Raksha Bandhan – The Bond of Protection

On August 15^th 2019, Hindu women will tie rakhis (beautiful threads) on the right wrists of their brothers, apply tilaks (sacred marks) to the centers of their foreheads and offer them sweets.  As they pray for their brothers’ welfare, their brothers will pledge to protect their sisters’ honour.  Then they will give their sisters gifts and money as tokens of affection.  Friends will also tie rakhis on one another to affirm their solidarity.

In modern times, Raksha Bandhan, the ancient Hindu festival of brotherhood and pure love, has come to signify bonds of personal affection.  Originally, however, it reflected the bond of purity and divine protection (Raksha means ‘protection’; Bandhan, ‘bond’) which memorialised our ancient covenant with God.  The sacred rakhi thread symbolised the purity and peace of our original nature.  Its knot represented our pledge to refrain from actions which are contrary to that divine nature.  This pledge born of spiritual love, was and is the ‘tie that binds’ us to God.  It entitles us to the Supreme Soul’s protection from vices and negativity and consequent grief and suffering.  Everyone – in this age when vices have corrupted our thoughts and deeds – needs such divine protection.  Raksha Bandhan underscores the importance of seeking it. 

The tilak applied on the forehead was meant to make us aware of our true spiritual nature as souls.  All human souls, as children of the Supreme, are brothers and sisters.  Therefore, soul awareness enables our vision of the family of humanity and of our eternal relationship with each other, which is based on selfless love, trust, faith and clean dealings.  Raksha Bandhan reminds us to rediscover the divinity in our relationships.

In one Hindu myth, Indrani ties a rakhi around her husband Indra’s wrist following his defeats by demons.  Indra, King of Gods, attains victory over the demons with the power of this protection, recovering the city of immortality, Amaravati.  This myth symbolises how the bond of spiritual love protects and gives victory over demons (anger, greed, ego, etc.) inherent in our body-based identity, enabling the return to an awareness of our eternal nature as an immortal soul.

Historically too, tying a rakhi offered protection.  Alexander’s wife tied a rakhi on the wrist of Alexander’s Hindu adversary, Puru.  As Puru raised his hand to kill Alexander, he saw the rakhi and restrained himself.  “My hands are tied,” people say when they can’t do certain things.  Thus, a rakhi on one’s wrist reminds us to do noble deeds and refrain from actions harmful to the self and others.

On August 15^th, wouldn’t our communities and our world be blessed if we celebrated the original spirit of Raksha Bandhan by refraining from actions contrary to our divine nature?  Will you join us in becoming aware of our spiritual interconnectedness and committing to actions which express love, trust, faith and clean dealings?  Let’s apply the tilak and tie the sacred thread.