Vijayadaśami — Victory, New Beginnings, and Sacred Learning
Vijayadaśami (vijaya = victory; daśami = the tenth lunar day; 'the tenth day of victory'; also Daśarā in North Indian usage) is the culminating day of the Navarātrī (nine-night festival) — the tenth day after Navamī, commemorating the victory of Bhagavān Rāma over the demon-king Rāvaṇa of Laṅkā, and more broadly celebrating the triumph of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness). In the South Indian tradition, the Navarātrī that precedes Vijayadaśami is associated with the nine-day festival of Śrī (Mahālakṣmī), Durgā, and Sarasvatī — with the ninth day (Navamī) being Āyudha Pūjā (worship of the instruments and tools of one's livelihood, including books).
In the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition, Vijayadaśami has a significance beyond the commemoration of Rāma's victory: it is considered the most auspicious day in the entire year for beginning sacred studies (vidyārambham). On this day, Āchāryas traditionally initiate new students into the Vedas, the Divya Prabandham, or any sacred text — the teacher places the student's hand on the text for the first time, and the first syllables of the Vedic recitation are taught. This tradition arises because Vijayadaśami is the day when Sarasvatī (goddess of learning) returns the Vedas after the nine-day Navarātrī period during which the scriptures are ceremonially 'rested' (not recited) — thus the tenth day is the day learning is both resumed and freshly begun. In the household observance, children are introduced to their first letters on Vijayadaśami in the Vidyārambham ceremony.
For the Śrī Vaiṣṇava community specifically, Vijayadaśami is also considered one of the most auspicious days for bestowing pañca-saṃskāra initiation — the formal initiation into Śrī Vaiṣṇavism that the Āchārya gives to a qualified seeker. The tradition of Vedānta Deśika further adds to the day's significance: his celebrated work Śrī Dēśika Prabandham (also called Prabandha Sāra — the Tamil stotra collection including Yatirāja Saptati and other gems) is said to have been completed on Vijayadaśami. The Deśika Vijayam — the hagiographic account of Vedānta Deśika's life — commemorates this completion as a spiritual victory of its own, parallel to Rāma's victory over Rāvaṇa. The day thus combines triumph over exterior evil with the beginning of interior spiritual knowledge.