RAKSHA BANDHAN

RAKSHA BANDHAN is called Avani Avittam in South India. This falls on the full moon
day of the month of Sravan (August-September). It is an important Hindu festival. Hindus wear a
new holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day.
Recitation of the Vedas on this great day is highly beneficial. This festival is also known as
Upakarmam, and is specially sacred to the Brahmins, who have been invested with the sacred
thread. When the Brahmin boy is invested with this holy thread, symbolically his third eye, or the
eye of wisdom, is opened. This festival of Upakarmam reminds the wearer of the sacred thread of its
glorious spiritual significance. Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom
they owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual
knowledge and the Vedas themselves. The true Hindu never forgets his benefactors!
The followers of the four different Vedas have their Upakarmam on different days.
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MAKARA SHANKRANTI
On this day, Sachi, the consort of Indra, tied a holy thread or amulet around the wrist of
Indra, when he was defeated by the demons. Then Indra, the king of gods, gained victory over the
demons by the power of this protection (Raksha means “protection”) and recovered the lost city of
Amaravati.
In North India, on this day, an amulet known as a Raksha or Rakhi, is tied round the wrist of
brothers by the sisters as a protection from evil during the coming year. Brahmins and Purohits
similarly tie amulets round the wrists of their patrons and receive gifts.AMantra is recited when the
Rakhi or the silken thread is tied. The silken thread is charged with the power of the Mantra, which
is as follows:
Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah;
Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshey maa chala maa chala.
“I am tying on your hand this Raksha, with which the most powerful and generous King Bali
himself was bound; O Raksha, don’t go away; don’t go away.”
The power of this Mantra protects the wearer from evil influences