(Raksha Bandhan: 3rd August)
Though the thread of the Rakhi is slender, the feeling, faith, and resolve residing in it work wonders. The sacred bond of love between brothers and sisters is capable of protecting young boys and girls from immoral lapses.
The pure love between brothers and sisters calms passion and anger. They get the power to help each other out of compassion and go together harmoniously. Thoughts of equanimity start arising in their mind.
Multiple benefits of the Rakhi
There are many benefits of Raksha Bandhan. Health benefits, protection from passion, strengthening of resolve, protection from lapses, protection from the enemy during the war, protection of spiritual practices; whatever be the resolve or good feeling with which this small thread is tied, while reciting a Vedic mantra if possible, it works wonders. Though it is a small thread it helps in health, the fulfillment of resolve and securing protection.
It is mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana:
सर्वरोगोपशमनं सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् ।
सकृत्कृतेनाब्दमेकं येन रक्षा कृता भवेत् ।।
“The protective thread worn on this festival destroys all disease and inauspicious deeds. The man is protected throughout the year by wearing it once a year.”
The Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras (various demigods), and ghoulish spirits of the subtle world like Pishachas, etc. do not disturb the person who wears a rakhi on his wrist on this festival. He will not be influenced much by the lowly resolves of his opponents and negative vibes will not affect his mind. If the protective thread is tied to the wrist of a person with a wish to give yearlong protection, while chanting the following Vedic mantra with faith and good wishes, it definitely helps that person.
येन बद्धो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः ।
तेन त्वां अभिबध्नामि* रक्षे मा चल मा चल ।।
Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah| Tena twaam abhibadhnaami* rakshe maa chala maa chala||
“I am tying this Raksha on your hand, with which the most powerful and generous King Bali himself was bound; O Raksha, don’t go away; don’t go away.”
Make the following resolve:
When a man says, “I am Mr. So and So” or a woman says, “I am Ms.So and So”, the “am” stands for the eternal existence of Self. The protective thread is made of cotton but the resolve is made by the eternal existence - “am”. ‘I am his sister or I am so and so. I wish the good of my brother or so and so.’ Auspicious resolves to protect health and give success to the person wearing the thread. When you make a resolve after becoming calm, it arises from “am” (eternal existence) and hence it never fails. The gracious glance or blessings of great men and the blessings of venerable persons fructify.
‘Lakshmi tied a protective thread on the hand of Bali, the King of Danavas to bring Lord Vishnu back to her in the Vishnu Loka (because Vishnu was serving Bali as a guard in the Patala Loka). I am tying on my brother’s hand this protective thread with the same goal. O protective thread, protect my brother.’ Sisters should make such a resolution and tie a protective thread on their brother’s hand. And tie the protective thread to your well-wisher’s hand with similar resolve. The objective should be the attainment or realization of our real ‘I’ the eternal Self, Narayanasvarupa, who knows the non-eternal body and world.
If you are a sadhaka, make a resolution, “O Gurudev, protect me from acts which destroy sadhana.” If you are a devotee, make a resolution, “O God, protect me so that I may not deviate from the path of Bhakti.” If you are a Satsang lover, “Protect me. May I not be swept up in the whirlwind of bad company….” Thus by making a good resolve for one another, men become supporters of each other.
Guru Punam is followed by this Nariyali Punam. “The vows we took on Guru Punam have been observed unsteadily for one month. But now Gurudev protects us. Now illuminate our lives with the light of devotion to God, sadhana, and knowledge. Save us from lapses.” Sadhakas tie the protective thread mentally on Gurudev’s hand with such feelings and Gurudev creates a protective environment by encouraging them and teaching new techniques of worship to them.
[Rishi Prasad - August 2019 - Issue-319]
