RAKSHA BANDHAN IS THE BOND OF PURITY

Brahmakumaris

For centuries, every year, on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie their brothers with Rakhi, i.e. a loving bond of Protection. But, it must be pondered here how far the brothers have been successful in fulfilling this bond and how far the sisters have been successful in tying the same with such a pure feeling? From experience, all will say that today this festival has become just an opportunity of celebrating little bit happiness and observing the ritual, otherwise, neither anyone celebrates it by fulfilling it as a bond nor anyone thinks of any aspect of protection sincerely.
Not only sisters, but brothers also need protection
We see that on the day of Raksha Bandhan, little sisters also tie Rakhi to their little brothers. But it must be pondered how can such young children have the thought of protection in their mind? Even matured brothers cannot protect their sisters. In today’s time, not only sisters need protection, but brothers also need protection. Moreover, a brother and a sister may be living miles away from each other; in that case, the former cannot reach the latter in time on this occasion. A few days ago, it was reported in newspapers that in Mumbai a servant in the absence of his master tried to harm the dignity of his master’s wife; finding no other way of support, that lady committed suicide by jumping from upstairs. In such a case, how can a brother reach to protect his sister? Thus, the question arises what is the real significance of Raksha Bandhan?

This Bond is of Dharma, i.e. Dharana or Inculcation

As far as the disease, poverty and various forms of calamity are concerned, the same are the results of human-being’s own deeds. Until he improves, changes his deeds, makes his nature sweet and divine, there is no alternative of protection. Hence, it is clear that Raksha Bandhan is not any apparent thing, but is a bond of Dharma or Purity. Those who protect dharma are protected by the dharma. Those who remain pure in their thoughts, words and deeds, are protected by their own good deeds; someone definitely becomes instrumental in helping them.        

Why do sisters tie Rakhis to their brothers?

Sisters have great love for their brothers. They can’t see the moral downfall of their brothers and cannot accept their brothers being tied in the bondage of vices. Knowledgeable sisters know that a person in the bondage of vices will eventually be bonded in sorrow, miseries and untimely death. Therefore, they tie their brothers in the bond of purity and dharma. Hence, celebrating this festival from the perspective of physical relation is ignoring the secret of this great festival. Knowing the secret of tying of this bond is very essential for both – the one who is tying it and also the one who is tied with Rakhi.

Protect the fast of Purity

This festival has been called as ‘poison-breaking festival’ or ‘festival bestowing benevolence’; that also proves that it is something of a very high bond; the bond of thread is just a symbol. All of us know whether a lotus flower is symbolic of purity or just an adornment. When we tell following this great fast, don’t deserve to tie this bond of purity to anyone. The one, who doesn’t follow any rule, neither has a right to give speech on this topic to anyone, nor can his or her speech influence people. In this context, the example from the life of Mahatma Gandhi will clarify this point more effectively. It is said that once a mother took her son to the prayer-assembly of Gandhi ji and someone to become like the flower lotus, that doesn’t mean that one should pluck it from a pond and hold it in his or her hand, but it means that just as a lotus flower, despite living in the dirty water, remains pure, detached and separate; similarly, one should become detached and disinterested. Likewise, ‘Tie the bond of Protection’ means ‘observe the fast of purity’.

Purity is dear to Protector God

The relation of brother and sister is sacred. The vision among brother and sister is very pure towards each other; there is never even a fraction of sexlust in it. Therefore, from the relation of religion, sisters tie Rakhi to brothers, or Brahmins tie it to householders with the wish ‘Brother, be pure because purity is dear to the Protector God.’

