Raksha Bandhan spreads love

Aug 26, 2015 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
The festival of Raksha Bandhan is one that spreads love and affection, not just for one self but for the peaceful existence of the human race. Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi in Sanskrit means “the knot for protection”. This year’s Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on August 29th, across the globe
Rakhi reminds us of the eternal love between brothers and sisters.  The sister ties this sacred thread on the right wrist of her brother, biological or functional/adopted, then prays for his welfare and long life. This auspicious occasion reminds brothers of their duty and obligation to protect and honor their sisters in a world that is considered deceptive, dishonest and unethical.
Sisters perceive their brothers as brave, strong, and protective men.  This Raksha Bandhan relationship between brothers and sisters resembles the inseparable bond between the earth and sky.
This forms the basis and beauty of this bond.  To many, this festival transcends biological families bringing together a union of men and women across religious and ethnic lines.
History records the attempted invasion of India by Alexander the Great (as he was called) of Macedoni in 326B.C. An invasion that was his toughest and final major battle which resulted in him abandoning his conquest of India.
In what was known as “the battle of Hadaspers River” {Jhelum river} in Punjab, King Purushattama {purus}, a man of remarkable strength and noble courage faced off with Alexander.
For the first time the Greeks met with elephants in warfare. These huge beasts terrified the foreign solders by brutally trampling and mangling them. Their trumpeting made the Greek horses shiver and tremble.  This situation made it difficult for Alexander. It was a fierce fight and the most costly battle Alexander ever fought.
This terrifying onslaught had a demoralizing and frightening effect on his army. Some believed he suffered a worse fate in India than Napoleon did in Russia.
Rashanak, wife of Alexander travelling with him, came to know of the festival Raksha Bandhan, and  fearing for her husband’s life, she sought an audience with the mighty warrior Purus, and pleaded with him to accept her as a sister and not to harm her husband in battle. Purus, in a brotherly gesture extended his wrist to the Greek lady who tied a Rakhi, establishing a sisterly bond. Purus then promised not to harm Alexander.
During the battle Alexander fell from his horse and as Purus was about to deliver the fatal blow to Alexander, he looked at the Rakhi on his wrist and restrained himself from slaying Alexander. An alliance was then solidified between the two countries.
Another historical occurrence was that of Rani Karnavati of Chittor and Mughal Emporer Humayun, which dates back to 1535, A.D. During this period Muslim invaders were abducting royal ladies from the Rajput Kingdoms. Knowing this, Rajput women would send Rakhis to others kings and princes of neighbouring provinces with appeals to protect them and their honour.
When Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujrat, invaded Chittor, an Indian province, widowed Queen Ranie Karnavati realised that she could no longer defend Chittor against Shah’s army.
She immediately sent a Rakhi to Mughal Emperor Humayun as a token of brotherhood, asking for his protection.  Touched by symbolism and love of the Rakhi, Emperor Humayun immediately advanced with his troops to defend Chittor.  By the time Humayun and his army arrived, Bahadur Shah had already conquered Rani’s fortress.
The men in Ranie’s fortress threw open the gates and rode out at the mercy of the invaders. Rani Karnavati with all the women in her fortress lit a huge fire and jumped into it. This was done to save the honour of the women of this province and to avoid the barbaric Muslim rule against women in that era. Seeing the burning pyres of the brave queen and thousands of women, Humayun was plunged into deep repentance realizing that he could not have saved his sister.
Humayun then took some of the ashes from the burning pyre and placed it on his forehead as a mark of affection and esteemed love for the Queen. Emperor Humayun then fought against his Muslim counterpart Bahadur Shah, defeating him, and returned the kingdom to the son of Rani Karnavati, Vickramjeet Singh.
Finally, approximately 5000 years ago during the Mahabarat period, Sri Krishna accepted Draupadi as his sister. Sri Krishna’s hand was lacerated and bleeding; Draupadi quickly tore her sari and bandaged the hand of Sri Krishna who thought this was a noble and loving act.
Thinking then that he was indebted to her, Sri Krishna promised to repay her kindness whenever the need would arise.  When the Kauravas were disrobing Draupadi in that fateful scene in the Mahabharat, Sri Krishna came to her rescue and protected her honor by continuously lengthening her sari to avoid her being exposed.  Such moving incidents have, over the centuries and generations, strengthened the bond and affection between brothers and sisters which is re-affirmed every year on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
As I researched the origins of Rachis, I encountered few other references which cast serious aspersions on the ancient Arya Vedic culture. Some of these aspersions led to the decline of the once pristine Vedic system and the downfall of the current Hindu society. Books that were not written by Rishis, who were the possessors of wisdom, became the source of erroneous information.
Brahminism, which exploited the uneducated population together with false doctrines were largely responsible for this catastrophe.
During Vedic times, {The Golden Age} India was the international centre for science and technology, engineering, mathematics, astronomy, dialectic literature, logic, philosophy and culture etc. People followed the rule of law of ethics and good conduct. Vedas and Upanishads were the supreme authority.  People from all across the world travelled to India in search of education, knowledge and wisdom.
Because of the fallen standards in ethics and Dharmic culture, there now exists a misrepresentation of the once pristine glory of the Vedas and Vedic shashtras.
Happy Raksha Bandhan.
Anand Persaud

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