Did you know that “Rakhi” or Raksha Bandhan has numerous legends about its origin and association with India’s mythical past?If you ask a family elder about it, most probably you’ll be told that it started with Draupadi who tied the first Rakhi ornament on Shri Krishna, who later, protected her taking on the responsibility of a brother, during her notorious “Vastra-Haran” disrobing attempt at the game of dices, which saw the defeat of the Pandavas through unfair means employed by the Kauravas. However there is much more to the festival than that. Here you will be able to know a few of those beautiful tales that will make the concept of Raksha bandhan come alive in a multitude of colours and emotions in front of your eyes!
Unique Tales about Raksha Bandhan and its origin
The most popular and widely believed story of Rakhi sees it originating from Shri Krishna and Draupadi. As the legend goes, once Lord Shri Krishna, his wife Rukmini, and the Pandavas and their wife Draupadi were out exploring a wilderness, when Krishna cut his finger and was bleeding profusely. Rani Rukmini ordered the servants to get bandages while, Draupadi had already torn a piece of her sari and tied it around Krishna’s wound. This signifies how they develop a protective brother-sister bond that will later be mentioned many times throughout the Mahabharata.
Secondly, there is another legend that traces Raksha Bandhan to a mythological war, noted in the Hindu Puranas,between the Devtas and Asuras (gods and demons). At a point Indra Dev, “the lord of the gods” was on the verge of defeat at the hands of the demon leader Vritra. He consulted Lord Brihaspati for some desperate advised him to have a Rakshabandhan ritual performed on Shraavan Purnima (full moon night of the month) which will protect him and lead him to victory! Following this advice, Indra’s wife, Queen Sachi performed the sacred thread tying ritual on her husband, which helped the Gods to win.
There is another story of the significance and auspiciousness of the Raksha bandhan ceremony which involves Yama, the god of death and Yamuna, the river goddess of the tributary of the River Ganga. The story follows how Yamuna ties a Rakhi on Yama and pleased and moved by her gesture, Yama gifts her with his blessing of immortal life, and hence till date the Yamuna River flows timelessly through India.
Lastly but not the least, there is another beautiful Indian myth around Rakhi that has the Goddess Lakshmi tying a Rakhi on the Demon King Bali. It so happened that due to a promise he had given to his ardent devotee, Bali, Lord Vishnu was serving as a doorman at his royal court. While the god was away from his eternal abode, his wife Lakshmi came to Bali’s palace disguised as a poor woman seeking shelter. On Shraavan Purnima, she performed the Raksha bandhan on Bali,who, as Rakhi gifts for his sister, released her husband Lord Vishnu from his service.
Raksha Bandhan
Celebrated on the last day of the month of “Shraavan” of the Indian Lunar Calendar, Raksha Bandhan literally meaning “the bond of protection” involves a sister tying a sacred thread (usually decorated with embellishments) around her brother’s wrist, which signifies and strengthens the brother’s vow to protect his sister. After the traditional Raksha Bandhan ritual, gifts and sweets are exchanged.