Raksha Bandhan, also Rakshabandhan, is a popular, traditionally Hindu, annual rite, or ceremony, which is central to a festival of the same name, celebrated in India, Nepal and other parts of the Indian subcontinent, and among people around the world influenced by Hindu culture. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman, or amulet, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them, receiving a gift in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care.
Have you ever wondered what the story behind Raksha Bandhan is? Why is it that every year, so many women go crazy looking for the perfect band for their brother? Well as you might have already guessed, there are many stories in the Indian history that mention about this festival, each with a similar morals but different contexts. Here’s a compilation of the most renowned stories behind the grand festival of Rakhi.
In all probability, the most popular story in Indian mythology is that of Lord Krishna and Draupadi, 'The wife of the five Pandavas'. The story goes, on Makar Sankranti, Krishna cut his little finger when handling sugarcane. His Queen, Rukmini immediately sent an official to get bandages. Meanwhile Draupadi, who was watching the entire incident, cut off a little bit of her Saree and tied his finger with it to stop the bleeding. In return, Krishna promised to help her out when required. That is the story behind the help Krishna provides during the unceremonious disrobing of Draupadi, Krishna came and made her saree never ending, saving her the embarrassment by giving her protection when she needed it the most.
Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. The expression "Raksha Bandhan," Sanskrit, literally, "the bond of protection, obligation, or care," is now principally applied to this ritual. Until the mid-20th-century, the expression was more commonly applied to a similar ritual, also held on the same day, with precedence in ancient Hindu texts, in which a domestic priest ties amulets, charms, or threads on the wrists of his patrons, or changes their sacred thread, and receives gifts of money; in some places, this is still the case. In contrast, the sister-brother festival, with origins in folk culture, had names which varied with location, with some rendered as Saluno, Silono, and Rakri. A ritual associated with Saluno included the sisters placing shoots of barley behind the ears of their brothers.
Of special significance to married women, Raksha Bandhan is rooted in the practice of territorial or village exogamy, in which a bride marries out of her natal village or town, and her parents, by custom, do not visit her in her married home. In rural north India, where village exogamy is strongly prevalent, large numbers of married Hindu women travel back to their parents' homes every year for the ceremony. Their brothers, who typically live with the parents or nearby, sometimes travel to their sisters' married home to escort them back. Many younger married women arrive a few weeks earlier at their natal homes and stay until the ceremony. The brothers serve as lifelong intermediaries between their sisters' married and parental homes, as well as potential stewards of their security.
In urban India, where families are increasingly nuclear, the festival has become more symbolic, but continues to be highly popular. The rituals associated with this festival have spread beyond their traditional regions and have been transformed through technology and migration, the movies, social interaction, and promotion by politicized Hinduism, as well as by the nation state.
Among women and men who are not blood relatives, there is also a transformed tradition of voluntary kin relations, achieved through the tying of rakhi amulets, which have cut across caste and class lines, and Hindu and Muslim divisions. In some communities or contexts, other figures, such as a matriarch, or a person in authority, can be included in the ceremony in ritual acknowledgement of their benefaction.
Have you ever wondered what the story behind Raksha Bandhan is? Why is it that every year, so many women go crazy looking for the perfect band for their brother? Well as you might have already guessed, there are many stories in the Indian history that mention about this festival, each with a similar morals but different contexts. Here’s a compilation of the most renowned stories behind the grand festival of Rakhi.
Krishna and Draupadi Raksha Bandhan Story
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| Raksha Bandhan History |
In all probability, the most popular story in Indian mythology is that of Lord Krishna and Draupadi, 'The wife of the five Pandavas'. The story goes, on Makar Sankranti, Krishna cut his little finger when handling sugarcane. His Queen, Rukmini immediately sent an official to get bandages. Meanwhile Draupadi, who was watching the entire incident, cut off a little bit of her Saree and tied his finger with it to stop the bleeding. In return, Krishna promised to help her out when required. That is the story behind the help Krishna provides during the unceremonious disrobing of Draupadi, Krishna came and made her saree never ending, saving her the embarrassment by giving her protection when she needed it the most.
Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun Raksha Bandhan Story
Another famous version of the history of Rakhi is of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun. Karnavati was the official of Mewar after the death of her husband Rana Sanga. She ruled in the name of her elder son Vikramjeet. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Mewar for the second time. He had defeated Vikramjeet earlier.
