Rakshabandhan - Origins & Significance

The Raksha sutra was tied from Vedic times and continues to be tied till today at the beginning of any Puja or havan etc.

The beautiful festival of Raksha Bandhan, celebrated on the Shravan Purnima, as per the Puranas and Itihasas has many legends:

1. Indra & Indrani: Vrittrasura had got a boon that he could not be killed with any weapon or missile. He captured the heavens. Lord Indra approached Maharshi Dadichi who gave up his spine and Indra could make Vajra from the spine. Lord Indra went to his Guru Brihaspati to seek blessings to be victorious and told the Guru that he would come back victorious or as a martyr. To protect and strengthen him and the Devas, his Guru Brhaspati told him that his wife Sachi Devi should tie a raksha sutra empowered by chanting of the Mantras, on his hand. Sachi did so and the Devatas won. From that day onwards on Shravan Purnima the Raksha is tied for the person's protection and success. The symbolism is that the Grace of the Guru, Mantras of the Vedas, Good wishes of our near and dear ones always protects us.  

Interesting it is to know that the Rakshabandhan as a festival started with Husband and wife and not with Brother & Sister. The above story is from Bhavishyottara Purana. 

This tradition has further evolved, where the sister ties a raksha sutra on the hands of the brother(s) to signify that each one will do their duty towards the other. It is not to say that Sister is weak and needs protection. When we do our duties, the rights of others are taken care of and there is harmony. We do not need to fight for our rights. Our culture is based on duties and dharma, not on rights & fights.

2. Lakshmi & Raja Bali

After Bali gave the 3 steps of Land to Vaman Bhagavan and he was pushed into the Sutala Loka, Lord Vishnu himself became his Guardian in the Sutala Loka. Mother Lakshmi felt his absence in Vaikunth and wanted him to be back. On the advise of Naradji she went to the Sutala Loka as a poor woman and tied a Raksha Sutra to Bali saying that this will protect him and took him as a brother. Bali said that whatever he had he already gave away and had nothing to offer her as a gift. Mother Lakshmi asked for Lord Vishnu in return as a gift and being Daan-Veer, Bali happily gave. Since then the tradition of Raksha Bandhan between Sister and Brother started. Interesting again it is to note that the Raksha was to protect the brother: Bali. The idea is not that the Sister is weak and needs protection.

We protect what is precious. The Sister is precious and may we protect the Sister and more importantly protect the bond of love between the siblings.

येन बद्धो बली राजा, दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः | 

तेन त्वां अनु्बध्नामि, रक्षे मा चल मा चल ||

The above shloka is from Bhavishyottara Purana 137.20

That amulet by which the Mighty King of Asuras Bali was tied (to Dharma), I tie that to you. O Raksha! Don't slip off, don't slip off. (Meaning, may we never swerve from Dharma)

This should be chanted while tying the Rakhi. It is to signify our commitment to Dharma, to our duty to protect others and their rights. What truly protects us at all times is our steadfastness in Dharma. The protection of Dharma lasts life after life. Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha. One who protects Dharma, is protected by Dharma.

3. Krishna & Draupadi

To kill Shishupala, Sri Krishna used the Sudarshana Chakra which cut his finger a little. Draupadi immediately tore a part of her saree and tied it on the Lord's finger. The Lord promised to help her incase of any trouble. When Draupadi called out to Sri Krishna during the humiliation in the Kaurava court, Sri Krishna protected her. The symbolism is that the Lord alone is our True protector and the Jiva must surrender to the Lord alone. Also, the legend says that the brother & sister, both protect each other. One is not superior or inferior to another in this relationship and definitely there is no gender bias.

4. Yudhishthira & His army

When Yudhishthira asked Sri Krishna about how to be victorious in the Mahabharata war, when his army was only 7 Akshauhinis and Kauravas had 11 Akshauhinis, the Lord told him to tie the Raksha Sutra after chanting Vedic Mantras, on the hands of his soldiers and that will ensure that they fight fearlessly because of the faith that the Grace of the Lord and the Vedas is with them. Yudhishthira did what Sri Krishna told him and was victorious. A leader ties the Raksha Sutra to all his team members and together they protect and pursue the cause they strive for. 

