars Transit Ashlesha | 17 Oct – 12 Nov 2026 | Which Ravana Must Your Sign Burn?

This Dussehra of 2026 is not arriving under an ordinary sky.

Just three days before Vijayadashami, Mars — Mangal — enters Ashlesha Nakshatra. Jupiter — Guru — is already moving through Ashlesha. And Dussehra itself falls on Tuesday — Mangalvar — the day of Mars.

Dussehra celebrates the victory of Dharma over Adharma. Shri Rama defeats Ravana. Maa Durga destroys Mahishasura. And around this sacred festival, Mars — the planet of courage, confrontation and action — enters one of the most psychologically intense Nakshatras of the zodiac.

Ashlesha is represented by the serpent. A serpent watches, waits and coils. But when pressure becomes unbearable, the reaction can become sudden and intense.

So ask yourself: what happens when people continuously experience corruption? When institutions become insensitive? When people in politics, business, religion, administration or any position of authority begin believing that power belongs permanently to them?

For some time, people tolerate. They adjust. They complain quietly. But Mars in Ashlesha does not like suppressed anger indefinitely.

Please understand: I am not talking about violence. I am talking about the courage to stop being afraid. The courage to question, expose what is false and stand with truth. Because Dharma does not mean blind obedience. Dharma requires courage.

But Mars alone can become uncontrolled anger. Mars says: Fight. Jupiter says: Understand why you are fighting.

Mars gives courage. Jupiter gives Dharma. Mars gives action. Jupiter asks: “Is your action righteous?”

So the deeper battle is anger versus wisdom. Revenge versus justice. Ego versus Dharma.

And that brings us to Ravana. Ravana was intelligent, knowledgeable, powerful and a great devotee of Shiva. What destroyed him? Arrogance. The belief: “Nobody can challenge me.”

The moment power makes you believe you are bigger than Dharma, Ravana has entered you.

Burning Ravana outside is easy. The difficult question is: Can you recognize Ravana inside yourself? Your anger. Jealousy. Greed. Desire for revenge. Need to control. Arrogance when success comes.

Ashlesha can bring hidden poison to the surface — in relationships, families, workplaces, institutions and systems of authority.

Remember: Power is temporary. Karma is not. Power itself is not evil. The unconscious use of power becomes dangerous.

So when Ravana burns, ask: “What must burn inside me?” Anger? Fear? Greed? Jealousy? Attachment? Ego? Or the fear that has prevented you from standing for what you know is right?

Sometimes Adharma survives because good people become too frightened, divided or comfortable to confront what they know is wrong.

Shri Rama did not fight because he loved war. He fought because Dharma demanded courage.

Mars says: Find your courage. Jupiter says: Find your wisdom. Ashlesha says: Find the poison. Vijayadashami says: Burn it.

How and where does this energy—from Mars, Jupiter, and the Ashlesha Nakshatra—manifest for your zodiac sign?

These predictions are primarily based on your Ascendant; you can also listen from your Moon sign for an additional layer.

Mars is moving through Cancer and Ashlesha. Mars is debilitated in Cancer, so courage can become emotional reaction, action can become anger and strength can become frustration. But Jupiter is also present. With awareness, that same intensity can become wisdom and transformation.

Aries

For Aries, Cancer activates your fourth house — home, mother, property and inner peace. Mars is your Ascendant lord, so you may feel this personally.

Home tensions, family disagreements, property matters or inner restlessness may demand attention.

Your Ravana is anger that you call strength. Anybody can shout. Real power is remaining centered when somebody tries to disturb your center.

Home change, renovation, property purchase or an old family issue can move forward, but don’t make expensive decisions out of frustration.

Jupiter says: Protect your peace before protecting your ego. Your victory: peace without weakness.

Taurus

For Taurus, this activates your third house — communication, courage, siblings, short journeys, media, writing and speaking.

Something you tolerated silently may finally come out: “Enough. Now I am going to speak.”

