6 fascinating stories about the origin of Raksha Bandhan

There are not one but many myths related to the origin of Raksha Bandhan. It is an Indian festival which represents love, trust, and protection among brothers and sisters. The rakhi or holy thread is tied to the wrist on Raksha Bandhan to symbolise affection and a connection for life. Although the festival is celebrated primarily by brothers and sisters, the legends behind Raksha Bandhan show how the significance of the festival has changed over time.

One of the oldest mythological tales states that a rakhi was tied on a husband’s hand first and not on a brother’s. In a battle between gods and demons, when Indra’s wife Sachi or Indrani was concerned about his well-being, she approached Lord Krishna for help. Lord Krishna blessed her with a special cotton thread, which she put around Indra’s wrist to protect him from any harm. This mythological tale emphasises the significance of the sacred thread as a protective symbol.

Another common origin of Raksha Bandhan is the story associated with Yamuna and her brother Yama. Yamuna was angry with her brother since he did not come to meet her for about 12 years. Finally, after reminding him of this through Ganga, Yama visited his sister. Happy with his visit, she made a great feast and gave a rakhi to his wrist. Yama blessed his sister with immortality due to her loving nature.

In a famous Mahabharata tale, the practice of Raksha Bandhan was associated with Lord Krishna and Draupadi. Once, Krishna got hurt on his finger during the kite-flying activity. Draupadi instantly picked a piece of her saree and bound it over his wound. Pleased by her action, Krishna vowed to be always there for her protection. He fulfilled his vow and protected her dignity when she was dishonoured in the assembly of King Dhritarashtra following the failure of her husbands in gambling.

There is yet another legend connected to the origin of Raksha Bandhan. Bali was a devotee of Lord Vishnu and requested protection from Him. Vishnu promised his protection and remained there with Bali in the form of a gatekeeper. While missing her husband, Goddess Lakshmi approached Bali in disguise as a lady seeking refuge in his place. Bali accepted her, and Lakshmi tied a coloured thread of cotton on Bali’s wrist. Upon asking what he needed to do in return, she asked him to free Vishnu. He readily accepted the request once Vishnu appeared in his real form.

Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun upon the attack on her kingdom by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. She wanted him to protect her kingdom. According to reports, Humayun accepted her request and came to Mewar. But he came too late, as he could not save Rajput warriors from defeat, and Rani performed Jauhar. But later Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah and gave back the kingdom to the elder son of Rani named Vikramjeet.

Raksha Bandhan in Bengal has been linked with the Partition of Bengal in 1905. Rabindranath Tagore introduced the festival of Rakhi Mahotsav in order to foster a sense of unity and brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims. He asked people to tie rakhis to each other as a symbol of unity, love, and brotherhood. This ritual is practiced in West Bengal, where rakhis may even be tied by neighbours.