Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan is one among the festivals observed by Hindus. It is a tradition where sisters tie a sacred thread around the wrist of their brothers for protection (Raksha). Raksha Bandhan encompasses true sense of peace. Viswakavi Ravindranath Tagore invoked Raksha Bandhan festival celebrations, for conveying the message of harmonious relationship amongst the community.

Raksha Bandhan falls on full moon day in Sravana month (July/August).

Legend

As per Bhagavata Purana, Lord Vishnu offered boon to asura king Bali. King Bali asked Vishnu to stay with him in Patal loka. Then Lord Vishnu went with Bali to guard him. On hearing this Goddess Lakshmi went to Bali and tied a sacred thread on Sravan Poornima day to him. Pleased by this, Bali said he will protect her like a brother and requested Goddess Lakshmi to ask for any gift. She asked Bali, to send Lord Vishnu with her. On considering the request of Goddess Lakshmi Bali sent Lord Vishnu with her. There is another story in Mahbharatha where Draupadi tied a sacred thread to Lord Krishna. He promised to protect her like a brother. Throughout her life Lord Krishna protected Draupadi.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan (protective bonding) is a special occasion to celebrate emotional bonding between brother and sister by tying a holy thread ‘Rakhi’ around the wrist. This thread carries sisterly love and sentiments, conveys significance of protection from the brothers to sisters. Sisters also pray for long life of their brothers. Rakhi thread can also be tied for others to show friendship and fraternity. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbours, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully as brothers and sisters. On the day of Rakhi, sweets, gifts and new clothes will be shared between brothers and sisters to express their love, happiness and caring nature. The sacred threads are ideally made of silk with gold and silver threads, beautifully crafted embroidered sequins (small shining disk or ring), and studded with semiprecious stones. Raksha Bandhan falls in Sravana month which is rainy season in India. In some parts of India, people pray to Lord Varuna (rain God) for good monsoon rains for their crops and other purposes.

Spiritual Significance of Raksha Bandhan

On the day of Raksha Bandhan, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathi float their energy or vibrations on the earth abundantly. Brothers and sisters will receive the vibrations with the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathi. When the sister is spiritual and has the motivation to attain God she gets the grace of the Guru. Guru’s grace helps her when she prays to God for her brother’s spiritual progress. Raksha Bandhan is a sacred thread that binds us in God’s Love, liberates us from all the bondages of the body and the physical world. Love is the example of freedom and power but only when grounded in Purity and Spiritual principles. The festival of Raksha Bandhan speaks of this sacred, loving relationship that nurtures, protects and uplifts. Traditionally, sisters apply a ‘tilak’ on the forehead of their brothers, tie a colourful decorated ‘rakhi’ on their brother’s wrist, and offer sweets as a token of their love. In return, the brother vows to protect his sister under all circumstances and of course, gives his sister a gift. These rituals have a deeper spiritual explanation. The ‘tilak’ is a sign of being victorious over ‘BODY-CONSCIOUSNESS’ and the web of vices that influenced us to perform negative actions. It is also a symbol of awakening one’s awareness of ‘Soul-consciousness’, realizing our true identity – Soul, Spirit or divine light energy, and not the physical body. Tying a ‘rakhi’ is a symbol of purity in thought, word and deed. So, make a pledge to stay in your original nature of peace, love, purity, wisdom, mercy in every thought, word and action. Then, we receive the sweets as God bestows on us divine wisdom. He becomes our true protector and liberator, and showers us with unlimited peace and happiness. The gift that God gives us is to see every other being as a child of God and part of our spiritual family.