RAKHI
The Power of Sacred Thread!!
This Hindu festival is celebrated on the full-moon day of Shravana month of the Hindu Calendar, which probably falls in July/August. The festival highlights the special love bond a brother and sister shares.
On this day, a sister ties Rakhi, a beautiful thread on brother’s wrist and wishes for his long life and happiness while the brother in return vows to protect her under any circumstances.
Within this Raksha Bandhan festival, sacred feelings and good wishes are shared from both brother’s and sister’s side. Sweets and gifts are exchanged. This is a very popular festival in North India.
What is the meaning of Raksha Bandhan?
The meaning is simple in Sanskrit terminology; the occasion means the secure tie or knot as protection! “ Raksha” stands for protection and “ Bandhan” provides the significance towards tie!
The festival symbolizes the eternal love of a brother-sister relationship! It is also celebrated among the eternal love of non- blood relatives such as cousins, sister-in-law, Aunts, and nephews, etc. The ritual signifies a testing bond between a cordial relationship.
The caring nature of the brother towards his sister and the love and affection of the sister, towards his brother is the most significant gesture in this Raksha Bandhan ritual.
Surprisingly, there are politicians, Film personalities, and the business community in India, who also go for this kind of a ritual, to strengthen the bond among!
It has been a practice from diverse religions, to tie a Rakhi and the adversary or powerful person her brother! This gives the lady, immense strength and guarantees, there is a powerful brother who can rise to the occasions if she gets into any troubles in life!
Why Raksha Bandhan is celebrated?
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is observed as a symbol of duty between brothers and sisters. It is about a celebration of a bond, between brothers and sisters! They may not be biologically related, but a brother-sister bond is created!
When the sister ties a Rakhi and prays for the brother’s well-being, the Brother gives her gifts and takes a vow of protecting her Sister from any harm under any duress!
Other practices of Raksha Bandhan among various religions in India!
Hindus: The festival is mainly celebrated by Hindus in the Hindi belt and the western part of India! Surprisingly Nepal, Pakistan, and Mauritius also celebrate the same!
Jains: Jain community also celebrates the same festival, where Jain priests give ceremonial threads to devotees!
Sikhs: It’s also very special for them! This festival is devoted to the brother-sister love observed by the Sikhs, which is called as “Rakhardi” or “Rakhari”!
The Mythological Significance:
Sachi Devi and Indra Dev Story:
Indra Dev, who is considered the king of Devatas, used to rule the ‘Devalok’, which has the capital called as ‘Amravati’! But, the capital always vulnerable to attacks from Demons also called ‘ Asurs’!
The war between Gods and Demons continued for a long time and there was not a decisive moment! Both the warring parties were superb in their attacks and defence!
Sachi Devi tied the cotton thread around the wrist of her husband and Lord Indra saw immense power in it and defeated the demons led by Demon king Bali and got back, ‘ Amravati’ the capital of Indra Dev’s kingdom!
Raksha Bandhan as per Bhagvata Purana:
Lord Vishnu was fighting a fierce battle with the demon king Bali! He had won three worlds from the demon king already by now! Bali, requested Lord Vishnu, to stay in his palace and Lord Vishnu agreed to it! Goddess Lakshmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu, wanted him to return to ‘ Vaikuntha’, their abode!
So, she came up with a plan! She tied a Rakhi around the wrist of the demon king, Bali, and made him her brother! When Bali asked about the return gift, she asked him to free her husband form the vow and allow him to return to their abode! Bali, overwhelmed, by the gesture agreed, to the request and Lord Vishnu returned to his abode at ‘ Vaikuntha’ with his wife Goddess Lakshmi!
The Santoshima Story:
The two sons of Lord Ganesha namely, Shubh and Labh, were very frustrated that they had no sister at all! They persisted and asked for a sister from their father and he persisted, like Narada, the Mahamuni intervened and thus, Lord Ganesha created Santoshi Maa, through the divine flames and the two sons of Lord Ganesha got their sister during the occasion of Raksha Bandhan!
Dwapar Yug:
Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, tied a Rakhi to Lord Krishna and she immediately became the sister of the Lord. He also helped her during all problems faced by her and especially during the’ Vastra Apharan’ case in the court of Duryodhan and his brothers! So, Draupadi won over Krishna and made her a protective brother!
A story taught in school essays:
As we have read above, Rakhi is significant in most of the mythological stories. Apart from mythology Rakhi Ritual has also been traced in the medieval era. We all have read this heart-touching story in our school essays on Raksha Bandhan. Rakhi might me a decorative thread but its emotional value ties hearts together.
The story is from 1535 AD. Rani Karmawati was a widowed queen of Chittor. When she realized that Mughals were about to invade Chittor, she sent Himayun a Rakhi as a token of love from a sister. Himayun being aware of Hindu Tradition ordered to take back his troops. Karmawati's gesture of love touched Himayun's heart and he swore that he would protect his new sister in any circumstances.
In Summary
There is a bonding between a brother and his sisters, which is very unique! It is a bond, which can’t be explained by words! The relationship between siblings is very extra-ordinary and is very much given the importance whole over the world! It has vast significance in Hindu Mythology and different eras of history!
This is a special Hindu festival and is dedicated towards the sibling love! The duty of a brother towards his sister is very much demonstrated!
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