Raksha Bandhan (transl. Bonds of Protection) falls on the full-moon day (Purnima) of the month of Sravana (July – August). Therefore it is also called Rakhi Purnima. The main celebrations of Raksha Bandhan take different forms in different regions.
History of Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan has a historical background. About 3000 B.C. Aryans entered India through the North-Western passes and settled in North-Western India. They brought with them their traditional custom, Raksha Bandhan. It was a tradition among the Aryans to have a ‘Yajna’ before a war to invoke God’s blessing for protection and security. Apart from the regular army, the clan leader called the able-bodied men of the villages to join the war. Before the men departed for the battlefield the women-folk tied an anointed sacred thread or amulet: i) to protect the man ii) to remind him to uphold the honour of his clan.
This is how the custom of Raksha Bandhan originated. The word ‘Raksha’ means protection. Later, different ethnic tribes entered India, each with its own traditional customs. This led to a fusion of Aryan and Non – Aryan customs. Consequently, new and modified forms of the various customs came to be. The same happened with Raksha Bandhan.
The predominance of Hindu texts
A story is also found in Vamana Purana, Bhavishya Purana and Vishnu Purana about Raksha Bandhan’s mythological mantra ‘Yen Badho Bali Raja, Danavendro Mahabalah Ten Tvam Pratibadhanami Rakshey Machal Machalah‘ read on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan.
According to this, King Bali was a very charitable king and was also an exclusive devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once he organized a Yagya. During this time, Lord Vishnu brought Vamanavatar to test him and asked King Bali to give three steps of land in charity. But he measured the whole earth and sky in two steps. On this King Bali understood that God was testing him.
For the third step, he got God’s foot placed on his head. Then he pleaded with God that now my everything is gone, Lord, accept my request and stay with me in the underworld. The Lord accepted the request of the devotee and left the world of Baikunth and went to Hades.
On the other hand, Goddess Lakshmi got upset. Then she composed Leela and appeared in front of King Bali as a poor woman. Seeing the woman’s poverty, King Bali kept her in his palace and started taking care of her like a sister. On the day of Shravan Purnima, Goddess Lakshmi, who was in the form of a poor woman, tied a raw thread around the wrist of King Bali. King Bali said you have tied this thread on my wrist as a sister, so I want to give something to you, ask for whatever you want.
On this, Goddess Lakshmi came in her real form and said you have a real God, I want the same, I have come to take him only. I am alone in Baikuntha without my husband Bhagavav Vishnu. Even after knowing the truth about the woman, King Bali remained on the path of religion and according to the promise, King Bali let Lord Vishnu go with Mother Lakshmi. However, while leaving, Lord Vishnu granted a boon to King Bali that he would reside in Hades for four months every year. These four months are known as Chaturmas, extending from Devshayani Ekadashi to Devuthani Ekadashi.
Gradually a deeper religious aspect entered this festival. Of the three Hindu Gods -Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar, the Vishnu cult is said to have been derived from the Aryans. This cult was the most popular of the three, especially because Vishnu represented peace and stability. A variety of regional literature and practices developed around the Vishnu cult. Raksha Bandhan stood for security, stability and fraternity. It was associated with the cult of universal love and brotherhood. In the North and West of India, Raksha Bandhan became a regular feature of society. It celebrated love and brotherhood along with the customary celebration of the divine activities of Radha and Krishna.
Traditional celebration of Raksha Bandhan
The festival is also called Saluno, a deviation from the Persian word ‘Sal – i – nu’ which means the New Year. This ritual strengthens the bond of love between brothers and sisters. Rakhi is also tied on the wrists of close friends and neighbours. Women tie a Rakhi (rosette) around the right wrist of their brothers. If the brother is in a distant place the Rakhi may be sent by post. Women receive gifts and cash from their brothers.
