Essays on Rakhi
Rakhi is a sacred thread embellished with sister's love and
affection for her brother. On the day of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie rakhi on
the wrists of their brothers and express their love to them. After receiving
the rakhi from a sister, a brother sincerely takes the responsibility of
protecting her sister. In Indian tradition, the frangible thread of rakhi is
considered even stronger than an iron chain as it strongly binds a brothers and
a sisters in the circumference of mutual love and trust.
Any Indian festival seems to be incomplete without the traditional
Indian festivities, such as gathering, celebrations, exchange of sweets and
gifts, lots of noise, singing and dancing. Festivals are the celebration of
togetherness as being as a united family and the festival "Raksha
Bandhan" is not an exception of this.
The Social Binding
This ritual not only strengthens the bond of love between
brothers and sisters, but also transcends the confines of the family. When a
Rakhi is tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbors, it underscores the
need for a harmonious social life, where every individual co-exist peacefully
as brothers and sisters. All members of the community commit to protect each
other and the society in such congregational Rakhi Utsavs, popularized by the
Nobel laureate Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
The Friendly Knot
It won’t be wrong to say the fashionable friendship band in
vogue today is an extension of the Rakhi custom. When a girl feels a friend of
the opposite sex has developed a kind of love too strong for her to
reciprocate, she sends the guy a Rakhi and turns the relationship into a
sisterly one. This is one way of saying, "let’s just be friends",
without hurting the other person's soft feelings for her.
The Auspicious Full Moon
In Northern India, Rakhi Purnima is also called Kajri
Purnima or Kajri Navami, when wheat or barley is sown, and goddess Bhagwati is
worshipped. In Western states, the festival is called Nariyal Purnima or the
Coconut Full Moon. In Southern India, Shravan Purnima is an important religious
occasion, especially for the Brahmins. Raksha Bandhan is known by various
names: Vish Tarak - the destroyer of venom, Punya Pradayak - the bestower of
boons, and Pap Nashak - the destroyer of sins.
Rakhi in History
The strong bond represented by Rakhi has resulted in
innumerable political ties among kingdoms and princely states. The pages of
Indian history testify that the Rajput and Maratha queens have sent Rakhis even
to Mughal kings who, despite their differences, have assuaged their
Rakhi-sisters by offering help and protection at critical moments and honoured
the fraternal bond. Even matrimonial alliances have been established between
kingdoms through the exchange of Rakhis. History has it that the great Hindu
King Porus refrained from striking Alexander, the Great because the latter’s
wife had approached this mighty adversary and tied a Rakhi on his hand, prior
to the battle, urging him not to hurt her husband.
Rakhi Myths & Legends
According to one mythological allusion, Rakhi was intended
to be the worship of the sea-god Varuna. Hence, offerings of coconut to Varuna,
ceremonial bathing and fairs at waterfronts accompany this festival.
There are also myths that describe the ritual as observed by
Indrani and Yamuna for their respective brothers Indra and Yama.
Once, Lord Indra stood almost vanquished in a long-drawn
battle against the demons. Full of remorse, he sought the advice of Guru
Brihaspati, who suggested for his sortie the auspicious day of Shravan Purnima
(fullmoon day of the month of Shravan). On that day, Indra's wife and
Brihaspati tied a sacred thread on the wrist of Indra, who then attacked the
demon with renewed force and routed him.
Thus the Raksha Bhandhan symbolizes all aspects of
protection of the good from evil forces. Even in the great epic Mahabharata, we
find Krishna advising Yudhishtthir to tie the puissant Rakhi to guard himself
against impending evils.
In the ancient Puranik scriptures, it is said that King
Bali's stronghold had been the Raakhi. Hence while tying the rakhi this couplet
is usually recited:
Yena
baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena
twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala
"I am tying a Rakhi on you, like the one on mighty
demon king Bali. Be firm, O Rakhi, do not falter."
Why Rakhi?
Rituals like Rakhi, there is no doubt, help ease out various
societal strains, induce fellow-feeling, open up channels of expression, give
us an opportunity to rework on our role as human beings and, most importantly,
bring joy in our mundane lives.
“May all be happy
May all be free from ills
May all behold only the good
May none be in distress.”
This has always been the idea of an ideal Hindu
society.
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