May you be victorious! / विजयी भव।

The Navaratra Festival that is currently underway, is celebrated all over India with great fervour. From Bhondala, Dandiya and Garba in the West, to Durga Pooja in the East and from Kumari Pooja of the North to Dassera and Kolu (Gollu) in the South, the diverse celebrations that we see and experience bring out the richness of our Indian culture!

Along with the “Worship of the Goddess or Shakti Principle”, the other common theme that runs across these varied festivities is the “Victory of the Good over Evil”.

The rites, rituals and activities on the 10th Day – Vijayadashami or Dassera are specially reserved for showcasing this Victory – most popular being the burning of the effigy of Ravana, the ten-headed Demon King.

Another important ritual on Dassera that you may not be aware of is the worship of the Shami Tree.

The Shami leaves are offered to each other on this day wishing for victory in one’s ventures and tasks. The mantra chanted is –

शमी शम्यते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी।। करिष्यमाण यात्राया यथाकालं सुखं मया। तत्र निर्विघ्नकर्त्री त्वं भव श्रीरामपूजिता।।

It means -

शमी शम्यते पापम् - Shami cleanses sins.

शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी - Shami destroys enemies.

अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी – (the one) who held Arjuna’s Bow

रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी – (the one) who is Rama’s beloved

श्रीरामपूजिता - O, the one worshipped by Rama,

करिष्यमाण यात्राया यथाकालं सुखं मया - As I embark on my journey to victory,

तत्र निर्विघ्नकर्त्री त्वं भव – make it pleasant and free from all obstacles.

The Shami Tree has references in both the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Lord Rama worshipped the Shami Tree and it blessed Him with victory before he marched towards Ravana’s Lanka.

In the Mahabharata, before going on their अज्ञातवास /Ajaatavaasa (year of Incognito Exile), the Pandavas hid their weapons in the Shami Tree requesting it to protect them for a year.

Hence the tree is referred to as one that held Arjuna’s bow in the above shloka.

It could be due to these references that the Shami tree has got associated with Victory and Success. In the olden days, before the Kings used to march in battle, they would worship the Shami Tree and seek its blessings by chanting this mantra. Even today, the famous Mysore Dassera procession that starts from the Mysore palace culminates at a Shami Tree – Banni Mantapa where the Banni Pooja is undertaken.

In the later periods, wars reduced and peaceful times prevailed. Hence, probably, this reference was made ceremonial through the practice of “Seemolanghan” / सीमोलन्घन – crossing the boundary of the village on the Vijayadashami or Dassera day and worshipping the Shami tree outside the village boundary.

Interestingly, the trees which find reference in our scriptures in relation to some rites and rituals have been proven to have great medicinal, healing or useful properties. So is the case with the Shami tree. It survives even in harsh climatic conditions and is used in Ayurveda for treating a host of ailments from schizophrenia to toothache and diabetes.

In today's times, we may chant this mantra on Vijayadashami Day seeking success and prosperity in the year to come. May the Shami tree make all your journeys victorious!

Note: The Shami Tree is not to be confused with the Apta tree whose leaves are given to one another signifying exchange of “gold” in Maharashtra and some other States on the day of Dassera itself.