Speak when necessary, but remember: Ashlesha can make words poisonous.

Your Ravana is resentment. Do not carry a conversation from years ago. Confront if necessary, but don’t poison yourself waiting for another person to suffer.

This is strong for communication, content, marketing, sales, consulting and entrepreneurship. Use courage to create, not merely to argue.

Your message: Say what must be said — but don’t become what hurt you.

Gemini

For Gemini, Cancer activates your second house — money, savings, family, speech and values.

You may become serious about earning and security. Jupiter can expand opportunities, while Mars can increase expenses or impulsive decisions.

Ask: “Am I building wealth — or displaying wealth?”

Your Ravana is careless speech. One sentence can create unnecessary family trouble. Don’t say something in ten seconds that requires ten months to repair.

You may also rethink how you monetize your skills — a raise, higher fees or another income source. Do it strategically.

Your victory: value your voice without using it to wound others.

Cancer

Cancer natives, this transit is directly over your Ascendant or Moon sign, making you one of the most affected signs.

Restlessness, anger, ambition, frustration, courage and confusion can all rise together. You may no longer tolerate disrespect, manipulation or invaded boundaries.

But remember: Mars is debilitated in Cancer. Do not confuse emotional reaction with divine guidance.

Your Ravana is the wound that controls your present. How long will the past continue controlling today?

Jupiter can bring protection, wisdom, visibility, confidence, spiritual maturity and expansion — but stop carrying the identity of the wounded person.

Your victory: emotional strength without emotional imprisonment.

Leo

For Leo, Cancer activates your twelfth house — isolation, foreign countries, sleep, expenses, spirituality, hospitals, retreat, hidden enemies and the subconscious.

You may feel withdrawn and want silence. Listen to that. Sometimes retreat is not defeat; it is preparation.

Your Ravana is the need to be seen. There is nothing wrong with shining, but if happiness depends on applause, you have handed your power to the audience.

Watch expenses and sleep. Avoid secret conflicts and obsession with gossip or hidden enemies. Let karma do some work.

This can be powerful for meditation, mantra, pilgrimage and seclusion. Your victory: burn the hunger for validation.

Virgo

For Virgo, Cancer activates your eleventh house — income, networks, friends, recognition, gains and fulfilment of desires.

Opportunities, useful connections and income growth are possible, but Mars can bring competition, jealousy and politics in groups.

Your Ravana is comparison. Someone has more followers, earns more or succeeded sooner. So what? Their journey is not your journey.

Ashlesha can expose jealousy from others — and within ourselves. Be honest about both.

Collaborate wisely and leave manipulative friendships. Not everybody who celebrates with you is necessarily celebrating for you.

Your victory: growth without jealousy.

Libra

For Libra, Cancer activates your tenth house — career, reputation, authority, leadership and public visibility.

Mars can make you ambitious. You may want a bigger role, greater independence or more influence.

You may also clash with bosses, institutions or authority if you feel unfairly treated.

Your Ravana is the fear of displeasing powerful people. Harmony at the cost of self-respect is not harmony. It is submission.

Speak when something is unjust, but speak strategically. Jupiter says: Fight intelligently. Mars says: Don’t become a coward.

Your victory: stand for what is right without destroying what you have built.

Scorpio

For Scorpio, Cancer activates your ninth house — Dharma, Guru, father, higher knowledge, long journeys, religion and belief. Mars is your Ascendant lord, so this matters deeply.

You may question religion, your Guru, philosophy or even your understanding of God.

That is not necessarily bad. True spirituality should survive questioning.

Your Ravana is the belief that only you are right. Material ego says: “I have more.” Spiritual ego says: “I understand God better.”

Jupiter can bring spiritual guidance through a Guru, pilgrimage or teaching — but remain teachable.

Your message: Dharma is not proving another person wrong. Dharma is becoming more truthful yourself.

