Stories related to 'Raksha-Bandhan'

[animesh 0]

4th August is raakhi day. Could you post some interesting stories related to this festival from our scriptures? I would also appreciate any stories related to this festival from history even if they are not in our scriptures.

[Maitreya 0]

animesh, what is Raakhi day?

 

Today is the appearance day of Lord Balarama.

 

MC

[animesh 0]

On this day, sisters tie raakhi around the wrists of their brothers. The raakhi (a beautiful sacred thread) is supposed to do raksha (protection) of brothers. It is also assumed that the brothers have taken the vow of doing raksha (protection) of their sisters. Therefore, it is known as "raksha bandhan".

[Maitreya 0]

Oh, that sounds like a nice pratice.What a beautiful culture that takes the time to celebrate the higher sentiments of human life.

 

Thanks animesh.

[animesh 0]

Sisters are really on advantage on this day. After they tie raakhis to their brothers and put some sweets in their mouth, they get gifts from them.

[Guest guest]

From John Roskelley's Nanda Devi -- the tragic expedition:

 

That morning had been an unusual one for Devi[Nanda Devi Unsoeld, who later dies on the mountain]. The porters had asked her to participate in a Hindu ceremony called Rakhi.

 

The religious rite is performed to ensure that the men of the family will defend a woman's life and honor as a member of the household. The woman -- or in some cases a holy man -- ties a string around the wrist of the man. This wristlet protects him from harm. Rakhi is usually performed each year by the sister in each family. Since the porters were away from home, Devi would substitute nicely.

 

The porters had paid Devi one rupee each to have her tie a string around their wrists. Kiran, Nirmal, Lou, and Andy had also taken part. She insisted Jim and I have one tied to our wrists, but because we didn't have a rupee she promised to find one at Advance Base and pretend it was ours.

 

We were all in a playful mood.....

 

[1976 Indo-American Nanda Devi Expedition that summited on 1 September, the fifth ascent of Nanda Devi and the first ascent of the North Face.]