Raksha Bandhan is one of the special festivals in India that celebrates the bond between sister and brother. Every year thousands of sisters go to the market to hunt for some beautiful Rakhi’s for their dear brothers so that this bond of love and care continues to grow strong year by year.
Over the years the designs of rakhis have changed. First, they were made with gold and silver and real silk, now plastic and artificial fabrics have taken their place.
Even then the ethos behind the practice continues to be the same. So when Raksha Bandhan did come into existence and does it have a mythological relevance?
Krishna and Draupadi’s most popular story
One of the earliest stories of sister and brother bonding tied with a rakhi was that between Lord Krishna and Draupadi. While Subhadra was his real sister, Draupadi was Krishna’s cousin. Incidentally, both were wives of Arjun. So once when Arjun asked which sister loved him more, Krishna said it was Draupadi.
To prove his point, Krishna hurt his finger and first went to Subhadra who was in her Raj Mahal. She immediately sent her dasis to fetch a proper cloth for tying it to Krishna’s finger. But the blood kept on dripping.
On seeing it, Draupadi who was the Maharani of Indraprastha then, just tore off her highly valuable saree and prepared a bandage with it on the injured finger of Krishna. This is a very famous story and there are many songs in Indian mythology dedicated to it.
Emperor Humanyun and Rani Karnavati
After the death of Rana Sanga, Rani Karnavati led the Kingdom of Mewar putting her young son Vikramjeet on the throne. The Rajput army had once been defeated by the Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and she knew that they would be attacked again. Hence she wrote a letter to Dehil Emperor Humayun who was then fighting another battle with his enemy.
Along with the letter, Rani Karnavati sent Humayun a rakhi saying that she expects him to save her and the Mewar Kingdom as a brother would help her sister. Despite being in the middle of the battle, Humayun diverted his army towards Mewar. But before he could reach it, the army of Bahadur Shah had already defeated the Mewar soldiers and Rani Karnavati had set herself on fire.
But Humayun honoured the words of Rani Karnavati even after her death by defeating the army of Bahadur Shah and handing over the kingdom to Vikramjeet.
Yamuna and Yama
Indian mythology has another reference to Raksha Bandhan in the story of Yamuna and Yama. According to the story when Yamuna, who flows in the form of a river tied rakhi to Yama who is supposed to be the God of Death, the latter granted her immortality.
Ganesha’s children and the birth of Santoshi Maa
The story goes that when Lord Ganesha’s sister Manasa visits him and ties rakhi to him, his sons also urge their father to bring a sister for them. That is why Ganesha creates Santoshi Maa from the divine flames by merging the energies of his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi and himself.
King Bali and Goddess Laxmi
Lord Vishnu had promised the king of demons Bali that he would protect his kingdom and hence became his gatekeeper. Goddess Laxmi who is missing him in their abode Vaikuntha comes in the disguise of a poor woman who is in need of shelter and approaches King Bali for help. The King is very generous and opens his door for her little knowing that she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
King Bali became richer and wealthier after the coming of Goddess Lakshmi. During Shravan month, Laxmi ties a colourful thread on the wrist of King Bali and asks him to grant her a wish as a brother. After Bali agrees, Laxmi asks him to return her husband Vishu to her who has been serving as a gatekeeper. Bali instantly gives his permission while Vishnu promises that he will be with King Bali for four months every year.