India is a spiritual oriented country and is one of the richest nations in respect of cultural and spiritual perspective. The festivals of this land form the most important link that sustains its cultural heritage.  The number of festivals celebrated here is hardly comparable to festivals celebrated by other countries. Twelve months in a year is filled with thirteen big festivals. ‘Raksha Bandhan’ has a special importance among them. The cycle of time keeps rotating but its memories remains.  To freshen these memories, memorials are made, stories are written, birth days are observed, in which self respects, love, true feelings are imbibed. Unfortunately, a day comes when respects & love ceases and rituals remain. It would not be exaggeration to say that festivals now-a-days are being celebrated to just continue the tradition.

‘Raksha Bandhan’ had been reduced to an annual ritual hardly reflecting its true significance. Sisters apply a sacred red mark – ‘Tilak’ on the centre of the fore head of their brothers, tie Rakhi considered to be a sacred thread on their right wrist, besides offering them some sweets as token of their love & affection for them. The brothers in turn give them some gifts and money.

Now what is the esoteric meaning of this ritual?

It is commonly believed that a sister ties “Rakhi” round the brothers’ wrist so as to bind him in an obligation and renew his pledge to support and protect her in time of need. This could not really be the object of this ceremony. There are several reasons for this. It is worth considering that if a sister ties Rakhi with the object of getting the brothers protection at the time of distress, then a fully grown-up and strongly built sister tying Rakhi to a brother of tender age is meaningless. More over, before marriage it is the legitimate duty of parents to protect the girl and after marriage of sister, her protection becomes the responsibility of her husband. Again it is meaningless in tying Rakhi to a brother who is leaving so for away and sister knows that he cannot reach and give her any help or physical protection in time. It is thus obvious that the significance of this festival is different from what is said to be.

Further, from times immemorial, until a few decades ago, it was customary practice for the family priests to tie Rakhi and apply “Tilak” to each and every person of the family. The priest also tied the sacred thread to the doors, windows of the’ house and newly purchased household. A Tilak like sacred mark was also put on those items. The scriptural story says that when Indrani and Yumuna tied rakhi to their brothers- Indra and Yama respectively, it had brought Indra and Yama a memorable victory” over demons or devils.

Raksha Bandhan is also variously known as ‘Vish-torak’ (destroyer of Venomousness or vice- eliminating) Parva (festival), “Pap- Nashak” (destroyer of sin) and Punya- Pradaayak (bestower of boons) Parva.

Again “Raksha Bandhan ” is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravana (August) when on each Monday of it devotees travel long distances to pour water on the ‘Shivalinga’ -the stone image of Incorporeal God – Supreme Being of light after which comes Raksha Bandhan.

The above details suggest wider and deeper socio-spiritual significance, linked with Shiva-Papakateswar (Redeemer of Sins) -God. These expressive or symbolic names indicate to the unmatched bond of vice less and pure love between a brother and sister reminding all thereby to maintain vice less virtuous life.

In the light of this spiritual meaning Raksha Bandhan can be said to be a universal festival because it is not related to any particular religion, but it is related to universal human values. Its relevance for human welfare has not diminished; rather it has increased in today’s situation as every individual today is under constant threat of the vices of lust, ego, greed, anger and attachment.

The pure love between brother and sister is acclaimed the world over.  The customs and conventions of India, in fact engross a very deep philosophy.  The pure love between brothers and sisters as glorified by Rakhi festival is symbolic of a great cultural tradition.  The magic effect of the words – ‘Dear Brothers and Sisters’ with which Swami Vivekananda addressed the World Conference on Religion at Geneva has been so dramatic that the gathering felt instantly a unique kind of spirituality, goodwill and closeness that helped to overcome all kinds of differences.  These words thus hoisted the flag of Indian culture so high in front of the world congregation of different religions.

Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University (BKWSU)- an Institute of Universal Peace & Culture celebrates ‘Raksha Bandhan’ with this connotation as revealed by lncorporeal Being of Light (Jyotirlingam) Supreme Soul God-the world Benefactor Shiva) by descending onto the corporeal medium of Prajapita Brahma (the founding father of BKWSU) at this time of complete degeneration of values.

Brahma Kumaris and Kumars (the spiritual children of Prajapita Brahma) as non- violent spiritual ambassadors carries and conveys to all brother souls this divine message of achieving victory over vices i.e. lust, anger, greed attachment and ego – the real enemy of mankind by – strict observance of continence through soul consciousness considering all fellow beings as brother souls under the Fatherhood of the Universal God incorporeal. This makes the mankind as a one family with feelings of universal brotherhood. So the Brahma Kumaris Sisters ties Rakhi to all irrespective of religion, race and gender and appeal one and all to donate not in gross, kind and cash but from one’s inner pocket (soul) those five great vices and negative addictions that lie hidden there in – considered presumably as treasures at present- as mere trash once and for all. This will usher in a Golden Aged “Value Based Better Society” of third millennium and we can inherit it with this Spiritual empowerment. This is the clarion call of Brahma Kumaris Institution on eve of Raksha Bandhan- the bondage of protection, A Festival of Universal Brotherhood & Social Cohesion.

In conclusion, the main aspect of the festival of Raksha Bandhan is therefore connected with the sacred vow of purity and a pledge to obtain and impart divine knowledge and attributes. Its origin is the confluence age and the purpose is the purification of all souls and transformation of the world.

So, let us all irrespective of different religious faith, celebrate this ‘Raksha Bandhan’ and empower our self through process of Supreme Communion (Raja Yoga ) with Him to inculcate His Supreme Commands of Universal Values to establish a “Value Based Happy Society of Culture of Peace & Non Violence ” – our most cherished desire. The understanding of this eternal truth will usher in religious harmony & world peace. Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University has been engaged in this task for last 74years since its inception in 1936-37.

The true way of celebrating ‘Raksha Bandhan’ would be to realize the significance of the present auspicious time ( Sangam Yuga, which is end of Kaliyuga – Iron Age and the beginning of Satyuga – Golden Age ) and by pledging to discard all negative traits such as anger, greed, ego and lust and by leading a life filled of love, compassion, respect, humility, cooperation, responsibility, divinity.

On this auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, August 24, 2010, take a moment for deep spiritual introspection and free yourselves from the bondage of greed, the lust for power and a slave of promiscuity and make God your eternal companion for true peace, happiness and prosperity. (The writer is Head,Dept. of Education, Rajiv Gandhi University)

Source: The Arunachal Times

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection in Hindi) is a Hindu festival, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shraavana.

The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The elder brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her same while an elder sister returns offers to her younger brother. The brother and sister traditionally feed each other sweets. It is not necessary that the rakhi can be given only to a brother by birth; any male can be “adopted” as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person, that is “blood brothers and sisters”, whether they are cousins or a good friend. Indian history is replete with women asking for protection, through rakhi, from men who were neither their brothers, nor Hindus themselves. Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue.

The rakhi may also be tied on other special occasions to show solidarity and kinship (not necessarily only among brothers and sisters), as was done during the Indian independence movement.