Mythological Roots
1. The Story of Lord Krishna and Draupadi:
One of the most popular legends is about Lord Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. During the game of dice, Draupadi was humiliated in the Kaurava court by being disrobed. Lord Krishna, touched by her devotion and distress, provided her with an endless sari to protect her honor. To thank Krishna for his protection, Draupadi tied a rakhi on his wrist. Krishna, in turn, promised to protect her, which he fulfilled during the great war of Mahabharata by saving her from the attempts of the Kauravas to harm her.
2. The Legend of Queen Karnavati and Humayun:
During the 16th century, Queen Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun, seeking his protection when her kingdom was under threat from the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah. Moved by her gesture, Humayun responded by leading his forces to help defend Chittor, demonstrating the strength of the rakhi as a symbol of protection and duty.
3. The Story of Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali:
According to another legend, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, wanted to protect her husband Vishnu’s abode from the demon King Bali. She tied a rakhi around King Bali’s wrist, symbolizing a request for his protection of the gods and ensuring the welfare of her divine abode. Impressed by her gesture, King Bali agreed to protect the gods and allowed Vishnu to return to his heavenly abode.
4. The Tale of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun:
In this historical story, Rani Karnavati of the Rajput kingdom of Chittor faced the threat of invasion from Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. In a gesture of brotherhood and seeking help, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. Touched by her appeal, Humayun responded by coming to her aid, thereby reinforcing the protective bond symbolized by the rakhi.
Historical Significance
1. Ancient Traditions:
The tradition of Raksha Bandhan has ancient roots, predating even the Hindu epics like the Mahabharata. The festival’s concept of protection and familial duty can be traced back to Vedic times, where bonds between family members were celebrated through rituals and ceremonies.
2. Rituals from Ancient Texts:
Ancient texts and scriptures mention the ritual of tying protective threads as a form of blessing and goodwill. Historical accounts indicate that such practices were part of larger sacrificial and religious observances in early Indian society.
3. Medieval Period Traditions:
During the medieval period, Raksha Bandhan also became a symbol of political alliances and protection between rulers and their allies. The practice of sending rakhis to request protection or form alliances was common among various Indian kingdoms.
Around mid-August, on Shravan Purnima, Hindus all over celebrate Raksha Bandhan. "Raksha" means protection, "Bandhan" means bound making the Rakhi the “Bond of Protection”. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in different forms in different areas and it is also known by the names like rakhi, rakhri, saluna and baleva.
Raksha Bandhan Rituals & Traditions
Sisters tie a special band on their brothers wrist on the day of Raksha Bandhan as a mark of affection. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the Rakhi . It is a way of telling your brother that you will never forget how he teased you about everything, yet fought with those who spoke a single word against you and how you bid him farewell with a smile, and only he saw those tear drops in your eyes. The brother in turn takes a lifelong vow to protect her sister under all circumstances and to always stand by her side. As per the traditions, the sister on this day prepares the puja thali with diya, roli, chawal and rakhis. She worships the deities, ties Rakhi to the brother(s) and wishes for their well-being. The brother in turn acknowledges the love with a promise to be by the sisters side through thick and thin and gives her a token gift. Raksha Bandhan tightens the bond of love between the sister and brother.
1. Preparation for the Festival:
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Cleaning the Home: Families clean and decorate their homes in preparation for the festival. This is often done to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
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Shopping for Rakhi: Sisters shop for rakhis, which can range from simple threads to elaborate decorative pieces. They also prepare a “thali” (a tray) with all the items needed for the ritual.
2. The Rakhi Ceremony:
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Ritual Setup: A special place is set up for the ceremony, often adorned with flowers, rangoli (colored patterns on the floor), and candles or diyas (small oil lamps).
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Performing Aarti: The sister performs an aarti, a ritual of waving a small flame-lit bowl in a circular motion in front of her brother. This is done to seek blessings for her brother’s well-being.
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Applying Tilak: The sister applies a tilak (a mark) on her brother’s forehead using a mixture of vermilion (sindoor) and rice. This symbolizes the bestowal of her blessings and protection.
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Tying the Rakhi: The sister ties the rakhi on her brother’s wrist while chanting a prayer or mantra for his health, happiness, and success. The rakhi represents the bond of love and protection.
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Offering Sweets: After tying the rakhi, the sister offers sweets to her brother, symbolizing the sweetness of their relationship.
3. Brother’s Promise:
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Receiving the Rakhi: The brother accepts the rakhi and reciprocates by giving a gift to his sister. This gift can be anything from money to more personal presents.
