Captain Purushottam Sharma (Retd)
Ours is the land of festivals and celebrations based on spiritual significance and moral values. Every dawn brings us a sacred day and we pray to the Owner of the Universe to bless the humanity for all-round well-being. We feel deeply indebted to our ancestors who introduced such days to us to spread the message of love, peace, happiness and mutual trust. Festivals and celebrations delight us and are meant to seek Divine Grace for useful and fruitful living dedicated to serve good causes in life. These promote fraternity, unity and purity.
Raksha Bandhan is a long- awaited festival that falls on full moon night, that is, Poornima on which sisters tie Raakhi on the wrist of their brothers. Tying of the frail thread signifies affection between the two and also a solemn assurance of Raksha (protection) by the brother to his sister. The entire country and our people abroad bubble with enthusiasm of this Festival of love and joy.
The practice owes its origin to a belief that there was a long war between the Gods led by their King Indra and demons headed by Bali. The Gods were defeated and their Heavenly Kingdom fell to Bali. Sachi, Indra’s consort, propitiated Lord Shiva for the restoration of her husband’s lost kingdom. Pleased with her austerities, Lord Shiva gave her an amulet to be tied around the wrist of her husband before taking the field against Demon Bali. She did so and the lost kingdom was redeemed.
This festival is also celebrated in some parts of the country as the festival of cultivating virtues and shedding vices by observing austerities. The grace of Lord Shiva is sought through Shiva Linga worship during the month of Shravan which culminates on the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan. This Poornima is exceptionally auspicious for ‘Darshan’ of Shiva Linga formed of ice at the Holy Shrine of Amarnath.
There is also a tradition of ‘Kul – Purohit’ (well-wisher Brahmin held in high esteem by a particular family) tying the ‘mouli’ (frail thread known for its sacredness) on the wrist of his ‘yajmaans’ and on the doors of their houses wishing them all auspiciousness and protection from evil forces. Even some precious possessions are treated in this way to keep off the ill-effects.
The most common practice today is that sisters tie Rakhi around the wrist of their brothers and also put ’tilak’ (a sacred mark) on their forehead. Some people who do not have real sisters or some who do not have real brothers establish this relationship of brother and sister by word of mouth and keep it firm during their life-time. This bondage of love and affection is made through the instrument of Rakhi and has been most successful venture in our society.In fact, celestial beings would also love to observe it.
When the sister ties Rakhi around the wrist of herbrother, the emotional exchange of feelings in silence is strong, sacred and eternal.
Their hearts overflow with love for each other. Sister invariably wishes for her brother’s longevity and happiness. Brother not only pledges for her protection, but alsoprofusely presents her with gifts and cash wishing her prosperity and happiness in her family.
Brothers in far distances are sent Rakhi by their sisters.Defence services personnel guarding our Borders in far flung areas with treacherous climatic conditions are also reached by some social workers to tie Rakhi to them to give a feel of presence of their sisters on this occasion. A concubine of Alexender the Great, had sent a Rakhi to Porus and received an assurance from him that he will not kill Alexender.
Practice also prevailed among queens to send bracelets to neighboring mighty kings to seek fraternity. Those who accepted the offer were morally bound to save the honor of their sisters and also of her whole family and rescue them in difficult circumstances.
In the year 1905, Gurudev Rabinder Nath Tagore led his family members and others in procession and tied Rakhi on the wrists of both Hindus and Muslims to strength the bondage of fraternity and unity and defeated the evil designs of the then rulers who followed the policy of ‘divide and rule’. Gurudev had shed his mortal coils on this Poornima day. The famous Onam Festival in Kerala is also observed on this day.
Author of this Write-up in his 88th year is also eagerly waiting for the Rakhi Festival to renew the love and sweetness of this relationship. Leaving ‘mouli’ behind, there are many attractive varieties of Rakhi in the market.