The festival of rakhi is one that has its origin and roots in the ancient Puranas and the mythologies of India. There are a number of myths and parables that have been associated with the origin of this ritual that try to find and locate the origin of this festival. These indicate at the different origins of this festival of Rakhi that has since been in practise in our country over different generations.
Let us take a walk down the myth lane and get acquainted with the various myths that are associated with this festival that will give us a better idea of the other facets that are related to this festival than merely the facets of rakhi gift ideas and other ideas of enjoyment.
There is a myth that goes on to say that once there took place a fierce battle between the gods and the demons. In this war Indra the deity of the rain and the thunder was defeated by King Bali a powerful Demon. At this Indra’s wife consulted Vishnu who gave her a holy bracelet made out of cotton thread. Sachi tied this thread on the wrist of Indra. Next Indra emerged as the vanquisher of Bali in the next battle between them and recovered Amravati.
This story depicts the story that in the early days this holy thread that later came to known as the thread of rakhi was tied by the women on the wrist of the men before they went off for any important war. This holy thread looked after their safety and also brought them success. Hence tying this holy thread was not only limited between brothers and sisters alone.
As per the Records of the Bhgavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana there goes another very old legend that says that once when Lord Vishnu won all the three worlds from Bali, the demon king, Bali requested Vishnu to reside at his palace. To this request Vishnu heeded and started living in the palace of Bali. Goddess Lakshmi however did not like this arrangement and wanted Lord Vishnu to leave the palace of Bali and come back to Vaikuntha. She then went to Bali and tied the sacred thread of Rakhi on the wrist of king Bali. When King Bali asked that what is the gift that he can offer to his sister Lakshmi? Goddess Lakshmi said that she wished that King Bali will free Lord Vishnu from the promise of staying at the palace of King Bali and would allow him to return to Vaikuntha. To this King Bali relented and always henceforth considered goddess Lakshmi as his sister.
Another ancient myth goes that Ganesh had two sons, Shubh and Labh. On raksha Bandhan when Ganeshji visited his sister’s house to tie rakhi on his wrist his sons got very restless that they do not have a sister. To this Narad muni appeared and asked Ganesh to create to a daughter who will only bring much happiness to his family. To this Lord Ganesh heeded and created Santoshi Maa, Ganeshji’s daughter who then tied rakhi on Shubh and Labh.
The various myths clearly suggests that the festival of raksha bandhan goes back a long way in the history of our heritage. Today it has become a national festival that is more related to fun frolic and the generation of various types of rakhi gift ideas. Yet the roots of this festival goes back a long way in the roots of the culture of this country.
Rakhi Bazaar 