The traditional Hindu festival 'Raksha Bandhan' (knot of protection) was
came into origin about 6000 years back when Aryans created first
civilization - The Indus Valley Civilization. With many languages and
cultures, the traditional method to Rakhi festival celebration differs from
place to place across India. Following are some historical evidences of
Raksha Bandhan celebration from the Indian history.
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
The story of Rani Karnavati and Emperor Humayun is the most significant
evidence in the history. During the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting
Muslim invasions. Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding and
protection of sisters was foremost. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of
the king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of
the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun.
The Emperor touched by the gesture started off with his troops without
wasting any time.
Alexander The Great and King Puru
The oldest reference to the festival of rakhi goes back to 300 B.C. at the
time when Alexander invaded India. It is said that the great conqueror, King
Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the Indian king Puru in his
first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi
festival, approached King Puru. King Puru accepted her as his sister and
when the opportunity came during the war, he refrained from Alexander.
Lord Krishna and Draupathi
In order to protect the good people, Lord Krishna killed the evil King
Shishupal. Krishna was hurt during the war and left with bleeding finger.
Seeing this, Draupathi had torn a strip of cloth from her sari and tied
around his wrist to stop the bleeding. Lord Krishna, realizing her
affections and concern about him, declared himself bounded by her sisterly
love. He promised her to repay this debt whenever she need in future. Many
years later, when the pandavas lost Draupathi in the game of dice and
Kauravas were removing her saari, Krishna helped her divinely elongating the
saari so that they could not remove it.
King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi
The demon king Mahabali was a great devotee of lord Vishnu. Because of his
immense devotion, Vishnu has taken the task of protecting bali's Kingdom
leaving his normal place in Vikundam. Goddess lakshmi - the wife of lord
Vishnu - has became sad because of this as she wanted lord Vishnu along with
her. So she went to Bali and discussed as a Brahmin woman and taken refuge
in his palace. On Shravana purnima, she tied Rakhi on King Bali's wrist.
Goddess Lakshmi revealed who she is and why she is there. The king was
touched by Her and Lord Vishnu's good will and affection towards him and his
family, Bali requested Lord Vishnu to accompany her to vaikuntam. Due to
this festival is also called Baleva as Bali Raja's devotion to the Lord
vishnu. It is said that since that day it has become a tradition to invite
sisters on sravan pournima to tie sacred thread of Rakhi or Raksha bandan.
Copyright © Society for the Confluence
of Festivals in India (SCFI). All Rights Reserved