Sagittarius

For Sagittarius, Cancer activates your eighth house — secrets, transformation, psychology, occult subjects, inheritance, sudden events, joint finances and fear.

Something hidden may surface. A truth may be revealed about another person — or yourself.

Your Ravana is the need to escape uncomfortable truth. Optimism is beautiful, but spirituality is not pretending darkness does not exist. Healing sometimes begins when you enter the room you were avoiding.

Be careful with loans, taxation, joint investments and other people’s money. Occult and spiritual practitioners can receive deep insights.

Your victory: Do not fear transformation. Sometimes what feels like destruction is life removing an identity you have outgrown.

Capricorn

For Capricorn, Cancer activates your seventh house — marriage, relationships, partnerships, contracts and public dealings.

Attraction can intensify, but so can conflict. Avoided conversations may finally happen.

Your Ravana is control. You cannot control another person’s thoughts, feelings or love. Healthy relationships cannot be built through fear.

Strong relationships can deepen after honest confrontation; weak ones may reveal cracks already present.

Jupiter offers wisdom and reconciliation if both people are willing to grow.

Your message: Love without possession. Partnership without domination.

Aquarius

For Aquarius, Cancer activates your sixth house — enemies, competition, work, routine, debts, disease, disputes and service.

You may finally confront a professional blockage, move an unresolved dispute or decide: “Enough. I need discipline.”

Your Ravana is chaos. Great visions require daily discipline. You cannot build an extraordinary future with a chaotic present.

Clean up debt, pending work, health routines and toxic competition. Avoid unnecessary workplace arguments.

Win through competence, not politics. Your victory: Discipline becomes your weapon.

Pisces

For Pisces, Cancer activates your fifth house — love, children, creativity, education, speculation and spiritual practice.

A romantic situation may intensify. Someone from your past may occupy your thoughts. Creative work can become powerful, and spiritual seekers may feel more drawn to mantra or devotion.

Your Ravana is illusion. Pisces can fall in love not with the person, but with the person imagined.

Ask: Is this love or dependency? Intuition or fantasy? Spiritual guidance or simply what I want to believe?

Jupiter can give wisdom, but only with honesty. Avoid emotional speculation or investment decisions.

Your victory: Choose truth over fantasy. Sometimes illusion feels beautiful, but liberation feels peaceful.

Whichever sign you belong to, remember: astrology is not meant to make you frightened of Mars, Ashlesha or the future. Astrology must make you conscious.

Mars gives energy. What will you do with it? Attack or protect? Revenge or justice? Domination or courage?

Jupiter asks: “Is your fight guided by Dharma?”

Every angry person believes they are right. That does not automatically make their anger righteous.

Mars without Jupiter can become aggression. Jupiter without Mars can become philosophy without action. Courage and wisdom must work together.

Let us go deeper into Ravana.

Different traditions interpret Ravana’s ten heads differently. What I am sharing is a spiritual and psychological interpretation — ten ways human consciousness can become corrupted.

The first head is Krodha — anger.

Anger is not always wrong. But when anger controls intelligence — when you stop listening, stop thinking and want to destroy somebody merely because they opposed you — that is Ravana.

Mars says: Fight when necessary. Jupiter asks: “Is your fight serving Dharma — or feeding your ego?”

The second head is Ahankara — ego.

Ravana had knowledge, power, wealth, status and intelligence, yet the feeling arose: “Who can challenge me?”

Anyone can become arrogant — politician, government, businessman, Guru, husband, wife.

Power is not the problem. Identification with power is the problem.

Remember: A chair is powerful only as long as you are sitting on it. One day you must get up.

The third head is Lobha — greed.

How much is enough? More money, land, followers, votes, influence, control — where does it stop?

Prosperity is not spiritually wrong. Money can educate, feed, heal and create employment. But when possession becomes addiction and somebody else’s share still looks attractive, greed has taken over.

Sometimes the poorest person has millions and still feels: “Not enough.”

The fourth head is jealousy.

