Raksha Bandhan
Festival of the sacred thread
The Sanatana Dharma is the only culture that has placed such a premium and importance on a simple thing like the tying of a thread. At one time Bharat was known for the production of the best organic cotton threads in the world. These threads were used not only for the weaving of cotton cloth which was famous all over the world but they were also used for spiritual purposes. A thread is known as a sutra in Sanskrit. It means that which binds things together.
Indian culture made use of many types of substances like copper, silver, mercury, gold etc. in order to transmit positive energy to others or to the environment. They even used cotton threads which are the simplest of all things that are capable of transmitting energy if they have been dipped in some turmeric powder and energised with mantras. If the appropriate mantras, suitable to the occasion were chanted over the threads they were found to be able to keep these positive vibrations for a long time. In fact, if properly made they could retain the energy for a whole mandala of forty-two to forty-four days. Hence, we are advised not to take off these consecrated threads for this amount of time. Even then we should not cut them with a sharp instrument but take out the knot carefully or burn it slightly so as to take it out. This thread has then to be put round a bush or tree or thrown into flowing water like a river or stream.
When you go to a mandir especially mandirs to the goddess, you will find threads wound round and round the peepul trees growing in the temple compound. These denote various vows made by the devotees which were tied round the tree and emitted positive vibrations. Threads are also used in various other ways.
The most important of these threads is the “yajnopaveetam” or the thread worn by all Brahmins across their shoulder. This is given at the time of the initiation of a young boy into the sacred Vedas and to the Gayatri Mantra. Actually, there is a lot of esoteric meaning behind the tying of this sacred thread. The string placed over the shoulder of a Brahmin child is a pledge made by him to the ancient rishis to continue with the practice of the moral values of this ancient dharma – the Sanatana Dharma, which was given to us by the rishis. It pledges him to a lifetime of practising the values of harmony and peaceful coexistence taught by the rishis. It is something which will help him to remember that he is now born into a new life. The child has to remember the fact that he has a deep bond with the divine and a grave responsibility to keep up the sacred traditions of his culture and pass it on to the new generation. This bond is revived every year by taking on a new sacred thread which is ceremonially put by the priest across their right shoulder. This ceremony should not be taken lightly as a ritual of not much consequence but as a sacred covenant made with God to live a life of truth and purity. It is actually a promise to live in accordance with the laws of nature and to help purify the elements as well as those who live on this earth which is made up of the elements. In South Bharat, Brahmins change their sacred thread on Raksha Bandhan day. It is called Avani Avittam in Tamil.
In most rituals it is considered auspicious to have a copper or silver pot with Ganga water to be kept at the side. In South Bharat these pots are totally covered with an intricate design of threads criss-crossed and tied by the priest. This is a special technique and is supposed to denote the complex nature of the nadis or nerves in the human being. Another important thread which has great significance in a wedding ceremony is the mangal sutra. It is a yellow thread tied by the groom round the bride’s neck at the time of marriage. A golden symbol is also put on the thread which had been dipped in turmeric and over which mantras have been chanted by the priest before the ceremony. This denotes the solemn covenant made by the husband to look after his wife. A married lady has to wear this always round her neck.
In olden days when people were suffering from some depression or disease, they did not go straight to the doctor as is done now but went instead to the temple priest and asked him to make a special thread for them which he would tie round the wrist to the accompaniment of certain mantras. This was called an abhaya sutra or string to ward off fear. The tying of a thread which has been blessed by a priest or noble soul has a great significance in Hinduism. The priest would bless the thread using mantras and tie it round the wrist of the devotee who needed protection from evil forces. Black threads are often tied round a baby’s wrist or waist to keep off evil eyes.
At the beginning of a fire ceremony or even a puja or ritual, the priest will always tie a consecrated red thread round the wrists of the people who are taking part in the ceremony. This is called a kankana sutram. By this the devotee pledges his devotion to the deity and the deity in turn protects the devotee from all harm. As I mentioned before, this should not be taken out for one full mandala.
The festival known as Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon day of the Sanskrit month of Shravana which normally comes in August. This year, 2022, it is on Thursday, 11th August. The word raksha means to protect and the word bandhan means a bond or tie. The whole ritual centres on the tying of a cotton thread round the wrist of a person. This thread is known as a rakhi. The original esoteric meaning of this important custom has been forgotten and now you find many types of fancy bracelets being used as rakhis which have not been consecrated with mantras.
