Informative

Spiritual Significance of Raksha Bandhan

As per the Hindu calendar, the full moon of the month Shravan brings an extraordinary occasion, called Raksha Bandhan, symbolizing the protective relationship between a brother and sister. On this day, a sister ties a Rakhi (sacred ornate thread) around her brother’s wrist, performing Aarti (worship ritual), and in return, the brother presents her with the gift. In this blog, we will take a look into the spiritual significance of Raksha Bandhan.

Raksha means protection, and Bandhan means a bond. And thus, Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of that sacred bond between brother and sister. The same day is considered an auspicious day for spiritual practitioners, where priests, Gurus, and teachers tie amulets, charms, and sacred threads on the wrists of their patrons and students. As the tradition goes, teachers receive gifts from their spiritual students as a sign of respect and love.

What are the Stories Associated with Raksha Bandhan?

Bhavishya Purana has an exciting story to tell, involving Lord Indra, the King of heaven, and his wife, Sachi. Indra, with all the other Demigods, was in the fight with the Demon armies. The battle continued for years and still was inconclusive. Meanwhile, the holy city of Amaravati was lost by the Gods to the armies of the demons.

Fearing for her husband’s life, Queen Sachi went to Lord Vishnu, seeking more power over her husband. Lord Vishnu gave her the Rakhi and asked her to tie it around the wrist of her husband. Doing so, Lord Indra was recharged with the heavenly power, and with that, he defeated the demon armies. During those times, Rakhi was not limited to the bond between brothers and sisters.  

Ancient texts of Bhargav Purana and Shree Vishnu Purana tell us the story of righteous King Bali, who conquered all three worlds. Disguised as a child Brahmin scholer, Lord Vishnu approached him for the alms. Bali gave away all three of his kingdoms to Vaman by his own will, and in return, Lord Vishnu pushed him into the realm known as Sutala, where Bali continued his ruling. Being extremely pleased by his righteousness, Lord Vishnu, decided to accompany him to the Sutala realm and started living with Bali in Sutala. Many years passed by. 

Divine Mother Laxmi, the wife of Lord Vishnu, approached King Bali, and on the same auspicious day of Shravan Purnima, tying a Rakhi around the wrist of her brother king Bali. As a return gift, King Bali requested Lord Vishnu to return to his abode. Thus, Lord Vishnu returned to his abode Vaikuntha. From this day forward, Rakhi is considered as the sacred thread of protection and celebration of a relationship between brother and sister.

How to tie a Spiritual Rakhi?

Raksha Bandhan should not be taken lightly, as just a mere celebration, though. It’s a sacred covenant you are making with yourself and the Divine. Spiritual Rakhi is an unbreakable bond between you and your Ishta when you surrender your mind, body, and soul to their holy feet.

-On the day of Rakhi Purnima, wake up early, preferably on Brahma Muhurta (half an hour before the sunrise). Have a bath, and with determination, prepare yourself physically and mentally for the knot you are about to tie.

-In your prayer room, sit in the meditation position, preferably in solitude, with eyes closed and visualize your Ishta in front of you.

-Tell your Ishta that you are taking this vow by your own free will, and you are prepared to suffer hardships, and you will go beyond and above to keep these vows intact.

-Visualizing your Ishta in front of you, make a vow to him that you will spend the rest of your life bringing clarity and virtue in thoughts, speech, relationships, and actions. Make a promise to him to walk on the righteous path while completing your duties.

-If you do not have Ishta, you can tie this pious bond with Lord Shiva, the supreme soul, the Adi Guru, the teacher, protector, the spiritual guide, and the support of your life.

 -After the meditation and your usual mantra chanting, you can tie a cotton thread around your wrist to have a reminder of the sacred covenant you have created with the Almighty. This cotton thread will be a constant reminder for you not to be influenced by the outer distractions, anger, greed, pride, or lust, which will deviate you from the spiritual path.       

What Raksha Bandhan Symbolizes?

Traditionally, Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of the unbreakable bond between brother and sister. When a sister wraps her brother’s wrist with that elegant and beautiful thread, she celebrates her faith and trust in her brother.  

When it comes to a spiritual Raksha Bandhan, it symbolizes the pure and pious relationship with the soul. It’s a celebration of the eternal relationship of the soul with the supreme soul.

It’s a promise, made to self, for being the protector of the good in us. It’s a self-fulfilling promise for being positive, progressive, and open-minded for the things to come.

Spiritual Rakhi is a celebration of your relationship with the Divine. Our soul is that subtle thread that ties us with the Divine, and unconditional love and self-knowledge strengthen this tie. In the unbreakable bond of love and devotion, when we link ourselves with the Divine, our soul experiences bliss and fulfillment.  

Tying yourself with something to set yourself free seems to be two contradictory ideas. But spiritual Rakhi directs you to a spiritual path, granting absolute freedom in the form of Nirvana. So, on this occasion of Rakhi Purnima, free yourself from greed, anger, lust, and lethargy. Take a moment for deep transcendent introspection while making the Divine your true companion, protector, and guide on this spiritual journey.

We hope this blog helped you to gain some insight into the spiritual significance of Raksha Bandhan.

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