A BRIEF ARTICLE TO THE HINDUS OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF RAKSHA

BANDHAN

Q. Is Raksha Bandhan a religious festival?

A. No, it is not, but to some extent it can be accepted as a cultural event because the love and bondage between brothers and sisters are observed as a pure cultural observation. Love is God so you can say it is Hindu Religious Function. Basically RAKHEE means a string of care and love, RAKHSHA means protect and BANDHAN MEANS Bondage. So the term Raksha Bandhan speaks for itself i.e. tying between Brothers and Sisters bondage of love and protection.

Q. When and how this culture came into existence? This year Raksha Bandhan falls on August 13 th 2011

A. It originated with tying of sacred thread amongst the head of families to wipe or cancel any bitterness and maintain peaceful and loving mutual relations. There was also this bondage between superiors and the less privileged within the community. More importantly the Brahmins and Gurus used to tie the sacred thread on to the disciples’ hand praying the Lord for pacifying misdeeds and leading them to the path of spirituality reciting Mantra “Yen, Bandhou Bali Raja Daan Vendor Mahabala, Ten Twan Na Bandhanti, Rakshe Ma’chala Ma’chala” This an article from an ancient text: King Bali and Goddess Laxmi

A. 1. According to a legend the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard his kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunth. Goddess Lakshmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode. She went to Bali disguised as a woman to seek refuge till her husband came back.

During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, Lakshmi tied the sacred thread to the King. Upon being asked, she revealed who she was and why she was there. The king was touched by her goodwill for his family and her purpose and requested the Lord to accompany her. He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife.

Thus the festival was also called Baleva that is Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord. It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or the Raksha Bandhan. It was this bondage that Lord Vishnu incarnated in as Vaaman Avtar and granted him salvation.

2. There are many related stories, another important one usually guised in the wake of festive mood and that is: Balram Jayanti:

This is also celebrated as Shri Baladeva birth Ceremony. Lord Krishna's elder Brother Prabhu Balarama was born on this Shrawan Poornima.

3. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE BONDAGE BETWEEN Shri Krishna and Draoupadi:

Another incident is from the epic Mahabharata and concerns Krishna and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas. She had once torn a strip of silk off her sari and tied it around Krishna's wrist to staunch the bleeding from a battlefield wound. Krishna was touched by her action and declared her to be his sister, even though they were unrelated. He promised to repay the debt and then spent the next 25 years doing just that. Draupadi, in spite of being married to 5 great warriors and being a daughter of a powerful monarch, trusted and depended wholly on Krishna. Krishna repaid the debt of love during the "Cheer-Haran" (literally "clothing-robbing") of

Draupadi, which occurred in the assembly of King Dhritarashtra when Yudhisthira lost her to the Kauravas in gambling. At that time, Krishna indefinitely extended her saree through divine intervention, so it could not be removed, to save her honor. This is how he honored his Rakhi-vow towards Draupadi and divine intervention, so it could not be removed, to save her honor. This is how he honored his Rakhi-vow towards Draupadi

4. In today’s time this festival is rather diminishing due to various reasons generally living abroad and not being able to meet due to obvious reasons. I strongly suggest where it is not possible one should tie the sacred string to the Lord or offer same to his lotus feet. There should be no reason for any unwarranted excuse for not doing do.DISCLAIMERThis email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error or invertantly please notify the SENDER. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the writer or sender and do not necessarily represent those of the others. Finally if this article does not appeal to you, then immediately delete or ignore it. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses or inflicting remark. I RAJENDRA MAHARAJ will not accept any; LIABILITY, CRITICISM, ANNOYANCE or ADVERSE REACTION what so ever, to the contrary of its intention caused by any misinterpretation, mis-understanding or non-acceptance of the same.

 Pt. Rajendra Maharaj, Hindu Priest & Peace Consultant,Ordained Clergy, Minister Of Religion & Marriage Celebrant,1759 Hilton Street Seaside. CA, 93955,Home Phone: (831) 393 0679Cell Phone, (831)521 8400,E-mail: punditfijian@aol.com.