[Assam] Rakhi – a sacred thread of love — Dharmaraj Joshi

[umesh sharma]

i read in my school textbooks that the queen committed herself to flames to escape the enemy . Humayun was too late in reaching the city.

Umesh

Pradip Kumar Datta <pradip200 at yahoo.com> wrote: Rakhi – a sacred thread of  love

— Dharmaraj  Joshi

India is the  land of festivals. Though all the festivals have their importance; Rakhi stands  out as a unique gift of Indian culture. The simple threads of Rakhi symbolize  the sacred love of brother and sister. When a sister ties a Rakhi on her  brother’s wrist, her sentiments flow towards her brother that he should get all  the happiness in life. At the same time the brother thinks on the same  wavelength that at in any cost he would protect the honour of his sister. This  festival establishes the bond of love and affection between the siblings.  

It is said that Rakhi Purnima originated when Indrani, wife of Lord  Indra, prepared a talisman, which she tied on her husband’s wrist on Sravan  Purnima to win the battle against the demons. The power of the talisman  made the  Gods victorious. Ever since, on Sravan Poornima day, the tradition of tying the  thread began and it was believed that the persons would be blessed with health,  wealth, happiness and victories.

This practice was prevalent among the  Rajputs and our history is full of instances related to the significance of this  tradition. At the time of war when the brave Rajput soldiers prepared to go to  the battlefield, the women folk followed the ritual of tying a thread around  their wrist after applying a dash of vermilion powder on their forehead. This  was considered a sign of good omen and the ladies believed that it would protect  their men from the enemy’s blow and bring them victory. The queen of Mewar,  Maharani Karmavati, had to face the threat of Governor Bahadur Shah who laid  seige on her kingdom. Helpless she sent a rakhi to the Mughal king, Humayun. The  emperor who under normal circumstances would not have preferred to help a Rajput  ruler, decided  to protect her from the threat. Humayun reached Mewar chased  Bahadur Shah and his men and restored the kingdom to the queen of  Mewar.

There were instances during our freedom struggle when freedom  fighters wore the thread around their wrists with pride. Rabindranath Tagore  introduced this tradition in Santiniketan to re-establish the bond of love  between all sects and religions.

Raksha Bandhan has retained its glory  and sacred sensation in modern times too. Brothers and sisters wherever they may  be make it a point to celebrate the occasion together. If they are far away,  rakhi and gifts are sent through mail or online gifting sites. And even today,  the meaning of custom remains beautifully intact. Today rakhi is even tied on  the wrists of soldiers by children and women all around the country, filling the  soldiers with self-esteem and a heightened sense of responsibility. It is thus  interesting to note that for centuries this festival has been  celebrated in the  same way and the traditions are followed with the same enthusiasm. It is the  celebration of the chaste bond of love amongst the siblings and the gaieties of  Rakhi have only blown up to a large scale.

On the day of Raksha Bandhan  sister visit their brother and sometimes brother is invited by sister for Rakhi  celebrations. After performing Puja, sister applies a tilak on brother’s  forehead and performs arti for him. She then ties a Rakhi on her brother’s wrist  while praying for his long, healthy and happy life. Brother expresses his  gratitude to sister for her affection and vow to protect her from all hardships  in life. Brother and sister share a sweet and enjoy a harmonious time with rest  of the family. 

Festival of Raksha Bandhan also calls for celebrations  and merriment. Brother pampers their sweet sisters by return gifts for her. This  could be some cash or gifts like jewelry, apparel, cosmetics or household gift  items. Sisters  too depict love for their brothers by showering presents on them.  They also prepare brothers favorite dishes.

Nowadays Rakhis are decorated  with soft silky threads of various colours, and also with ornaments, pictures,  gold and silver threads etc. These Rakhis enhance the artistry of the people.  Within these Rakhis reside sacred feelings and well wishes. It is also a great  sacred verse of unity.

However, there is much more to rakhi than a sister  tying the sacred thread round the brother’s wrist in order to bind him into an  obligation to protect her in times of need. Which is why even older sisters tie  the thread round the wrist of brothers much their junior. 

The  application of the tilak is a reminder from the sister to the brother to be  soul-conscious, for it is in the space between the eyebrows - where the tilak is  applied - that the soul resides. Then again, mauli, the red and saffron-coloured  thread that is usually tied round the  brother’s wrist, is meant to serve as a  constant reminder of the bond of purity. In India, the mauli has traditionally  been used for taking a religious or sacred vow or making a pledge of purity.  

Raksha Bandhan conveys to all men and women the divine message that they  must overcome lust and remain pure by practising soul-consciousness. The rakhi  is an annual reminder to both brother and sister of this noble aim. It is the  renunciation by the brother of the five vices of lust, anger, greed, attachment  and ego that pollute the soul. For, only by giving up these vices would the  brothers truly become conscious of the need to engage in the effort of elevating  one’s consciousness.        

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Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)




www.gse.harvard.edu/iep  (where the above 2 are used )




http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
       
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