Jealousy rarely says, “I am jealous.” It smiles. It congratulates. It may sit beside you.

Someone succeeds and the mind asks: “Why them?” Ask instead: “What can their success teach me?”

Somebody else’s light does not reduce your light. Burn comparison.

The fifth head is attachment.

Love says: “I want you to flourish.” Attachment says: “I want you to remain mine.”

Love gives freedom. Attachment creates fear.

“My husband. My wife. My child. My employee. My disciple.”

But nothing belongs to us permanently. Love deeply. Don’t imprison.

The sixth head is uncontrolled Kama — desire.

Desire is not evil. But when desire controls intelligence, you become its servant.

Some people conquer organizations and kingdoms but cannot conquer one desire.

The greatest emperor is the person who can govern himself.

The seventh head is fear.

Fear of losing your job, money, position, approval. Fear of criticism, rejection or death.

Because of fear, people tolerate what they know is wrong.

Dharma may ask you to stand alone — not violently or recklessly, but courageously.

Sometimes courage means refusing to participate in what your conscience knows is wrong.

The eighth head is hatred.

Someone hurts you and the mind says: “One day I will show them.”

Years pass, but the revenge lives inside you.

Hatred connects you psychologically and spiritually to the very person you want to escape.

Justice, boundaries or legal action may be necessary. But hatred is optional. Do what Dharma requires. Then release.

The ninth head is manipulation.

Ashlesha’s lower expression can involve secrecy, entanglement and psychological control.

Manipulation appears in relationships, business, politics, advertising and sometimes religion. Fear is created, facts are selectively presented and emotion is used to overpower reason.

Truth may require courage. Truth does not require manipulation.

Burn manipulation — including the stories you tell yourself because reality is uncomfortable.

And the tenth head is the intoxication of power.

Power can do tremendous good. A good ruler can transform a nation. A good officer can protect thousands. A good businessman can create employment. A good teacher can transform generations. A good spiritual leader can awaken consciousness.

But power magnifies what already exists inside you.

Wisdom becomes greater wisdom. Compassion becomes greater compassion. But insecurity, greed and arrogance also become magnified.

The most dangerous moment may be when nobody dares to tell you that you are wrong.

When ministers only praise the ruler, employees the boss, disciples the Guru and family members fear disagreement, the person at the top loses contact with reality.

No power is permanent. Governments change. Empires disappear. Kings die. Companies collapse. But Karma continues. Leadership is responsibility.

You can see why this Dussehra is so fascinating.

Mars says: Act. Jupiter says: Think. Mars says: Be courageous. Jupiter says: Be righteous.

Ashlesha asks: “What poison are you carrying?”

You cannot fight corruption while being corrupt yourself. You cannot condemn arrogance while humiliating people beneath you. You cannot demand honesty from governments while cheating somebody in your own business.

Dharma begins with you.

There is Rama within us and Ravana within us. Every day we decide whom we feed.

And before I conclude today’s special Vijayadashami message, I want to tell you a story.

Because there is another dimension to Ravana that we must understand. Ravana was not powerless. Ravana was enormously powerful. And this is precisely where the danger begins.

Power in the hands of wisdom can protect humanity. But power in the hands of ego can destroy generations.

Read very carefully.

But the misfortune is that power is in the hands of the wrong people, and the people of intelligence are devoid of power. I will tell you a small story to make it clear….

A great mystic heard that one of his friends, a childhood friend — they had played together, studied together — had become the prime minister of the country. Just to congratulate him, the mystic came down from the mountains. It was a long journey, tiring. By the time he reached the prime minister’s palace, the prime minister was getting ready to go somewhere.

He recognized the mystic, but he said, “I’m sorry, I have some appointments. I have to go to three places, and I would love it if you can come with me. On the way we can talk and remember the golden old days.”

The mystic said, “I would love to come with you, but you can see my rags are full of dust. It would not look right to sit by your side on a golden chariot.”