Significance of Raksha Bandhan in Different Parts of India
Raksha Bandhan was not prevalent in Eastern India. In 1905, Curzon partitioned Bengal on communal lines. A great movement was initiated to oppose the partition. Rabindranath Tagore was one of the prominent figures who vehemently opposed this atrocious partition. In 1905, he introduced the custom of Raksha Bandhan among the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal to nurture an atmosphere of universal brotherhood.
This custom became so popular that it spread to every corner of Bengal. It took a very different connotation in Bengal and became a symbol for forging unity between Hindus and Muslims. It also helped to arouse national consciousness against the divide-and-rule policy of the British. Such was the force of the protest that in 1911, the partition of Bengal was annulled. The capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
In the West, the festival is called Nardi Purnima or Coconut Full Moon. To the Hindus, the coconut is of great religious significance. The three eyes of the coconut represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva. The coconut plays a significant role in Hindu Festivals. Coconuts are offered to the God of Water in the presence of a huge congregation on the beach at Bombay.
The Myth and Reality of Rakshabandhan: Rani Karnawati and Humayun
The Myth
A widely told story associated with Rakshabandhan involves Rani Karnawati of Mewar and Mughal Emperor Humayun. According to this tale, Rani Karnawati, facing a military threat from Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, sent a rakhi to Humayun, invoking the brotherly bond between them. Moved by the gesture, Humayun is said to have rushed to her aid, thereby saving her kingdom. This narrative has been popularized as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and the protective nature of the Rakshabandhan festival.
The Reality
However, historical records suggest a different sequence of events. In their book, “The History of India for Children (Vol. 2): FROM THE MUGHALS TO THE PRESENT,” authors Archana Garodia Gupta and Shruti Garodia offer a more nuanced account. They write that Humayun reached Chittor several months after Sultan Bahadur Shah had already captured the fort. Instead of immediately coming to the rescue, Humayun waited for the Mewar empire to collapse before taking action. This delay indicates that the story of the rakhi and Humayun’s immediate response may be more myth than fact.
During Bahadur Shah’s occupation of Chittor, he conducted widespread massacres and looting. His ministers believed that because Humayun was a Muslim, he would not harm Bahadur Shah, who was also a Muslim. However, Humayun eventually attacked, but only after the situation had deteriorated significantly for Chittor. In the ensuing conflict, Humayun initially struggled but ultimately managed to capture Gujarat and Malwa, leading to the downfall of Bahadur Shah’s sultanate.
Historical records also reveal correspondence between Humayun and Bahadur Shah during the Chittor attack. As noted by S.K. Banerjee in his book “Humayun Badshah,” Bahadur Shah wrote to Humayun, emphasizing that he was fighting “infidels.” In his response, Humayun expressed regret over the division between them despite their shared faith.
Conclusion
The romanticized story of Rani Karnawati sending a rakhi to Humayun and his subsequent heroic rescue is a compelling narrative, but historical evidence suggests a more complex reality. Humayun’s delayed intervention and the political and religious dynamics of the time paint a different picture, one that does not align with the simplistic tale of Rakshabandhan often recounted.
Frequently Asked Questions on Raksha Bandhan
Q1. When is Raksha Bandhan celebrated?
Ans: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated according to the Hindu Calendar. It is celebrated on the full-moon day (Purnima) of Sravana (July – August) every year.
Q2. What is Raksha Bandhan Mantra?
Ans: On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, priests and sisters can recite this mythological mantra ‘Yen Badho Bali Raja, Danavendro Mahabalah Ten Tvam Pratibadhanami Rakshey Machal Machalah’ (येन बद्धो बलि राजा,दानवेन्द्रो महाबल: तेन त्वाम् प्रतिबद्धनामि रक्षे माचल माचल:). The meaning of this mantra is – I bind you with the same Rakshabandhan, which will protect you, with the same Rakshabandhan from which the great mighty demon king Bali was tied. O Protector, be steady, be steady
Also Read: Popular Festivals of India – A Comprehensive Guide
