Raksha Bandhan | Sacred Threads and Bondage of Faith & Love

Raksha Bandhan is one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindu culture which falls on the Purnima Day (Full Moon) of Shravan Month of the Hindu calendar.

It is a festival celebrating bondage, faith, and love. This bondage is of many types.

But, the two main types of bondage celebrated through this festival are:

1) The bondage between brothers and sisters and,
2) The bondage between child and education.

The entire month of Sravana is very important as many celebrations take place throughout this month. Especially for women, this is the month of worshipping Goddess Laxmi. Each Friday of this month is more auspicious when they observe fast and worship Goddess with turmeric and kumkum and flowers and invite ladies and offer them these things along with fruits, sweets, bangles and cloth pieces as it is believed that the more you offer turmeric, kumkum, and flowers, and other auspicious items of women to the Goddess, the more your husband and family will prosper with happiness and long life.

Raksha Bandhan for Brothers and Sisters

The general people celebrate Raksha Bandhan day widely as a festival for sisters and brothers. It is the festival of love and bondage between brothers and sisters. It is the festival of tying a sacred thread of love, affection, and bondage.

This thread is called Rakhi or Raksha. The sister ties the sacred thread of Rakhi to her brothers' wrists after applying tilak to their forehead and giving aarati to them.

The sacred thread is first kept in front of God and worshipped and then tied to their wrists. After tying the thread to their wrists,  sweets are also offered to the brothers. The brother, in turn, offers some gift or money to the sister as a token of affection and care for her.

It is a display of love and bondage and a commitment between brothers and sisters. Sisters express their love towards their brothers by praying to God for their well-being and the brothers, in turn, wish for a happy and prosperous life. They undertake to protect and guard their sisters throughout their good and bad moments of life.

Raksha Bandhan Between Child and Education 

Another major ritual observed by people on this Raksha Bandhan day is the ceremony of Upanayana. It is the ceremony of wearing a sacred thread known as janeu or yajnopavita.

This ceremony of Upanayana or Upakarma is best done before the child is sent to school.

But, most Brahmins and other community people also perform this upanayana of their sons favorably on this day of Raksha Bandhan as it is a very auspicious day.

It is a celebration of bestowing the sacred thread of Brahminhood to their children so that they can acquire spiritual knowledge from their early life. Only on wearing of this thread can one become eligible for attaining the Vedanta Gnana or the knowledge of scriptures.

This ceremony has to be normally performed as per our old traditions,  as soon as a boy child becomes eligible for attending school. But nowadays, it is performed at our own convenience (but before his marriage at any cost). One can marry only after upanayana is done to him.

There are four stages of life as per our Hindu Vedic Culture. They are Balya (childhood), Brahmacharya (bachelor life), Grihastha (married life), and Vanaprastha (retired, ascetic life).

The stage of brahmacharya completes only when he is bestowed with the sacred thread. He is bestowed with this thread amidst Vedic mantras by pundits during the upanayana celebration in the presence of relatives and friends. One can perform any ritual or puja only by wearing this yajnopavita. It is to be guarded and protected from all impurities. This sacred thread is symbolic of his attaining knowledge.

Raksha Bandhan as a Thread of Protection

Originally, Raksha Bandhan was not limited to brothers and sisters only. It was more widely celebrated by all classes of people as an auspicious day of tying the sacred thread amidst chanting of the Vedic mantras.

It is believed that by chanting mantras and worshipping the thread which is placed in front of God, the thread gets empowered by divine powers, and whoever wears it will become powerful for his enemies and nothing bad will happen to him.

Instances of Raksha Bandhan in our Puranas

Lord Indra's wife Indrani tied this thread to Indra during the war between Devas and Asuras on this auspicious day of Shravan Purnima and he won the battle.

Further, Draupadi in Mahabharata also tied the Rakhi to Lord Krishna seeking protection for her husbands.


So, it has become a practice to tie the Raksha to anybody to protect him from the dangers of life, especially on this auspicious day.

Brahmins tie the thread amidst chanting of mantras to all people normally on this festival day.

You may find the same happening if you attend any Hindu rituals. Before performing any ritual, there is this tradition of tying a rakhi or Raksha to the performer of the ritual. Parents bind this sacred thread to their children for safeguarding them. Husbands bind their wives and wives also bind husbands with these sacred threads for their security.



Modern Raksha Bandhan

Nowadays, Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in modern styles. Various types of Rakhis are available in different sizes, colors, and designs with varying budgets. So you can purchase them as per your and your sibling's likes. You can tie them to your friends and neighbors also as a token of love and affection. So you find a lot of people all around you wearing rakhis and moving glamorously in a festive mood in your homes, neighborhood, and at workplaces or marketplaces. Sravana month itself is a very beautiful season of rains and natural beauty all over. Added to it is galore of festive colors and decorations. It gives great happiness to our minds to see this display of love and bondage among people.

