RAKSHA BANDHAN

The Bonding between a Brother and a Sister is simply unique and is beyond description in words.  India is probably the only country that celebrates the relationship between Brother and Sister.  This festival is called “Raksha Bandhan”.   Raksha means protection and Bandhan signifies the Verb to tie. Together, Raksha Bandhan means to tie a knot for Protection.  Bandhan also means Bond. The other meaning of the Word Raksha Bandhan is a “Bond to Protect”.  It is celebrated on the Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan.

 

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is known by different names in different regions of India.  The Shravan Poornima is also celebrated in different ways by people in different regions of India.  Farmers in most part of North and Central India, celebrate this day as Kaji Poornima.  On this day, they start sowing Wheat and pray to god for good crops.  In some of the Coastal Regions of India, this day is celebrated as Narayali Poornima” by offering prayers to Lord Indra and Lord Varuna.  The Sikhs celebrate the Festival as Rakhardi or Rakhari. But carry the save aura of Brother-Sister love and relationship.  Raksha Bandhan has lot of historical significance and has many reference and incidences in epics like Mahabharat. 

 

Yama and Yamuna:  According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Yama did not visit his sister Yamuna for a long time, who ultimately became very Sad.  On the advice of Ganga, Lord Yama went to meet his Sister Yamuna.  Yamuna was very happy and part of her hospitality tied a Sacred Thread on Yama’s wrist.  It was a Shravan Poornima Day.  Yama was so impressed and delighted and asked Yamuna to ask any Gift from him.  Yamuna expressed her desire to see her brother again and again.  Hearing this, Yama made his sister Yamuna immortal so that he could see her again and again.  From that day it is believed that whoever tied a Rakhi to her Brother would become immortal.

 

Krishna and Draupati: Another legend is related to Mahabharata.  In Mahabharata, when Lord Krishna was hurt during the war with King Shishupala, he was left with a bleeding finger.  At that moment, Draupati had torn a piece of cloth and tied around the Wrist of Lord Krishna to stop the bleeding.  Lord Krishna was touched by her gesture and promised to reply her love and devotion in future, whenever she needs that.  True to his words, Lord Krishna saved and protected Draupati when Dushashan indulged in the immoral and sinful act of pulling the Saree of Draupati.

 

King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi:  As per another account of Bhagavat Purana and Vishnu Purana, when Lord Vishnu won the threw rods from the Demon King Bali, he was requested by the Demon King to stay beside him in the Palace.  The Lord accepted the request and started living with the Demon King.  However, Goddess Lakshmi, wife of Lord Vishnu wanted to return to their native place of Vaikunta.  So, she tied the Rakhi around the wrist of Demon King Bali and made him her brother.  When the Demon King Bali requested Goddess Lakshmi to seek any gift from him, Goddess Lakshmi asked Bali to free her husband from the vow and let him return to Vaikunta.  Bali agreed to the request and Lord Vishnu returned to his place with Goddess Lakshmi.

 

The concept of Raksha Bandhan is mainly that of Protection.  In India, we often find people going to the priest of certain temples and getting a sacred thread tied to their Hands.  We also witness Priest, tying a Sacred Thread to the wrist of the performer of certain rituals before the commencement of such procedures.  Even the Yagnopaveetham (Janeev), a Sacred Thread worn by Brahmins, across their Chest acts as a Raksha, to the person wearing it if he maintains its sanctity.  In Hindu marriages, a Mangal Sutra, a Sacred Thread is tied around the neck of the Bride.  After the Mangal Sutra rituals are over, the Bride and Bride Groom tie a Sacred Thread on the Wrist of each other, called the Kankana Dharanam/Bandhanam.

 

The concept of tying Sacred Thread is common in Hindu Religion and is not limited only to Brothers and Sisters.  It only intensifies the Bond between the two people.  Raksha Bandhan is the only Festival that celebrates the Love, Devotion and Bonding of the Brothers and Sisters.  A girl might adopt any boy as her Brother by tying the Rakhi on the Raksha Bandhan day.

 

The ritual not only strengthens the bond of love but also transcends the boundaries of the Family.  When a Rakhi is tied, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life.  This helps to broaden the boundaries and live like a true “VASUDEVA KUDUMBAKAM”

(The above article was written for publication in Aug. 2019 issue of PRINCE’S VOICE – A Community eMagazine)