Story Of Raksha Bandhan Celebrating the Unbreakable Bond
The Story Of Raksha Bandhan
On this day, a sister ties a thread on the wrist of her brother as a symbol of her unconditional faith in him and of her prayers for his long life. In return, the brother promises to keep her happy always and protect her from all troubles. This is a special Hindu festival that is celebrated in India and countries like Nepal to symbolize the love between a brother and a sister. The occasion of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar in the month of Shravana which typically falls in the August month of the Gregorian calendar.
This is a special Hindu festival that is celebrated in India and countries like Nepal to symbolize the love between a brother and a sister. The occasion of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar in the month of Shravana which typically falls in the August month of the Gregorian calendar.
The Bond Between Siblings
The festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The bonding between a brother and a sister is simply unique and is beyond description in words. The relationship between siblings is extraordinary and is given importance in every part of the world. However, when it comes to India, the relationship becomes all the more important as there is a festival called “Raksha Bandhan” dedicated to sibling love.
The Story of Raksha Bandhan
In Mahabharata, Lord Krishna once cut his finger which then started bleeding. Seeing this Draupadi then tore a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it on his finger to stop the bleeding. The piece of cloth then became a sacred thread Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. The expression “Raksha Bandhan,” Sanskrit, literally, “the bond of protection, obligation, or care,” is now principally applied to this ritual.
The History and Traditions of Raksha Bandhan
The traditional festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ i.e. Rakhi dates back to its origin about 6000 years ago during the Aryans established their first civilization. Due to the diversity of many languages and cultures, the traditional customs & rituals to celebrate the Rakhi festival differs from region to region across India. Until the mid-20th-century, the expression was more commonly applied to a similar ritual, also held on the same day, with precedence in ancient Hindu texts, in which a domestic priest ties amulets, charms, or threads on the wrists of his patrons, or changes their sacred thread, and receives gifts of money; in some places, this is still the case.
Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore started a mass Raksha Bandhan festival during the Partition of Bengal (1905), in which he encouraged Hindu and Muslim women to tie a rakhi on men from the other community and make them their brothers. In Maharashtra, among the Koli community, the festival of Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi Pournima is celebrated along with Narali Pournima (coconut day festival). Kolis are the fishermen’s community of the coastal state.
The fishermen offer prayers to Varuna, the Hindu god of the Sea, to invoke his blessings. As part of the rituals, coconuts were thrown into the sea as offerings to Varuna. The girls and women tie rakhi on their brother’s wrist
Religious Significance
Raksha Bandhan is a ritual followed by Lord Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yamuna. Yamuna tied rakhi to Yama and bestowed immortality. Yama was so moved by the serenity of the occasion that he declared that whoever gets a rakhi tied from his sister and promised her protection will become immortal. Rakhi (Raksha Sutra) is offered to lord Shiva, followed by the chants Mahamritunjay mantra 108 times, before a sister ties it to the wrist of his brother. With the blessings of God on this auspicious day, everything falls into place. Sisters receive more blessings from God by tying rakhi to Lord Hanuman and Ganapati besides their brothers. It is believed that tying rakhi to Lord Hanuman on Raksha Bandhan day calms anger between brothers and sisters. Moreover, worshipping Ganesha on this day increases the love between siblings.
Raksha Mahabali, the demon king was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Due to his immense devotion, Lord Vishnu took the responsibility to protect Bali’s Kingdom leaving his normal dwelling place in Vikundam. The wife of Lord Vishnu i.e. Goddess Lakshmi became very sad. She wanted to stay with her husband Lord Vishnu. So she went to King Bali in disguise as a Brahmin woman and took refuge in his castle. She tied Rakhi on King Bali’s wrist on the full moon day called Shravana Purnima. Later Goddess Lakshmi revealed who she was actually and why she had come. The king was moved by her and Lord Vishnu’s goodwill and affection for him & his family. Bali requested Lord Vishnu to accompany his wife to Vaikuntam. It is believed that since that day onwards it has become a custom Bandhan.