The prime minister said, “Don’t be worried. The king has presented me with a very costly overcoat. I have never used it; I have been keeping it for some special occasion. I will give you the coat. You just put it on; it will cover your clothes, the dust and everything.” The coat was given to him.

They reached the first house. They entered the house. The prime minister introduced his friend: “He is a great mystic. He lives in the mountains. Everything that he has is his own, except the coat — that is mine.”

The mystic could not believe it: “What kind of stupidity is this?”

Even the family was shocked, to insult the mystic in such a way.

Outside the house the mystic said, “It is better I do not accompany you. You insulted me. What was the need to say that it is your coat? They were not asking.”

He said, “I am sorry, forgive me. And if you don’t come with me to the next appointment, I will think you have not forgiven me.”

The mystic was a simple-hearted man. He said, “Then it is okay, I am coming.”

Entering the second house, the prime minister introduced him: “He is a great mystic who lives in the mountains. Everything is his — even the coat is his!”

The mystic could not believe that this man had any intelligence at all. Outside he simply refused: “I cannot go to your third appointment. This is too much.”

But the politician said, “I have said that the coat is yours!” The mystic said, “It is unbelievable how unintelligent a man can be. Your assertion, emphasis, that the coat is mine, creates suspicion: there is something you are hiding. What is the need to mention the coat at all? I don’t see the point that in any introduction coats need to be introduced.”

And the politician said, “Forgive me, but if you don’t come to the third appointment I will never forget that I have hurt you. Please, there is only one more appointment, and I will not say that the coat is yours or the coat is mine. Don’t be worried about it.”

The simple mystic, innocent, agreed to go with him. At the third house he introduced the mystic in the same way, “He is a great mystic from the mountains. All the clothes are his, but as far as the coat is concerned, it is better not to say anything!”

The politician is not the most intelligent part of humanity. Otherwise there would not have been five thousand wars in three thousand years. The politician has destroyed, but has not created anything. It is the politician who is creating the atomic weapons, the nuclear missiles. With what face can he make the people of the world aware that the future is dark, dismal?

What an extraordinary story.

The problem was never the coat. The problem was the mind that could not get beyond the coat. The mystic had forgotten it. The man with power could not.

Once ego became attached to “my coat,” friendship, sensitivity, intelligence and common sense disappeared.

And isn’t that what happens with power? “My position.” “My government.” “My organization.” “My followers.” “My authority.” “My ideology.” “My reputation.”

Eventually my becomes bigger than truth. That is where Ravana begins.

Ravana’s knowledge, wealth and ability eventually became my desire, my honour, my power, my decision, my kingdom. And intelligence began serving ego.

Remember: Knowledge and wisdom are not the same thing.

A person can be highly educated and still be foolish. A person may occupy the highest office and still lack self-awareness. A person may know scriptures and still be consumed by ego.

Information can fill the brain. Only awareness transforms consciousness.

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi repeatedly brought seekers to the enquiry: “Who am I?”

Before reforming the whole world, discover who is the one wanting to reform it.

Connect the story with this Vijayadashami.

Mars represents power, action, authority and courage. Jupiter represents wisdom, Dharma, conscience and higher intelligence.

The cosmic message is simple: Power must listen to wisdom. Mars must listen to Jupiter.

Jupiter without Mars may remain philosophy. Mars without Jupiter can become aggression.

A nation needs not merely powerful leaders, but wise leaders. A family needs a compassionate head. A business needs an ethical leader. Spirituality needs awakened human beings, not authoritarian Gurus.

Why do we burn Ravana? Because Ravana keeps returning.

Whenever intelligence serves ego. Whenever authority becomes arrogance. Whenever powerful people believe they cannot be questioned. Whenever greed becomes policy. Whenever fear is used to control. Whenever somebody says: “Only I know. Only I am right. Only I can save you. Only my people matter.”

That is Ravana consciousness.

