Raksha Bandhan Festival
The pure bond of love and affection between a brother and a sister is one of the deepest and noblest of human emotions. The ritual is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan. This thread, which vibrates with sisterly love and virtuous sentiments, is rightly called the 'Rakhi'. A "bond of protection".
Raksha Bandhan is a divine festival not only sisters tie the holy threads to their brothers, Priests tie to people of his congregation. During ancient times, if a woman tied a Rakhi on the hand of any man, then it became essentially important for him, as his religious duty of the highest order, to protect that woman. That man would put his life at stake to protect the honor of that woman. Many Rajput Kings sacrificed their lives to protect their spiritual sisters. Humayun the great Mughal Emperor received a Rakhi from the queen Karmavati of Chittor and for that, Humayun carried out his sacred brotherly duty and protected her by opposing his own soldiers.People are committed to protect each other and the society in such congregational Rakhi Utsavs, popularized by the Nobel laureate Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Rakhis are decorated with soft silky threads of various colors, and also with ornaments, pictures, gold and silver threads etc. These Rakhis enhance the artistry of the people.
Rituals like Rakhi, help ease out various strains relations, induce fellow-feeling, give ways for communications and enhance an opportunity to rework on our role as human beings, most significantly, brings delight in our monotonous lives.
According to Indian traditions, the festival rituals follows as chanting of sacred sonnet (Mantras), sanctified with rice, red color ( roli) etc. The sister dressed in their typical Indian attires serves her brother by putting Tilak (red color) on his forehead added with raw rice. Then she ties Rakhi thread on her brother's wrist and offers him with the plate of sweets, here - the brother become obliged to protect her sister under any circumstances.
It is said that this protection thread protects from sins on the one hand and removes diseases on the other hand. By tying this thread, one is secured for the entire year and all kinds of fears are removed.
In today's world the fashionable friendship band in vogue has become an extension of the Rakhi custom. When a girl feels a friend of the opposite sex has developed a kind of love too strong for her to reciprocate, she sends the guy a Rakhi and turns the relationship into a sisterly one. This is one way of saying, "let's just be friends", without hurting the other person's soft feelings for her.This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters, but also transcends the confines of the family. When a Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, it underscores the need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exists peacefully as brothers and sisters.
When the demon King Bali's devotion won over Lord Narayan, he was compelled to leave his abode, Vaikunth, to stay in Bali's kingdom in Sutal. When Lord Narayan failed to return, his distressed consort Lakshmi arrived in Sutal on Shravan Purnima. She accepted Bali as her brother by tying a raksha on him. In return, Bali asked her to wish for a boon. She requested Narayan's return. She grieved that despite having a consort she was experiencing premature widowhood in Narayan's absence. However, the Lord had pledged to eternally protect Bali, by guarding his door. To resolve his dilemma, Brahma and Shiva agreed to guard Bali for four months each, while Vishnu (Narayan) would guard him for the auspicious four months - Chaturmaas - beginning from Ashadh Sud Ekadashi and terminating on Kartik Sud Ekadashi, usually from Mid-July to Mid-November. The festival of Raksha Bandhan commenced when Lakshmiji tied the 'rakhadi' ('rakhee' in Hindi) on Bali Raja. Since Bali Raja offered devotion by sacrificing everything to the Lord, the day is also known as 'Bali-eva' or 'Baleva' for short. Therefore when Brahmin priests perform puja rituals, they chant a famous mantra while tying the 'nada chhadi' (raksha) on a devotee:Yena baddho Baliraja daanavendro Mahaabala,tena twaamabhi badh naami rakshe maa chala maa chalaI tie on you (the devotee) the raksha which was tied on Bali, the King of demons. Therefore O Raksha! Do not ever fail to protect this devotee, do not ever fail.
In ancient times a woman tied a 'raksha' on her husband's wrist to protect him from evil. Gradually this changed; she tied a 'raksha' on her brother's right wrist, to protect him from evil influence and those factors which may taint his character, and to strengthen the bond of sibling love between them. She visits her home and performs his 'pujan' by applying kumkum and rice grains on his forehead. In return the brother gives her a gift and vows to protect her too. The 'rakhadi' itself ranges from a coloured cotton string to exquisitely decorated balls of various sizes and materials such as fluffy cotton, 'zari' paper, tinsel, beads and so on. A second sentiment relates to 'Baleva' and our devotion to the Lord. Just as Bali Raja offered devotion to Lord Narayan by sacrificing his kingdom and himself, devotees should endeavor to emulate him. That is the true spirit of Baleva. The Guru also ties a 'rakhadi' on his disciples. In the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the sadhus tie 'rakhadis' on devotees on this day. The underlying sentiment is that the Ekantik Dharma of the devotees be protected.On 18/8/87, Pramukh Swami Maharaj defined Raksha Bandhan as, The Raksha Bandhan is our surrenderance to God and the Satpurush. Even if the body is not immortalized by such a Raksha Bandhan, the soul is, in that it is freed from metempsychosis - the cycles of birth and death. We also do not falter from Satsang. Devotees should forever beg for such a Raksha Bandhan.