The Queen began looking for support from other kingdoms. Initially apprehensive, the nobles finally agreed to take on Shah. In the meanwhile, Karnavati also wrote to Humayun for help. She sent him a rakhi and sought protection. Fascinatingly, Humayun's father Babur had defeated Rana Sanga when he led an amalgamation of Rajput armies against him in 1527.The Mughal emperor was in the middle of another military campaign when he received the call for help. Abandoning it, he turned his attention to Mewar.
Unfortunately, he never made it on time as the Rajput army was defeated in Chittoor. But the queen had already set herself on fire to avoid the indignity of falling in the hands of Bahadur Shah. Shah, however, could not go any further and had to turn away from Chittoor as Mughal military reinforcements arrived soon after. Humayun then restored the kingdom to Karnavati's son, Vikramjit.
Yama and the Yamuna Raksha Bandhan Story
According to another legend, the ritual of Raksha Bandhan was followed by Yama, the Lord of Death and Yamuna, the river that flows in India. The story goes that when Yamuna tied a rakhi to Yama, the lord of death granted her immortality. And so moved he was by the gesture, he is said to have declared that any brother who has tied a Rakhi and offered to protect his sister would also become immortal.
The Birth of Santoshi Maa Raksha Bandhan Story
This take on the festival of rakhi is a version of the birth of Santoshi Maa popularized by the film Jai Santoshi Maa, On an auspicious day, Lord Ganesha's sister Manasa visits him to tie him a rakhi. On seeing this, Ganesha's sons begin insisting on having a sister. Giving in to their demands, Ganesha creates goddess Santoshi from the divine flames that are said to have emerged from his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi.
Roxana and King Porus Raksha Bandhan Story
Another legend has it that when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC, his wife, Roxana sent Porus a sacred thread and asked him not to harm her husband on the battle field. Honouring the request, when he confronts Alexander, he refuses to kill him. Eventually, Porus would lose the battle of the Hydaspes River but would gain Alexander's respect and honour. Eventually, after his death, Porus would become a very loyal Macedonian satrap.
Goddess Laxmi and King Bali Raksha Bandhan Story
As part of a promise, Lord Vishnu had been protecting his devotee and the demon King Bali, disguising himself as his doorman. Back in Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu, his consort Laxmi has been missing him. Disguising herself as a woman seeking a shelter to live in since her husband has been away, she approaches Bali. The generous king opens the doors of his palaces for the lady. As Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity enters the household, Bali begins to prosper.
On the full moon day of in the holy month of Shravana, Laxmi ties a thread of coloured cotton on Bali's wrist and wishes for protection and happiness. Bali asks her what she desires and promises to fulfill it. Laxmi simply points to the gatekeeper who now reveals his real identity. The goddess follows suit. Bali keeps his promise as he requests Vishnu to return to his home with his consort. In return, Vishnu promises to return and be with Bali for four months of each year.
Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. The expression "Raksha Bandhan," Sanskrit, literally, "the bond of protection, obligation, or care," is now principally applied to this ritual. Until the mid-20th-century, the expression was more commonly applied to a similar ritual, also held on the same day, with precedence in ancient Hindu texts, in which a domestic priest ties amulets, charms, or threads on the wrists of his patrons, or changes their sacred thread, and receives gifts of money; in some places, this is still the case. In contrast, the sister-brother festival, with origins in folk culture, had names which varied with location, with some rendered as Saluno, Silono, and Rakri. A ritual associated with Saluno included the sisters placing shoots of barley behind the ears of their brothers.
Of special significance to married women, Raksha Bandhan is rooted in the practice of territorial or village exogamy, in which a bride marries out of her natal village or town, and her parents, by custom, do not visit her in her married home. In rural north India, where village exogamy is strongly prevalent, large numbers of married Hindu women travel back to their parents' homes every year for the ceremony. Their brothers, who typically live with the parents or nearby, sometimes travel to their sisters' married home to escort them back. Many younger married women arrive a few weeks earlier at their natal homes and stay until the ceremony. The brothers serve as lifelong intermediaries between their sisters' married and parental homes, as well as potential stewards of their security.
In urban India, where families are increasingly nuclear, the festival has become more symbolic, but continues to be highly popular. The rituals associated with this festival have spread beyond their traditional regions and have been transformed through technology and migration, the movies, social interaction, and promotion by politicized Hinduism, as well as by the nation state.
Among women and men who are not blood relatives, there is also a transformed tradition of voluntary kin relations, achieved through the tying of rakhi amulets, which have cut across caste and class lines, and Hindu and Muslim divisions. In some communities or contexts, other figures, such as a matriarch, or a person in authority, can be included in the ceremony in ritual acknowledgement of their benefaction.
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