Great conduct makes the speech effective

In fact, those sisters, who are not following the fast of celibacy or those Brahmins who are not said – “Mahatma ji, a son of mine eats a lot of jaggery, which is causing so many pimples, blemishes to him, but he still would not give up this habit; if you try to convince him, I’m sure he will agree.’ Gandhi ji said “Okay, please bring him to me after a month, then I’ll teach him about it.’ The mother went back. After one month, she came back and reminded Mahatma Gandhi ji of that incident. Now Gandhi ji advised the child not to eat the jaggery and the child accepted Gandhi ji’s advice. Then, the mother asked Gandhi ji, “Wouldn’t it have been more beneficial  if you had told this to my son one month ago?” Gandhi ji said, “But, then, I didn’t have the right to tell this.” The mother was astonished and said, “So, what has made the difference in one month?” Gandhiji replied, “Since I myself gave up the habit of
eating jaggery; that is why this impacted the child and he accepted my teaching.”

The beginning of the festival

When those sisters who themselves observe the fast of celibacy in a knowledgeable manner or those Brahmins who remain pure in  thoughts, words and deeds, tie Rakhis to their brothers or householders, only then the latter will get the inspiration to follow them. In the beginning, i.e. some time before the beginning of Satyuga, in Confluence Age, when those Brahmins who were following the teaching of Knowledge given by God Himself through the medium of Prajapita Brahma, followed the fast of Celibacy, they bound others also in this bond of purity and gave them Godly advice that they should sustain this fast. Thus, Raksha Bandhan or the festival of breaking the poison of vices started.

The glory of Shravan Month

You know that this festival is celebrated every year in the Shravan month of Hindu calendar. This month is also called ‘Mal Maas’. This ritual also indicates that when the whole world gets maligned with the vices such as SexLust, Anger etc., then the Supreme Soul, God Shiva incarnates in the body of Prajapita Brahma and showers– the rain of Knowledge; those true and pure Brahmins, who listen to this Knowledge, take a vow of chastity. Then, these Brahmins bind the people with the bond of protection of purity.

True Mahaveer (Brave men) and Mahaveernis (Brave women)

Thus, if we really need protection from ‘Death’, punishments from Yamraj, disease and sorrow, we need to get tied with this wonderful bond. In other words, we must take a vow to become completely pure in thoughts, words and deeds. Instead of tying Raksha Bandhan to others or getting tied with the same from others, firstly, we need to tie ourselves with this bond. If you have the urge to make your life elevated, if you have true love for God, then you need to take up this responsibility of purity. Getting tied with this true sacred thread is the job of true Mahaveers. How will the cowards protect someone? The Mahaveers and Mahaveernis are those, who are determined to wage a war against the vice of sex-lust; those who in order to put off the flame of anger, get recruited in the spiritual brigade and those who have the courage to cross the mud of attachment and eradicate the ego through the sword of knowledge. Thus, if you want to truly celebrate Raksha Bandhan, then get tied with such a Rakhi so that you can attain the self-sovereignty of Paradise, through which you can receive God’s love. Then you won’t need protection from anyone anymore and through which all wishes will be fulfilled.

Take a vow to live a new life

If you are having any relation and conduct of impurity with someone, then, on this day of purity, tie to one another this bond of purity. On the day of Raksha Bandhan, let’s take a vow that from this day we’ve been tied in the bond of purity and from now onward, our life will completely be a changed. In this life, we will protect our purity in thought, word and deed completely. We’ll also be careful about what we give and take and will pay attention towards karmic account so that the same doesn’t include impurity of any sort. If we celebrate Raksha Bandhan only in this way, this country can become a great country and paradise and the dream of Gandhi ji of establishing Ram Rajya here will be fulfilled. That is why it is famously said, “when Indra’s wife tied Rakhi to him, he got the divine selfsovereignty of paradise and when Yamuna tied her brother Yam with this bondage, he bestowed this boon on humanity that on this day whoever ties Rakhi will be exempted from the punishment in Yam Lok. This proves that on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan one can attain the sovereignty of paradise and can be exempted from the punishment at the hands of Yam to stay in original nature of peace, love and purity and have a loving connection with God. It is God alone, who can be a trulyeffective and loyal protector than any other human being.