THE MYTHICAL ORIGINS OF RAKSHA BANDHAN

The festival of Raksha Bandhan, deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, has a rich history that dates back centuries. The celebration of this special festival is connected to various ancient legends. Here are some of the most renowned accounts:

Indra Dev and Sachi

According to the Bhavishya Purana, there was once a fierce battle between the Gods and demons. Lord Indra, the principal deity of the sky, rain, and thunderbolts, faced a tough fight against the powerful demon king, Bali. The war persisted without a decisive end. Indra's wife, Sachi, sought help from Lord Vishnu, who gave her a holy bracelet made of cotton thread. Sachi tied this sacred thread around Indra's wrist, empowering him to defeat the demons and reclaim Amaravati. Originally, these holy threads, or amulets, were tied by women to their husbands for protection before they went to war, rather than being exclusive to brother-sister relationships as seen today.

King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi

In the Bhagavata Purana and Vishnu Purana, when Lord Vishnu conquered the three worlds from the demon king Bali, Bali requested Vishnu to stay with him in his palace. Vishnu agreed, but his wife, Goddess Lakshmi, wished to return to Vaikuntha. She tied a rakhi around Bali’s wrist, making him her brother. When Bali asked what she wanted in return, Lakshmi requested Vishnu's release so they could return to Vaikuntha. Bali granted her wish, allowing Vishnu and Lakshmi to leave.

Santoshi Maa

Lord Ganesha’s sons, Shubh and Labh, were disheartened because they had no sister. They requested their father to provide them with a sister. With the intervention of Saint Narada, Lord Ganesha created Santoshi Maa through divine flames, fulfilling his sons' wish. Shubh and Labh celebrated Raksha Bandhan with their new sister, Santoshi Maa.

Krishna and Draupadi

In the Mahabharata, Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, tied a rakhi to Lord Krishna. Additionally, Kunti tied a rakhi to her grandson Abhimanyu before the epic battle of Kurukshetra.

Yama and Yamuna

According to another legend, Yama, the God of death, did not visit his sister Yamuna for 12 years, causing her great sorrow. On Ganga's advice, Yama visited Yamuna, who was overjoyed and treated him with great hospitality. Pleased, Yama asked Yamuna what she desired as a gift. She wished to see her brother more frequently. Yama granted her immortality so that he could visit her repeatedly. This legend is also the basis of the festival Bhai Dooj, celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.

Celebrate with Spirit

Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the protective and loving bond between siblings. It's a day to wear your devotion proudly, whether it's a Hanuman T-shirt, Ganesh T-shirt, Krishna T-shirt, Ganpati T-shirt, Anjaneya T-shirt, Krsna T-shirt, Lord Krishna T-shirt, or a Hindu T-shirt. To buy a variety of hindu t shirts like shivji t shirt, hanuman t shirt, ganesh t shirt, Krishna t shirt, ram t shirt, bajrang bali t shirt etc. click here! Celebrate the spirit of Raksha Bandhan with love and devotion, honoring the ancient traditions that continue to bring joy and unity among families.

[The images used in this blog post are not owned by Anime Devta, they are just for entertainment purposes]

~Mimansa Sharma