Raksha Bandhan – Meaning, Significance, and Etymology

Raksha Bandhan (transl. Bonds of Protection) falls on the full-moon day (Purnima) of the month of Sravana (July – August). Therefore it is also called Rakhi Purnima. The main celebrations of Raksha Bandhan take different forms in different regions.

History of Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan has a historical background. About 3000 B.C. Aryans entered India through the North-Western passes and settled in North-Western India. They brought with them their traditional custom, Raksha Bandhan. It was a tradition among the Aryans to have a ‘Yajna’ before a war to invoke God’s blessing for protection and security. Apart from the regular army, the clan leader called the able-bodied men of the villages to join the war. Before the men departed for the battlefield the women – folk tied an anointed sacred thread or amulet: i) to protect the man ii) to remind him to uphold the honour of his clan. This is how the custom of Raksha Bandhan originated. The word ‘Raksha’ means protection. Later, different ethnic tribes entered India, each with its own traditional customs. This led to a fusion of Aryan and Non – Aryan customs. Consequently, new and modified forms of the various customs came to be. The same happened with Raksha Bandhan.

Evolution of Raksha Bandhan: the great and little traditions

In the Middle Ages, especially in Rajasthan, it was practised both for imperial alliance and matrimonial alliance. We get innumerable examples of offering Rakhi for such alliances in Todd’s Annals of Rajasthan’. Marwar was attacked by the Sultan of Malwah. Queen Karnawati Devi, the dowager queen of Marwar sent a Rakhi to the Moghul Emperor Humayun, to accept her as his sister and to come to her aid. Humayun responded to her gesture. He drove the Sultan of Malwah away from Marwar and saved the queen. That particular day of Purnima was celebrated as Raksha Bandhan in Marwar and then all over Rajasthan and, finally, throughout India It is the festival of brothers and sisters. On this day sisters tie, rakhi (Raksha sutra) on their brother’s wrist and the brothers promise to protect them.

Gradually a deeper religious aspect entered this festival. Of the three Hindu Gods -Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar, the Vishnu cult is said to have been derived from the Aryans. This cult was the most popular of the three, especially because Vishnu represented peace and stability. A variety of regional literature and practices developed around the Vishnu cult. Raksha Bandhan stood for security, stability and fraternity. It was associated with the cult of universal love and brotherhood. In the North and West of India, Raksha Bandhan became a regular feature of society. It celebrated love and brotherhood along with the customary celebration of the divine activities of Radha and Krishna.

Traditional celebration of Raksha Bandhan

The festival is also called Saluno, a deviation from the Persian word ‘Sal – i – nu’ which means the New Year. This ritual strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters. Rakhi is also tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbours. Women tie a Rakhi (rosette) around the right wrist of their brothers. If the brother is in a distant place the Rakhi may be sent by post. Women receive gifts and cash from brothers.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan in Different Parts of India

Raksha Bandhan was not prevalent in Eastern India. In 1905, Curzon partitioned Bengal on communal lines. A great movement was initiated to oppose the partition. Rabindranath Tagore was one of the prominent figures who vehemently opposed this atrocious partition. In 1905, he introduced the custom of Raksha Bandhan among the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal to nurture an atmosphere of universal brotherhood. This custom became so popular that it spread to every corner of Bengal. It took a very different connotation in Bengal and became a symbol for forging unity between Hindus and Muslims. It also helped to arouse national consciousness against the divide-and-rule policy of the British. Such was the force of the protest that in 1911, the partition of Bengal was annulled. The capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.

In the West, the festival is called Nardi Purnima or Coconut Full Moon. To the Hindus, the coconut is of great religious significance. The three eyes of the coconut represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva. The coconut plays a significant role in Hindu Festivals. Coconuts are offered to the God of Water in the presence of a huge congregation on the beach at Bombay.

The predominance in Hindu texts

A story is also found in Vamana Purana, Bhavishya Purana and Vishnu Purana about Raksha Bandhan’s mythological mantra ‘Yen Badho Bali Raja, Danavendro Mahabalah Ten Tvam Pratibadhanami Rakshey Machal Machalah‘ read on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan. According to this, King Bali was a very charitable king and was also an exclusive devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once he organized a Yagya. During this time, Lord Vishnu brought Vamanavatar to test him and asked King Bali to give three steps of land in charity. But he measured the whole earth and sky in two steps. On this King Bali understood that God was testing him. For the third step, he got God’s foot placed on his head. Then he pleaded with God that now my everything is gone, Lord, accept my request and stay with me in the underworld. The Lord accepted the request of the devotee and left the world of Baikunth and went to Hades.

On the other hand, Goddess Lakshmi got upset. Then she composed Leela and appeared in front of King Bali as a poor woman. King Bali, seeing the poverty of the woman, kept her in his palace and started taking care of her like a sister. On the day of Shravan Purnima, Goddess Lakshmi, who was in the form of a poor woman, tied a raw thread around the wrist of King Bali. King Bali said that you have tied this thread on my wrist as a sister, so I want to give something to you, ask for whatever you want.

On this, Goddess Lakshmi came in her real form and said you have a real God, I want the same, I have come to take him only. I am alone in Baikuntha without my husband Bhagavav Vishnu. Even after knowing the truth about the woman, King Bali remained on the path of religion and according to the promise, King Bali let Lord Vishnu go with Mother Lakshmi. However, while leaving, Lord Vishnu granted a boon to King Bali that he would reside in Hades for four months every year. These four months are known as Chaturmas which extend from Devshayani Ekadashi to Devuthani Ekadashi.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?

Ans: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated according to Hindu Calendar. It is celeberated on the full-moon day (Purnima) of the month of Sravana (July – August) every year.

Q2. What is Raksha Bandhan Mantra

Ans: On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, priests and sisters can recite this mythological mantra ‘Yen Badho Bali Raja, Danavendro Mahabalah Ten Tvam Pratibadhanami Rakshey Machal Machalah’ (येन बद्धो बलि राजा,दानवेन्द्रो महाबल: तेन त्वाम् प्रतिबद्धनामि रक्षे माचल माचल:). The meaning of this mantra is – I bind you with the same Rakshabandhan, which will protect you, with the same Rakshabandhan from which the great mighty demon king Bali was tied. O Protector, be steady, be steady