Who Started Raksha Bandhan – Rakshabandhan, the sacred festival of brother-sister love in Hindu religion, has great significance. This festival of Rakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. But do you know how the tradition of tying Rakhi to brothers started? There are many interesting mythological stories related to Rakshabandhan, which tell the importance of this festival. So let’s know the mythological story of Rakshabandhan…
Who Started Raksha Bandhan (How Did Raksha Bandhan Started)
On the day of Rakshabandhan, sisters tie Rakhi on their brothers’ wrist and take a promise to protect them. Although many stories related to the festival of Rakshabandhan are popular, but we are going to tell you the 5 most interesting historical and mythological stories which are also considered to be the beginning of this festival.
Story of Krishna and Draupadi
The first story of Rakshabandhan is the most popular. During the time of Mahabharata, once Lord Krishna’s finger got injured and blood started flowing from it. Seeing this, Draupadi, who was also Krishna’s friend, tore Aanchal’s pallu and tied it around his severed finger. According to religious beliefs, the tradition of tying Rakshasutra or Rakhi started from this day. As you all know that when Draupadi was being disrobed, it was Shri Krishna who protected her from everyone by saving her modesty.
Story of King Bali and Mother Lakshmi
King Bali was a very charitable king and a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once he was doing Yaksha to please God. To test his devotee, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin and after reaching the Yagya, asked for three steps of land as donation from King Bali. The king accepted the Brahmin’s demand. The Brahmin measured the entire land with his first step and the entire sky with his second step. King Bali understood that God was testing him, so he immediately placed the third step of the Brahmin on his head.
He said that God, now everything is gone for me. Now please accept my request and live with me in the underworld. God had to obey the king. On the other hand, Mother Lakshmi became worried due to the non-return of Lord Vishnu. She disguised herself as a poor woman and went to King Bali and tied Rakhi to him. The king asked to ask for anything in exchange for Rakhi. Mother Lakshmi immediately came back to her true form and demanded the king to return her husband Lord Vishnu. Keeping the respect of Rakhi, the king sent Lord Vishnu back with Mother Lakshmi.
Story of yudhishtra and soldiers
Another popular story of Rakhi is that in the war of Mahabharata, Yudhishthir asked Krishna that how can he overcome all the sorrows. So Krishna says that you tie Raksha Sutra to all your soldiers. With this your victory is certain. Yudhishthir does the same and gets victory. This incident happened on the full moon day of Shravan month, hence it came to be celebrated as Rakshabandhan and on this day Rakhi is tied to the soldiers.
Story of Devraj Indra and Indrani
It is believed that once the demon Vritrasura ascended to heaven to gain the throne of Indra. Vritrasura was very powerful and it was not easy to defeat him. To protect Devraj Indra in the war, his sister Indrani prepared a Rakshasutra with her power and tied it on Indra’s wrist. This Rakshasutra protected Indra and he was victorious in the war. Since then, sisters started tying Rakhi on the wrists of their brothers to protect them.
Story of Emperor Humayun and Queen Karnavati
Queen Karnavati of Chittor had sent Rakhi along with a letter to Emperor Humayun requesting for protection of her kingdom and herself from the attack of Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Humayun accepted Rakhi and left for Chittor to protect Queen Karnavati. However, Queen Karnavati had committed suicide before Humayun arrived.
Importance of Rakshabandhan
The festival of Rakshabandhan is celebrated with great pomp every year on the full moon day of the month of Sawan. On this day, sisters tie Rakhi on their brother’s wrist and feed him sweets. On the other hand, brothers are expected to protect their sisters. Protect them from all the evils of the world. This festival is considered a symbol of unwavering love and dedication between brother and sister. People start preparations for this festival long in advance. Markets are seen decorated with colorful Rakhis