Raksha Bandhan - a spiritual perspective

1. Introduction

Sree Lakshmidevi tied a rakhi on the hand of Baliraja, the demon king of the netherworld (paataal), made him her brother and thus freed Lord Narayan (Lord Vishnu). That day was the full moon day (paurnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Shravan.

Therefore the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on Shravan Paurnima. On that day raksha i.e. rakhi is made by tying rice, gold, and white mustard in a pouch.

येन बद्धो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबल: ।
तेन त्वामपि बध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल ।।

Yen baddho baliraja danavendro mahabalaha |
Ten tvamapi baddnami rakshe ma chal ma chal ||

Meaning: Baliraja, who was almighty and the king of demons, was tied with this raksha, so do I tie you. O, rakhi you please remain stable.

A rakhi is supposed to be tied on the wrist of a brother by his sister. The underlying intention of the rakhi is to ensure the brother's prosperity and progress and to remind the brother of his duty to protect his sister. On this day, when a woman ties a rakhi on the hand of a man who is not her brother, that it is more important than a sister tying it on the hand of her brother. That is because tying a rakhi tends to change the perspective with which that man views women.

2. The importance of Rakshaa Bandhan*

• A brother asks his sister to tie a thread denoting his promise to protect her in every birth and the sister ties the thread to seal that promise. This day is known since ancient times to signify the idea that 'a brother and sister should stay within the bonds of their relationship.'

• The raakhi symbolises the sacred relationship between a brother and his sister.

• Just as the brother gets the thread tied in order denote his promise to protect his sister, similarly, the sister prays at God's (Ishwar's) Holy Feet to request the protection of her brother.

• The greater the sister's spiritual emotion, devotion, her yearning towards God, and Guru's grace (Gurukrupaa) on her, the greater is the effect of her prayers on her brother's well being and his spiritual progress.

• The benefit received by a brother according to the spiritual level of his sister, within 5 hours of tying a raakhi.

	Spiritual level of the sister (%) **	Benefit to the brother (%)
1	25 to 30	13
2	35 to 45	16
3	45 to 55	25
4	55 to 70	50
5	70 to 90	80
6	90 to 100	100

3. The science behind Rakshaa Bandhan*

On this day, the yama frequencies which are functional in the universe create frictional energy from the increase in their velocity and project the radiant particles (tej tattva) into the atmosphere. When these particles become heavy after combining with the earth particles, they create a covering on the earth. This is called rakshaa. When necessary, Baliraja utilises the raja-tama frequencies projected from this rakshaa to nurture the demonic energies. Thus, on this day, the female-energy ties a raakhi to the male to symbolise the tying of Baliraja with the help of the Earth deity. This also denotes the request to protect the atmosphere by keeping the rakshaa particles under control. The all-encompassing rice grains are tied on the hands of the male as a symbol of a bond.

The science behind tying a pouch of rice grains on the wrist, with a silk thread*

Rice has an excellent capacity to imbibe and emit all types of frequencies. The rice grains are tied in a white cloth and then tied on the right hand of the embodied soul (in the form of Shiv) with a silk thread, forming a spiritually pure (saattvik) silk bond.

The energy frequencies from the embodied soul, in the form of Shakti, (the sister) tying the raakhi are absorbed into the rice grains and transmitted towards the embodied soul, in the form of Shiv, (the brother) activating his Sun channel and awakening the Shiv principle in him. This projects the functional Shiv frequencies into the atmosphere destroying the spiritually impure (raja-tama) particles. To achieve the basic objective of Rakshaa Bandhan through Shiv and Shakti is the best way for mankind to gain the maximum benefit of this day.

4. What should a raakhi be like?*

The frequencies emitted from a raakhi should benefit both siblings. That is why we should choose a raakhi which will preserve the God principle for a longer time; rather than one of the flashy ones. Otherwise, the three basic attributes (trigunas- sattva raja and tama) emitted from the raakhi, affect the embodied soul and the corresponding attitude (raajasik, taamasik, etc.) is developed in him.

5. The importance of raakhi's prepared by Sanatan Sanstha*

	Components	Percentage
1	Devotion unto the Guru	28
2	Love for others	20
3	Purity	25
4	Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya)	27
	Total	100

The embodied soul benefits from the spiritual love (prembhaav) emitted from the raakhi into the environment, based on his spiritual emotion. It also helps to increase the devotion (bhaktibhaav). Another benefit is that due to the Divine Consciousness (chaitanya) in the raakhi, the six basic personality defects (shadripu) present in the embodied soul are reduced by 2% for 5 hours.