Raksha Bandhan and Its Glorious Past

What is the significance of Raksha Bandhan?

The word ‘raksha’ stands for protection and the word ‘bandhan’ stands for bond. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in the holy month of Shravana on a full moon night according to the Hindu calendar. Since time immemorial on this day, the bond between a sister and a brother is celebrated. It is not necessary they be related by blood, Raksha Bandhan is about the bond of love and protection. The brother is the protector of the sister and the sister is his well wisher. She ties a holy thread known as ‘rakhi’ around her brother’s wrist as a symbol of this bond. The brother brings her gifts in exchange and promises to be her protector.

Historic Stories related to Raksha Bandhan

The Story of Draupadi and Krishna

According to this mythological story, when Lord Krishna injured himself and was bleeding, Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas had extended a hand of help to Krishna. She tore a piece of cloth from her sari and helped him stop the bleeding. From then onward Lord Krishna protected her as a sister. When Draupadi was faced with the situation of ‘Cheerharan’, where she was being disrobed in public, Lord Krishna came to her rescue and made her sari extra long to save her from this disgrace.

The Story of Lord Bali and Goddess Lakshmi

This story is about the brother sister relationship between Lord Bali and Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Bali was at Lord Vishnu’s service. As Vishnu’s biggest devotee he served the Lord as a doorman. Meanwhile Goddess Lakshmi missed Lord Vishnu as lived away in Vaikuntha. It is Bali who let Goddess Lakshmi into his palace. In return, the Goddess of wealth blessed Lord Bali. As she asked Bali for protection, she tied on his wrist a cotton thread as a symbol of their brother sister relationship. She asked Bali to reveal his true face to lord Vishnu as a gift. Bali did so and asked Lord Vishnu to return to Vaikuntha with his wife. Lord Vishnu promised he would spend few months every year with Bali.

The Story of Emperor Humayun and Queen Karnavati

Queen Karnavati was the chief leader of Mewar on behalf of her son Vikramjit after her husband Rana Sangha passed away. Mewar was faced with an attack from Emperor Bahadur Shah for the second time in a row. The queen seeked help from neighbouring kingdoms. She also sent a letter asking for help to Mughal Emperor Humayun along with a Rakhi. Even though his own father Babur was in the middle of a losing battle, he left his father’s side to support Queen Karnavati. He tried his best but they could not win the war and so to save her respect the Rani committed Jauhar. However Humayun held up his promise of protection to her as a brother and later helped the rani’s son Vikramjit get the kingdom back.

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