The Origin of Raksha Bandhan: 2 Popular Myths You Must Know

1. The Origin of Raksha Bandhan: 2 Popular Myths You Must know If we split the word ‘Raksha Bandhan’ into two, we get ‘Raksha’ which means Rakhi and ‘Bandhan’ which connotes in Sanskrit the bond. So, as it is clear from its name that this is a festival commemorating the sacred bond and relationship of brothers and sisters and this festival is celebrated by tying up a thread in the hands of the brothers by their sisters.

2. On the eve of this festival, a huge crowd can be seen in the shops to buy different types of rakhis, for example, fancy silver rakhi, Kundan Rakhi, Beads Rakhi, etc. But, the fact that how many of them, in reality, do know about the origin of this festival is in oblivion. So, here is a guide about 5 popular myths about the genesis of this festival. 1. Lord Vishnu and Indrani myth Many people believe that in ancient times a sacred thread was given to Indrani by Lord Vishnu and asked her to tie that thread around her husband’s hand. This was done to protect him from the war between Gods and Demons. Another story in this context is that when demons captured heaven, Brihaspati who was the god of gurus, prepared a rakhi for Indra to protect him. 2. Traces in Mahabharata In Mahabharata, it is written that once Krishna accidentally got a cut in his finger and was bleeding badly. Upon seeing that, Draupadi came to his rescue and tore a small part of her saree and tied it around the wounded finger, and in turn, Krishna rescued Draupadi from the Kauravas. So, it is believed that the promise of protection in ancient culture carries the legacy in the form of Raksha Bandhan even today. Source: https://aboutrakhifestival.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-origin-of-raksha-bandhan-2-popular.html