With the passage of time this has become a day to promote fraternal love between siblings especially brothers and sisters. The sisters tie the rakhi round the right wrist of their brothers, who promise to protect them at all times. The sisters in turn pray for the well-being of their brothers. Girls even tie rakhis round the wrists of their boyfriends but the rule is that one can never marry the person on whose wrist you have tied a rakhi since he has automatically become your brother. The Raksha Bandhan ceremony as is performed in most houses is symbolic of the everlasting bond between brothers and sisters even though they may live in different continents and be separated by oceans.
This particular day has been popularised by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore in order to promote a feeling of unity and commitment to all the members of the society. It includes a solemn promise to protect each other in times of calamity. Actually, this consecrated thread can be tied round the wrist of anyone who needs protection, not necessarily a brother. In olden days wives used to tie talismans on a thread blessed by the priest round the wrist of their husbands before they set out for war. In the Mahabharata war you find that all the great heroes had this thread tied on them before they set out for the battle every day. The symbolic act of tying this thread protects your loved one from all dangers. In fact, you are actually putting an armour of protection round them.
On the morning of Raksha Bandhan day one should prepare oneself both physically and mentally. One should take a bath and sit in meditation for a while and make a vow to observe a life of purity in thought, word and deed. In the villages it’s normal to put imprints of hands on the sides of the entrance door of the house and stick rakhis on them. Thus, the main aspect of Raksha Bandhan is the surrender of one’s own self to God for He is indeed the true brother whose strong arm alone will protect us from all harm at all times. This fact has been totally forgotten by most people in these times.
Of course, even though it is nice to have some fun during all festivals, yet it must be remembered that all Hindu festivals have deep scientific and spiritual meanings behind them. These esoteric meanings should not be forgotten. The rakhi is meant to be a protection for the person on whom it is tied. It has been potentised with the power of the mantra and the turmeric powder that it has been dipped in and when it is tied with faith by mother or wife or sister or priest, it forms a bond between the divine and the person on whom it is tied and surely it will protect them from all harm. This is the attitude by which we should tie it and receive it.
There are many interesting stories in our Puranas about the tying of this thread. The very first mention of rakhi was during the time of the great King Mahabali. As we have seen in the blog on Onam, Mahabali is the hero of that festival. At that time Vamana Murti, who is the fifth incarnation of Vishnu, had promised Mahabali to go and become his guardian at the place called Sutala. Lord Vishnu’s wife, Lakshmi, was not happy at this change of residence of her spouse so she went to Mahabali’s house disguised as a Brahmin woman. On the day of Shravana Purnima she tied a thread round the wrist of the demon king and told him who she was. She confessed that she had come there under false pretences since she could not bear to be parted from her husband for long. Mahabali was touched by her devotion to her Lord and allowed them both to return to their own abode of Vaikunta. This is the very first instance of the tying of a rakhi in the Puranas. Even today the mantra used by Lakshmi when she tied the string round Mahabali’s wrist is used by all.
“Yena badho Baliraja, danavendra Mahabala,
Tena twaam abhibhadnaami raksha ma chala, ma chala.”
“May this thread that protected the mighty asura king Mahabali, protect you always.”
Another story is connected with Krishna. After his fight with his evil cousin, Shishupala, Krishna’s wrist was bleeding. Draupadi saw this and rushed to his side. Without a moment’s hesitation she tore off a strip from her own sari and tied it round his injured wrist. Krishna accepted her as his sister and came to her aid whenever she needed him.
Sachi, the wife of Indra is supposed to have tied a string round Indra’s wrist when he went to fight with the asura, Vritra.
Another famous story concerning rakhi dates back to the year 1500 when the Rajputs were fighting with the Mughals. Rani Karnawati, the widowed queen of Chittor knew that she would not be able to defend her state against the incoming attack of the Sultan of Gujarat. She sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. He was touched by her gesture and immediately sent his troops to defend Karnawati’s honour.
On Guru Purnima day, the disciple ties a rakhi round the guru’s wrist and the guru in turn ties one round the disciple’s wrist and thus strengthens the bond of divinity between them.
There are many such instances in our Puranas which shows us how ancient this practice is.
Hindus love festivals. The essence of Hinduism lies in its festivals. So, it is our duty to encourage these festivals and join them with enthusiasm.
This day has also been declared as Sanskrit Day by our government in order to protect and promote this ancient language which is the basis of our culture. However, this year, 2022, Sanskrit day is on 12th August.
Hari Aum Tat Sat!