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Taking a Vow: The brother promises to protect and support his sister throughout his life. This promise is a key element of the Raksha Bandhan tradition.
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Exchanging Wishes: The brother and sister exchange wishes for each other’s happiness and success. They may also share a meal together or celebrate with family.
4. Family Gathering:
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Feasting: Families come together to enjoy special meals and sweets. Traditional dishes vary by region but often include sweets like kaju katli, barfi, or ladoo.
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Gifts and Celebrations: Family members might exchange gifts, and there is often a festive atmosphere with laughter, games, and conversations
Legends of Raksha Bandhan
The practice of tying thread was prevalent among the Rajputs and our history is full of instances related to the significance of this tradition. At the time of war when the brave Rajput soldiers prepared to go to the battlefield, the women folk followed the ritual of tying a thread around their wrist after applying a dash of vermilion powder on their forehead. This was considered a sign of good omen and the ladies believed that it would protect their men from the enemy s blow and bring them victory. Today children and women all around the country filling the soldiers with the zest to protect them against the dangers of the enemy tie Rakhi on the wrists of soldiers.Raksha Bandhan if taken in true sense has a much broader perspective; the festival encompasses true sense of peace and brotherhood. The values propagated by the occasion if inculcated by all human beings can bring the much-needed relief from the ongoing violence and mistrust.
Raksha Bandhan reflects the message of “VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBKAM” – The Whole world is one Family.
Stories Behind Rakshabandhan
Lord Krishna and Draupathi
This is perhaps the most popular and interesting story around Rakhi. Lord Krishna killed King Shishupal in order to protect his people against all evil. During the fight, Shishupal was hurt and having noticed this, Draupadi tore a piece from her saree and tied it round his wrist which would stop bleeding. Lord Krsihna was overwhelmed by the affection and declared his sisterly affection towards Draupadi. In return Krishna, promised help to Draupadi when she needed. Years later when the Pandavas lost Draupadi in chess, the Kauravas were removing her saree. But it was Krishna who kept her saree elongated so that they could not remove it.
Alexander The Great and King Puru
This is perhaps the oldest story about Rakhi which goes back to 300 BC. King Alexander during his first attempt to conquer India was shaken by the mighty King Puru. Alexander’s wife was upset by this and she approached King Puru during Rakhi. King Puru accepted her as his sister and refrained from attacking Alexander when he got the opportunity.
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
Another very old story of Rakhi goes back to the medieval times when Rajputs were fighting the Muslims. Rakhi was a very important festival then and it meant bonding and protecting sisters. When Rani Karnwati realised that in way could she defend herself from the invasion of Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Humayun. The Emperor was so pleased with the gesture that he taking his troops away from her kingdom.
King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
Mahabali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and therefore the later took upon the task of protecting his kingdom. He left his own place, Vikundam to protect Mahabai’s kingdom. However, Vishnu’s wife Goddess Lakshmi felt very lonely and sad as she did not have the company of her Lord. Disguised as a Brahmin woman, she went to Bali and tied rakhi on his wrist on Shravan Purnima. Goddess Lakshmi then revealed her true identity and purpose of her visit. He was touched by this gesture and requested Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi to visit Vaikuntam. It is believed that since this day, all brothers invite their sisters over to tie rakhi.
Gift Ideas on Rakhi
With time it is increasingly difficult to make the right gifting choice. Whether it is for parents, siblings, friends, children or spouse, you just want to get it right. And when it becomes a special occasion like Rakhi, making the right choice becomes more difficult.
To make the right choice for your brother or sister, you should be well versed with their likes and dislikes.
Rakhi Gifts for Brothers
If your brother wants to make a style statement then you can opt for sunglasses, perfumes or watches. A bracelet is also loved by many boys. You can also gift pens, headphones or a pen drive. If your brother is an office going person, and if you have some extra money you can buy a shirt or tie too. Books, CDs and backpacks can be a good idea for younger brothers. If you are the elder sister you can splurge your younger brother by taking him to a gaming zone or to a movie and dinner. Chocolates and candies are always loved by all.
Rakhi Gifts for Sisters
Sisters can be spoilt with choices. Whether young or older, jewellery is every girls friend. You need not go for expensive jewellery if you do not have enough money. You can buy her artificial jewellery which all girls love. For the fashion conscious sisters, you can buy international perfume, designer bags or bracelets and anklets. Gifting Jewellery box is also a good idea for sisters. For younger ones you can gift all time favourite teddy bears and chocolates. For married sisters wall decoration, flower vase or paintings are great.
रक्षा बंधन का इस बार का मुहुर्त जानने और हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिये यहां क्लिक करें