5. Shravana Kumar Pooja: Shravan Kumar was a devout child of his blind parents. He was once taking them for a pilgrimage. It was night time and he went to fetch some water. King Dashrath was hiding in the bushes to hunt for a deer. When he heard the sound of water getting filled in the vessel, he mistook it to be the deer drinking water and released the arrow. Shravan Kumar was killed instantly. King Dashrath repented his thoughtless act and apologised to his parents for it. He assured the parents that his son's devotion to his parents would be celebrated as an example in the whole kingdom and he would be worshipped on Shravan Shukla Purnima. But the parents were deeply hurt and they cursed him that he would also die of separation from his son. Soon the parents also died in the pain of separation from Shravan. From that day onwards many Hindus worship Shravan Kumar on Shravan Purnima and offer the first raksha sutra to him.

6. On the Shravan Purnima, the Gurus also help the disciples to do their Upakarma and change their Janeu or Sacred thread and protect their spiritual glow and tapas.

7. In the olden days, the priests used to tie this Raksha sutra to the King with the chanting of the above shloka. The king is thus duty bound to protect the praja and be steadfast in his Raja-Dharma(duty as a king towards his subjects).

Thus Rakshabandhan is a holistic festival celebrating various relationships, our knowledge, culture, faith and much more.

When we were children we used to tie Rakhis to all the equipments at home, cupboards, Stove in the kitchen, vehicles, water pumps etc. because the attitude is these equipments serve us and we need to protect them.

On the full moon of Shravana, one must rise at sunrise and after offering tarpana to gods, sages and pitrs, prepare a raksha(protective amulet) containing whole rice grains, sandalwood, gold, kesar, rice, durva and mustard, decorate it, string together with variously colored threads and tie the amulet to the near and dear ones.  

The greatest protector of all is the Supreme Lord alone. May we take refuge of the Lord who is the True Source of all strength, protection and fearlessness. May God and Guru Parampara always lead, guide and protect us. They alone are our True protectors.

May we protect our relationships by giving and forgiving, by loving and leaving(give space to the other person), by trusting and being trust-worthy & by serving and sacrificing. May we protect our relationships from our ego & attachments.

May the sisters & brothers, love, care, support and protect each other. May they be there for each other, especially in challenging times. Rakshabandhan is the day to celebrate this beautiful bond. May the love of the siblings be more powerful than sibling rivalry.

May our actions be sensitive and smart to preserve and protect our people & the planet, our culture & our country.

Balarama Purnima: The auspicious appearance day of Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Sri Krishna, is also celebrated on the Shravana-Purnima. Lord Balarama was the 7th child of Devaki and Vasudeva. Since 6 children were already killed by Kamsa, the womb was transferred to Rohini and the news spread that Devaki's 7th child aborted. Later, Balarama was born to Rohini on the Shravani Purnima. He is also known as Baladeva and Sankarshana. He appeared 15 days before Sri Krishna. He is the avatar of Shesha Naag or Ananta. It is said that the whole earth is being supported by Ananta. Symbolically he represents the powers like Gravity etc. He is the symbol of not just physical power but the spiritual power that a seeker needs to realise the Self.

Samskrit Day: Shravana Purnima is also celebrated as World Samskrit Day. Samskrit is a beautiful, simple, phonetic language which is pronounced as it is written. Our scriptures and knowledge-treasure is in Samskrit. Samskrit used to be our common language for conversation once upon a time. Let us revive it and make it a common man's language once again. On this day, we celebrate the glory, beauty, knowledge and power of Samskrit language. Students are encouraged to read the Vedas, the scriptures, chant shlokas, speak in samskrit, present cultural performances in Samskrit etc.