Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Festival) is a celebration of the sacred relationship between brother and sister and relationship beyond that too.
There are innumerable
stories connected with Rakhi Festival.
We have chosen 8 unknown stories for you.
Do read them and know the significance behind this sacred festival.
Rani
Karnavati sending rakhi to Humayan
Rani Karnavati
was the queen of Chittor, which had been attacked by Bahadur Shah, Sultan of
Gujarat. The queen realized that defending Chittor was getting increasingly
difficult for her reached out for protection and help by sending a Rakhi to the
Mughal Emperor, Humayun.
On receiving
the rakhi, Humayan was overwhelmed. He immediately set out to protect Chittor
from the invasion. Alas, he could not reach on time. The Sultan of Gujarat had,
by then, reached the queen's fortress. All the women, in the fortress including
Rani Karnavati had performed Jauhar (mass suicide) by then.
Humayun, on reaching the fortress, fought with Bahadur Shah and evicted him
from the land. The empire was handed over to Rani Karnavati's son, Vikramjeet
Singh. Since then, the act of a sister tying a rakhi on the wrist of her
brother indicates lifelong protection from him.
2.
LORD
INDRA winning battle against Demons
It is not
sister alone, in some communities the wife too ties rakhi to her husband.
Like this
story of Lord Indra which is mentioned in BHAVISHYA PURAN
Once Lord
Indra was defeated by the demons who promptly took control of all the 3
Worlds...Heaven, Earth, and Paatal Lok
Dev Guru
Brihaspati advised Lord Indra to do a Yagna & to have a Rakhi tied on his
right hand so that he can be undefeated and win the war against the Demon.
Devi Sachi,
then tied a rakhi on Indra’s right wrist on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima. Later, she sent him to fight on
the battlefield. The demons fled from
the battlefield and Indra emerged victoriously.
The the tradition of tying rakhi has originated from this legend.
This story
depicts not only the power of a holy thread but also that it is not restricted
to a brother-sister bond.
3.
Lord
Krishna promising to protect Draupadi
Once when
Lord Krishna was flying a kite, he cut his finger.
Seeing this, Devi Sathyabhama immediately sent for help to get a bandage cloth
while Devi Rukmini rushed to bring some clothes herself.
Not wanting to waste a moment, Draupadi, who was nearby, immediately tore a piece of cloth from her
saree and tied it around his finger. Touched by her action, he promised to
protect her always. As we all know, he came through with that promise when her Yudhistra
lost in gambling in King Dhritrashtra’s court.
4.
Devi
Mahalakshmi saves Maha Vishnu
Raja Bali
--the grandson of Vishnu's ardent devotee Prahlada-- was made the emperor of
the Underworld by Lord Vishnu in his celebrated Vamana Avatar and Maha Vishnu asked
Bali for a boon.
Bali being
clever asked Vishnu to bless and protect his kingdom forever.
This turn of
events led Lord Vishnu to leave Vaikunth Dham and stay in Paatal Lok by
disguising himself as the doorman of King Bali
Goddess
Lakshmi became restless because of his absence in Vaikuntha (their abode). She
came to earth in the guise of a Brahmin woman and told Bali, the story of her
husband has gone away for some work, due to which she requested shelter
from the King. Bali not only gave her a place to stay but also took care of
her.
Soon due to
presence of Devi Mahalakshmi (goddess of Wealth) and Lord Vishnu himself, the
Paatal Lok became prosperous and the natives staying there had a great charming
life.
King Bali
too became highly reliant on his newfound sister Devi Mahalakshmi for her
amazing skills on Wealth.
On the full
moon day (Purnima) of the Shravana month, Devi Mahalakshmi tied a thread around
Bali's wrist with prayers for his protection and happiness. Touched by her
affection, Bali granted her a wish. She requested him to free her husband, the
gatekeeper. The incident had Bali confused as he couldn't envision the lady as
the doorman's wife. It's then that both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi
revealed their true selves to the King,
The shocked, surprised King Bali immediately requested Maha Vishnu to return
with the Goddess to Vaikuntha.
5.
Santoshi
Maa’s Birth
On seeing
Lord Ganesha celebrate Rakhi with his sister, his sons Shubh and Labh started
insisting upon a sister, leading to the creation of Santoshi Maa, from the
flames that emerged from his consorts, Riddhi and Siddhi.
6.
Alexander
the Great's wife Roxana and King Porus
Legend has
it that during Alexander the Great's invasion of India in 326 BCE, his wife
Roxana sent a sacred thread to Porus, requesting him not to harm her husband in
battle.
Once when
Alexander did fall in front of Porus and Porus has a chance to kill him but he
acknowledged the importance of Rakhi and refrained from killing Alexander, as
the Rakhi thread on his wrist was a constant reminder of his promise to Roxana
7.
Lord
Yama and sister Yamuna
Lord Yama
was cursed Devi Chhaya to die.
Now. During Vedic
times almost everyone was considered immortal so the curse of death terrified
Yama.
Sister Yamuna immediately tied a RAKSHA SUTRA around her brother Yama's wrist and thus
Lord Yama was saved.
Lord
Yamaraja who was later declared as the God of Death announced that every brother
who promises to protect his sister on Raksha Bandhan will stay immortal.
8.
Devi
Parvati’s marriage to Lord Shiva
Parvati grew
up with the hope of marrying Shiva, but Shiva refused to accept her as his
consort due to the loss of his love Sati. Parvati took to severe austerities to
purify her senses, activate her chakras so that she could become eligible to
marry the Lord. To help her reach her goal, Lord Vishnu asked her to tie a Rakhi
on his wrist, so that as her brother he could remove all obstacles coming her
way. Legend has it, that for Shiva and Parvati’s celestial marriage, Lord
Vishnu performed all the ceremonies that are supposed to be done by the bride’s
brother and glow up this favorable ceremonial day.
Raksha
Bandhan Mantra
Following is
the mantra in Sanskrit that is chanted while tying rakhi on the brother's
wrist.
येन भादो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः |
तेन त्वानामिभाद्नामी त्वामाभिबध्नामी रक्षे माचल माचल ||
Meaning –
"I am tying this Raksha Bandhan to you that was tied to the Demon King
Bali. Oh rakshaa please do not move and waver."
Sibling
rivalry is always much-loved and much-talked-about. It’s only fair that you
invest in the secure future of your lovable sister and safeguard her financial
position in her best interest today
Wishing you
all a very Happy Raksha Bandhan
Dedicated to dear sister Lakshmi Vanjre
Regards,
Srikanth Matrubai
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