Raksha Bandhan is coming up this week and I am sure all of you would be excited. Searching for “THE rakhi” you feel is perfect for your brother, or planning the right gift for your sister, guessing what gifts you may get, making subtle and not-so-subtle (!) suggestions for the same, getting new outfits for the ceremony, your mothers and grandmothers busy preparing special sweets … and so on…
Festivals in India are colourful (for the senses), joyful (for the soul), and hearty (for the tummy!)
You may have heard many stories about this festival – whether it is Krishna and Draupadi, Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun and so on… (If not, then find the links at the end of this blog!)
But today, I am going to tell you a much older story… from the Bhagavat Purana / भागवत पुराण.
Lord Vishnu took the Vaman Avatar / वामन अवतार (dwarf Brahmin) to stop the Demon King Bali’s unhindered march to conquer the three worlds. After he succeeded, pleased with Bali’s humility and devotion, he offered him a boon. Bali asked Lord Vishnu to become the Dwarpal / द्वारपाल (Guard at the Door) of Bali’s Kingdom of Patala and protect his Kingdom.
And just like that, Bhagwan Vishnu, The Supreme God, became a sentry / guard at the entrance of King Bali’s Pataal-Lok / पाताल लोक (nether-world)! Such is the strength of love between the God (आराध्य) and the Devotee (उपासक).
Goddess Laxmi – Lord Vishnu’s consort, now started feeling lonely in Vaikunth / वैकुण्ठ. So, on Sage Narada’s advice, she took the guise of a Brahmin woman and sought refuge in King Bali’s kingdom. Soon it came to Bali’s attention that even since this Brahmin woman came to his kingdom, the realm bloomed and prospered. Pleased, he granted her a boon. She immediately asked he return her husband – the Dwarpal / द्वारपाल!
Bali realized this Brahmin woman is none other than Goddess Laxmi and granted her the boon but was worried about who would protect his Kingdom now. Goddess Laxmi then tied a sacred thread around King Bali’s wrist and energized it with a mantra, assuring him that the thread will protect him.
So basically, smart women extricating their partners from sticky situations is age-old :-) !!! Another interesting point is that this was about an empowered “woman” providing a means of protection to the King, a “man”.
In Hinduism, capability is based on one’s virtues (Gunas/गुणाः) and not gender or age!
Thus, whenever we tie any sacred thread on someone’s wrist,
we recite the Raksha Sutra that goes thus – येन बद्धो बलीराजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः। तेन त्वाम् अनुबध्नामिरक्षे मा चल मा चल॥
It means –
I tie a Raksha to you, like the one by which Bali, the powerful King of Demons was tied.
Oh Raksha, be firm, do not waver!
This Shloka can be used when any sacred thread is being tied, not just Rakhi.
For example, during some poojas, the Purohit (Priest) ties a thread on the Yajmaan’s (Host’s) wrist. It is meant to protect the one being tied from obstacles, adversities, and losses.
These days, Rakhi is becoming gender-neutral, relation-neutral too….
Well, as you can see, it has been provided for in our scriptures too!
So this Raksha Bandhan, go ahead and tie a Raksha Sutra to your brother, sister, partner, parent, grandparent, friend, or any loved one and don’t forget to chant this mantra!
Further reading –
Stories on the origin of Rakhi festival –
About Vamana, Bhagwan Vishnu’s 5th Avatar –
Are Deva ! Happy Realization ! It's the person tying the Raksha dhaaga , who is the protector . My whole life I was brought up thinking that the brother will protect the one who ties the Raksha dhaaga on his wrist ! Thank you so much Prajakta !
Awesome Prajakta ....our gen next really needs to know about it ...
thank you for your valuable contribute on dear 👏👏🙏
Interesting. Learnt something new on the origins of Rakhi. Keep writing