Sunday 22 August 2021

8 AMAZING TALES BEHIND RAKSHA BANDHAN - THE RAKHI FESTIVAL



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

 




Srikanth Matrubai Author of the Amazon Best Seller DON'T RETIRE RICH Do read the book and give your valuable feedback and request you to post positive comments on the Amazon. https://amzn.to/3cHUM6M/ You can purchase the book on amazon and flipkart Request the readers to join our TELEGRAM channel BHAKTI SAGAR     https://t.me/joinchat/AAAAAFKlm9h_SyEtTyvv1Q/ 


 Please note : All the details are collected from various sources including texts, discourses, internet and stories heard. If there any mistakes/deviations.....please pardon and email us...we will be glad to correct the same.

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