Ram had said that enmity ends after death, then why does Ravana burn himself every year?

This year Dussehra festival is being celebrated on 20th October. On this day, while on one hand Lord Ram is worshipped, on the other hand the tradition of burning the effigy of Ravana is followed in the evening. This tradition is performed every year. According to religious experts, the tradition of burning Ravana symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Apart from this, do you know that the method of burning the effigy of Ravana is not mentioned in any religious text, that is, burning Ravana is a tradition which people have been following for the last many years. According to Valmiki Ramayana, after the death of Ravana, Lord Rama had said that after death the enmity ends. Thus, after the death of Ravana, the enmity between Lord Ram and Ravana had ended.

For the last many years, lakhs of people burn the effigy of Ravana, even though Ravana had died thousands of years ago. In such a situation, the question arises that what is the importance of burning the effigy of Ravana? Along with this the question arises that what did Lord Ram say after the death of Ravana, the message which we should adopt even today. Let us know.

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Hatred ends after death

The situation after Ravana's death has been mentioned in the battle sequence of the religious text Valmiki Ramayana. When Ravana dies after killing him, Vibhishana is in mourning, but hesitates before performing Ravana's last rites. Then Lord Ram told Vibhishana that enmity and hatred end after the death of a person. Therefore, they should not hesitate in performing the last rites of Ravana.

Deathless silence, no purpose.
Kriyatamasya sanskaro mamapyesh yatha tav॥

Through this verse it is told that Lord Ram told Vibhishana that enmity lasts only till death. After death all types of hatred end. Therefore now perform the proper last rites of Ravana. It is clear from this verse that Lord Rama himself had ended his enmity towards Ravana. Despite this, even today people burn the effigy of Ravana.

Also read: Horoscope for October 20: Which 5 zodiac signs will see positive changes in their lives on Dussehra?

Why is Ravana burnt every year?

Ravana's effigy is not burnt every year just because he troubled Lord Rama. Burning the effigy of Ravana means eliminating the evils in one's mind, which prevent a person from doing good deeds. Along with this, Ravana is a symbol of the fact that no matter how powerful evil is, one day it is defeated by good.