Aug 22, 2002, 12.00am IST
B K Shant.
Festivals are more than just a celebration of sacred beliefs, traditions and events. True, they strengthen the bonds of unity and fraternity, but they also reinforce our faith in all that is divine and noble in the human spirit.
Raksha Bandhan is a festival that commemorates the bond of love, purity and security and is celebrated in the month of Shravan (August), on full moon day.
Raksha Bandhan literally means ‘bond of protection’. Traditionally, on this day, the family priest ties the red and saffron coloured sacred thread, mauli, on the wrist of all the members of the household and also on doors, windows and new purchases. An auspicious mark, the tilak, is also put on them.
There are several mythological references to Raksha Bandhan. Once, there was a 12-year-long war between the gods and the demons. Ultimately, the gods emerged victorious. Nevertheless, Indra, Lord of the Devas or gods, vowed to reaffirm his sovereignty by waging one more war with the de-mons. Before going to war, Indra’s spo-use, Indrani, tied a raksha-sutra round his wrist as a symbol of protection. Indra was victorious once more and the gods rejoiced as they reclaimed their sovereignty over heaven.
According to another legend, when Yamuna, the sister of Yama, the Lord of Death, tied a rakhi round his wrist, Yama declared that whosoever overcame lust and tied this bond of purity on a man would be liberated from fear of death and eventually attain immortality in heaven.
Raksha Bandhan is variously known as vish torak parv or the festival of destroying vices and punya pradayak parv or the day of doing charity. During the Hindu month of Shravan, when Raksha Bandhan is celebrated, devotees travel long distances to visit temples to pour water on the Shivalinga each Monday. The ritual comes to a close with Raksha Bandhan celebrations.
Today, Raksha Bandhan is a custom: Sisters tie a decorative piece of thread around the wrist of brothers and apply a ‘tilak’ on their forehead. Brothers vow to assist or protect their sisters whenever required.
Raksha Bandhan is more than just brother-sister bonding. It has a wider and deeper spiritual significance; the festival is also linked with the Incorporeal Lord Shiva. All beliefs, legends and customs are rooted in reality, which is based on eternal spiritual laws. Raksha Bandhan is a bond of purity and divine protection. It also symbolises the importance of seeking divine protection.
The traditional custom of priests tying a sacred thread symbolises an auspicious religious tradition; the mauli is always used for taking sacred vows. A mauli tied on the wrist is a reminder to us to perform only pure actions through the sense organs. Applying a tilak on the forehead reminds us to be aware of our true self — that is, to be soul-conscious. As children of God, the Supre-me Father, all human souls are brothers and sisters; so we need to imbibe a pure vision towards all, by cultivating a soul-conscious vision.
The legend of Indra is symbolic of attaining sovereignty over the Self by defeating all demonic forces. The one who conquers lust and other vices claims sovereignty over the heavenly kingdom or Vaikuntha, the land of eternal peace and joy, because purity is the mother of peace and happiness.
Human beings require such divine protection especially in the age of kaliyuga when vices have corrupted our thoughts and deeds. On Raksha Bandhan, we can vow to try and overcome feelings of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. Adherence to this bond of purity will liberate us from the bon-dage of sin and suffering and bestow on us divine wisdom and jeevanmukti or lasting peace and happiness in life.
(The writer is director, Brahmakumaris’ Rajyoga Centre, New Delhi)
No comments:
Post a Comment