Raksha Bandhan strenghtens the relationship between brothers and sisters says, Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is a special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love between a brother and a sister. The deepest and noblest of human emotions, this bond of love is so strong that it can’t be broken easily. On a full moon in holy month of Shravan (Shravan Poornima), a sister ties a holy thread of love on her brother’s wrist to express her love and bonding. This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’ which means ‘a bond of protection’.
Although this festival of siblings is mainly prevalent among Hindus, due to its uniqueness, people of all religions in India celebrate it with much enthusiasm and gusto. Raksha Bandhan is not just a festival, but a symbol of our traditions and culture that keeps us connected with our family sacraments. The original spirit of this festival lies in two words i.e raksha, which means to protect, and bandhan, which means binding or bonding. So, in simple words, to bind oneself for protecting someone is Raksha Bandhan. On this day the sisters tie silken threads of rakhi on her beloved brothers’ wrist, thereby metaphorically strengthening the bond of love that exists in their relationship and, in return, the brothers also make a promise to the sisters to protect them from all kinds of problems throughout life. From the time we are born till the time we die, we are constantly surrounded by some kind of fear or insecurities. It is this spirit of protection with which a sister ties a rakhi to her brother while praying to the almighty to keep her brother always safe and secure.
There are many legends associated with this festival such as the story of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun, are quite popular among historians. When Rani Karnawati, the widowed queen of the king of Chittor realised that she could not defend her kingdom from the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun and, in return, he honoured this thread (rakhi) by sending his troops for her help. Another mythological reference is connected with Lord Krishna and Draupadi. According to the legend, Krishna loved Draupadi so much, that he called her his sakhi. Draupadi too had a lot of faith in Krishna. During the great battle of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna threw a celestial weapon at Shishupala, to punish him for his numerous sins. However, during the act of hurling the Sudharshan Charka from his index finger, he hurt himself. On seeing the blood drops, Draupadi immediately rushed to protect her lord and tore off a piece of her sari to wrap around his finger to stop the bleeding. Krishna was touched by her gesture of devotion and pure love and he asked her what would she like in return for this favor. Draupadi, like a true sister, just asked for the Lord’s holy presence in her life forever. From that moment, Krishna remained with Draupadi like a shadow protecting her from every trouble. When the Kauravas tried to dishonor Draupadi through cheer haran (removing her sari), she prayed to Krishna continuously and the Lord took care of her honor and punished the sinners during the battle of Mahabharata.
With the passage of time, this festival has acquired different expressions and connotations. In present times/milieu where glamour rules people’s heart and minds, there has been a major change observed in a man’s attitude and approach towards this festival, as a result of which mutual feelings of love, affection and, most importantly, piousness have completely disappeared. As a result, the current generations ask questions like — How can one protect somebody by tying an easily breakable thread? Are such rituals or practises practical in the modern world? Those who are posing these questions must understand that rakhi is not merely a cotton thread but a sacred obligation to protect modesty which also explains the importance of restraint in life. While tying a rakhi on her brother’s hand, a sister does not just seek protection for herself only. She keeps a higher goal of seeking protection for the entire female community. Along with this, she also prays to the Lord that her beloved brother becomes liberated from vices of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego and attains true peace and happiness. Thus, it is important to realise that tying a rakhi is just a symbolic gesture, what’s important in this ritual is feelings of good wishes and prayers that come from a sister’s heart and which further act as a shield of protection for her brother.
However, one wonders that if only women need protection, wouldn’t God — our beloved supreme parent and teacher — be a more effective and loyal protector? We often forget our true identity of being an infinitesimal point of the divine energy i.e a soul. We get entangled in the web of five vices (lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego) which overpower us and influence us to perform negative actions, which in turn causes sorrow and misery. So, when Almighty applies the tilak of soul-consciousness on our forehead, we become elevated and divine and start seeing each other as souls and not a body. This unlimited vision of brotherhood breaks all barriers of caste, creed, gender, religion and superstitions, purifying our consciousness, making our actions positive to receive HIS blessings and stay under the canopy of his protection for eternity. So, let’s bind ourselves in this ‘spiritual bond’ that would liberate us from all bondages and help us to regain our lost sovereignty.