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Festival of destroying vices, earning virtues

Raksha Bandhan,which literally means ‘bond of protection’, is celebrated on full moon day, in the month of Shravan.

There are several mythological references to Raksha Bandhan. Once, there was a 12-year-long war between the gods and the demons. Ultimately, the demons emerged victorious and snatched away heaven from deities.


Nevertheless, Indra, the king of the Devas, vowed to reaffirm his sovereignty over heaven by waging one more war with the demons. Before going to war, Indra’s spouse, Indrani, tied a raksha sutra around his wrist as a symbol of purity and protection. Indra won the war and the gods rejoiced as they reclaimed their sovereignty over heaven.

According to another legend, when Yamuna, the sister of Yama, the god of death, tied a rakhi round his wrist, Yama declared that whosoever overcame lust and tied this bond of purity by a sister, would be free from fear of death and eventually would attain immortality.

In scriptures, Raksha Bandhan is known as ‘Vish Todak Parv’, the festival of destroying vices. The ceremony is also called ‘Punya Pradayak Parv’, the occasion to earn virtues. During the Hindu month of Shravan, devotees travel long distances and visit temples to pour water on the Shivlingam on Mondays. This religious ritual concludes with Raksha Bandhan celebrations.

Today, Raksha Bandhan has become a mere ritual sans the rich values it stands for. Sisters tie a decorative piece of thread around the wrist of brothers, and apply ‘tilak’ on their forehead. Brothers offer gifts and vow to protect their sisters as and when required.

However, the festival has a subtler meaning, with deeper and wider spiritual implications. Raksha Bandhan is also linked to Shiv. It is a bond of purity and symbol of divine protection. It signifies invoking of the spiritual bonding that is said and experienced to exist between the Supreme Soul and human souls who always seek His divine blessings and raksha, protection, in the hour of need.

The Rakhi ritual of tying a mauli on the wrist is a reminder to perform only pure actions through the sense organs. The applying of tilak on the forehead is to make us aware of our true Self – that is, to be soul-conscious. And regular practice of soul-conscious vision, values, attitude and actions enables us to view and treat fellow human beings as brother-souls under the spiritual fatherhood of one incorporeal Supreme Soul God.

Imbibing of such pure vision towards all, also leads us towards realisation of our age-old ideals of universal brotherhood and one world familyhood.

The legend of Indra is symbolic of practising purity in thought, words and deeds, for attaining sovereignty over the self by defeating all unruly demonic forces within. In fact, the one who conquers lust and other vices, not only experiences sovereignty over mind, intellect, sanskars and senses but also enjoys a better life of lasting peace, harmony, holistic health and happiness here and hereafter.

Pledging purity and adhering to soul-centric values of fellow feeling, love, kindness and compassion in daily life, which the sacred ceremony of Rakhi stands for, is our real protection from vices, negativity and stressful living.