And Ravana consciousness belongs to no particular political party, no particular country and no particular religion.

It can appear on the Right or the Left, in democracy or dictatorship, religion, corporations, families — and most dangerously, inside ourselves.

If we condemn arrogance in others while refusing to see our own, Ravana has fooled us again.

Leadership should not create frightened citizens. It should help create conscious, educated and courageous human beings.

Spirituality is not meant to make you afraid of God. It is meant to awaken you to God.

Astrology is not meant to make you afraid of planets. It is meant to make you aware of your tendencies.

Mars in Ashlesha asks: Where has your anger been suppressed? Jupiter asks: Can you transform that anger into wisdom? Vijayadashami asks: Can you use that wisdom to destroy your inner Adharma?

And here is my strongest warning.

When you fight injustice, do not become unjust. When you fight hatred, do not become hateful. When you oppose arrogance, do not become arrogant. When you expose corruption, do not become corrupt. When you oppose authoritarianism, do not become authoritarian toward those who disagree.

Otherwise, you destroy one Ravana and quietly become another.

The Bhagavad Gita does not teach Arjuna blind aggression. Shri Krishna teaches action with consciousness.

Fight when Dharma requires you to fight — but not because your ego enjoys having an enemy.

And Ramana Maharshi’s “Who am I?” brings the examination back to us.

Before demanding humility from leaders, practice humility when you have power.

It is easy to say “I would never misuse power” when you don’t have power. The real spiritual examination begins when power comes into your hands.

Then we discover whether Rama lives within us… or Ravana.

So this Tuesday, when the Ravana effigy catches fire, look at your own mind and say silently: “Prabhu Shri Rama, let something within me also burn tonight.”

Let my arrogance burn. Let my jealousy burn. Let my greed burn. Let my hatred burn. Let my fear burn. Let my need to control burn. Let my need to always prove myself right burn.

And most importantly: Let my unconsciousness burn.

Because when unconsciousness burns, Ravana has nowhere left to live.

And this is where I want to give you one very important spiritual practice — not merely for Vijayadashami, but for your daily life.

The main Ram Mantra I would strongly recommend is:

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

Chant this mantra every day with faith, devotion and awareness. Do not chant mechanically merely to complete 108 repetitions.

Feel the name of Shri Rama. Allow the mantra to enter your mind. Allow it to enter your heart.

Because the purpose of mantra is not merely to change circumstances outside you. The deeper purpose is to transform the consciousness within you.

With consistent and sincere chanting, slowly observe what begins changing inside.

Your anger can soften. Your hatred can lose its intensity. Your fear can begin losing its control over you. Your jealousy can become awareness. Your greed can become contentment. Your restlessness can become steadiness. And your ego can gradually begin bowing before something greater than itself.

That is the real power of spiritual practice.

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.

Chant it every day.

Because Shri Rama represents Dharma, dignity, restraint, courage, righteousness and the strength to remain centered even when life is difficult.

And if you sincerely bring these qualities into your consciousness, a profound transformation can begin within you.

You slowly become a better version of yourself. Not because somebody outside you has changed. But because you have changed.

And always remember this: The real enemy is not outside you. The real enemy is always within you. The anger within you. The jealousy within you. The greed within you. The fear within you. The hatred within you. The ego within you. The unconsciousness within you.

We spend our whole lives identifying enemies outside — this person, that relative, that politician, that colleague, that competitor.

But Shri Rama’s greatest battlefield ultimately exists within human consciousness.

Your greatest victory is not when somebody else loses. Your greatest victory is when anger loses control over you. When jealousy loses control over you. When fear loses control over you. When greed loses control over you. When ego loses control over you.

That is your inner Ram Rajya.

Millions of Ravana effigies have burned, yet anger, war, corruption, greed and arrogance remain. Why? Because we have become efficient at burning the symbol while protecting the pattern.

This Dussehra, burn one pattern. One habit. One resentment. One lie. One fear. One ego.

And do one simple spiritual practice.

Take a piece of paper. Sit quietly for five minutes and write the one Ravana within you that troubled you most this year.

Don’t write somebody else’s name.

Write your weakness: Anger. Fear. Jealousy. Greed. Ego. Attachment. Revenge. Need for approval. Whatever is honestly true for you.

Then sit before Bhagwan Shri Rama, or simply close your eyes, and pray: “Prabhu, give me the courage to conquer this tendency within myself.”

Then chant:

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

108 times.

And if possible, don’t restrict this mantra only to Vijayadashami. Make it part of your daily spiritual practice.

Even after the festival is over, continue chanting:

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.

Because Ravana is not defeated once a year. The inner Ravana has to be watched every single day.

Every day anger can return. Every day ego can return. Every day jealousy can return. Every day greed can return. Every day fear can return.

And therefore every day, consciousness must return too. Every day, Rama must return within you.

Don’t ask Shri Rama to destroy your enemies. Ask: “Destroy the weakness through which my enemies can disturb my consciousness.”

What a difference!

Anybody can pray: “God, defeat that person.” But spirituality begins when you say: “God, transform me.”

Afterward, safely tear that paper into small pieces and discard it.

The paper is symbolic. The real work begins the next morning.

One ritual cannot remove a habit you have nourished for twenty years. But daily awareness, prayer, discipline and mantra can gradually transform you.

That mantra can become your Sankalpa. Your reminder. Your spiritual anchor. Your beginning.

And remember the Prime Minister and the mystic. The Prime Minister possessed the palace, chariot, expensive coat, authority and status. But the mystic possessed the greater treasure: He possessed himself.

That is the greatest power. Not controlling a nation. Not controlling employees. Not controlling followers. Not controlling your spouse. Not controlling your children. Mastering yourself.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the disciplined mind can become our friend, while the uncontrolled mind can become our enemy.

Perhaps that is the Ravana we ultimately need to defeat: The uncontrolled mind.

So this Vijayadashami, remember three words: Mars. Jupiter. Ashlesha.

Mars asks: Do you have courage? Jupiter asks: Do you have wisdom? Ashlesha asks: What poison are you carrying? And Shri Rama asks: “Will you choose Dharma even when choosing Dharma is difficult?”

Never forget: Dharma without compassion can become fanaticism. Power without wisdom can become tyranny. Knowledge without humility can become arrogance. Spirituality without self-examination can become hypocrisy.

So don’t merely ask: “When will Ravana burn?” Ask: “When will my Ravana burn?”

And when that anger burns… when that jealousy burns… when that hatred burns… when that fear burns… when that ego burns… that will be your real Vijayadashami.

Not victory over another human being — victory over yourself.

Not destruction of another person’s ego — transcendence of your own ego.

Not merely changing who sits on a throne — changing the consciousness with which power is exercised.

That is the revolution humanity needs: an inner revolution of consciousness, where intelligence does not remain powerless and power does not remain unintelligent.

A world where Mars has courage to act, and Jupiter has wisdom to guide that action.

And perhaps that is the deepest message written across the skies for this Vijayadashami.

Burn Ravana. But this year… make sure you know where he is hiding.

And whenever you feel anger, fear, jealousy, negativity or darkness growing within you, return to the name of Shri Rama:

Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.

Chant it with faith. Chant it with love. Chant it with awareness.

And don’t merely ask Rama to change your world. Allow Rama to change you. Because when you change, your world begins to change.

May Bhagwan Shri Rama give you courage without hatred. May Maa Durga give you strength without arrogance. May Guru Brihaspati give you wisdom without pride. May Mangal give you courage to act when Dharma calls.

And may the sacred name of Shri Rama continue cleansing your consciousness and guiding you toward the highest victory possible: victory over the darkness within.

Wishing you and your entire family a deeply blessed, spiritually awakened and victorious Vijayadashami.

Jai Shri Ganesha. Jai Guru.