Independence Day and True Independence - Are we Really Independent?

Today we are celebrating our 66th Independence Day. We boast of attaining independence on this 15th day of August 1947 and celebrate the occasion with great pleasure and showbiz.

We attend the flag hoisting functions and listen to our leaders boasting of our country's development and their elusive contributions with sweet promises of more development if they are voted to power.

We utter slogans of "Vande Mataram", "Bharat Mata ki Jai", "Jai Hind", etc. and clap hands at their speeches and return home or watch live telecasts of flag hoisting ceremonies and speeches of CMs, PM, and think we have done a lot of Desh Bhakti and feel our duty is over. But this is not enough for your independence

Where is our Independence? Are we Independent? 

Do we really have it in our real lives?

A look at our society shows how much independent we are.

• There is so much of corruption, violence, terror, and crime all over the society. 
• Public is not safe. 
• There is always fear of danger to lives of innocents. 
• Rapes are becoming common in spite of strict laws. 
• Terrorists and anti-social elements are free to attack at any time and at anyplace. There is no control on them. 
• Moreover, the public and public servants are not free to perform their duties safely and honestly. 
• They get transferred or threatened very frequently for being honest. 
• People are not free to work in their interested provinces. They are scared of politicians getting them evacuated to their native provinces on bifurcation of states. 
• It appears as if the independence is more for the politicians and terrorists to act as per their wishes than for the common public. 
• Corruption is deep rooted in our system.

Economically and politically also we are not of so much independent. We have lost the value of our currency and depend on foreign factors controlling our economy. Further, there are continuous insurgencies from neighboring countries of our borders and security of our people is at risk always.


So how can we proclaim to be independent in our real lives?

Simply delivering speeches or listening to speeches does not bring us independence.

We must act.

Each one of us must strive hard to bring real independence to our lives. Our leaders, administration, and the public also should evolve such procedures by implementing which we can feel ourselves to be really free to live with full freedom in our society without the fear of anybody or any factor under some preset moral and ethical norms of society.

Each one of us should be very sincere, honest and pure in our thoughts and actions and work together unselfishly for the betterment of our society and the country.

Only then can we proclaim to be really Independent. 

Obscenity and Indecency at Public Places and Within Society

I came across an article in the Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad edition reporting about a drunk couple indulging in kissing acts publicly during lunch at a hotel and fighting with the gentleman and the hotel staff objecting to it.


This may not be a single case of such indecent acts. There may be many more such cases of obscenity and indecency like embracing, lip locking and other such acts which occur daily at parks, cinema halls, buses and many more public places.

Normally, newly married couple and dating and co-living people always look for occasions to indulge in such acts. It is but common and natural to have such feelings of enjoying sex for any person especially when young in age.

• Enjoying sex and love in itself is not an offense or a sin. 

• But there should be some boundaries and limits for enjoying it.

• Sex enjoyment is a private, normally closed-room affair. It should not be indulged into at public places. 
• Public display of sexual activity is to be refrained from as it amounts to obscenity and indecency. Further, it can cast bad effects on children and teenagers.

You are living in a traditionally cultured society.

You should learn to respect people and relationships.

Acts of obscenity and indecency can tamper your relationships in your circles and society.


We are human beings and not animals.

Animals may not be able to control their instincts and do not have any moral standards. But even in them, sometimes we do find great discipline and decent behavior.

As human beings, we are empowered with more wisdom and the ability to discriminate between what is proper and improper according to circumstances. We possess the ability to control our emotions and instincts accordingly. So why can't we be more decent and ethical in our actions?


We can learn things by observing the behavior of our parents and other elders of our society.

You will notice how dignified their behavior is as compared to our present, modern, so-called civilized behavior.


So, what I would like to emphasize here is that we must not indulge in such acts which may project us as indecent and vulgar beings. It can be very much embarrassing to our elders and society.

Hindu Religious Practices & Rituals - A Glimpse

The Hindu culture and scriptures have prescribed different types of rites and rituals to be performed on different occasions during our lifespan, from the time of our birth to death. All these have their own significance and impact on our life.

Important Religious Functions in a Person's Life

• At birth, we perform the birthday pooja and Graha Shanthi, etc. for the well-being of the child and his future. 
• On the 21st day of the baby or afterward, the naming ceremony known as Naam Karan (Barasala) is performed.
• On attaining the age of six months or so, we perform the Annaprasan ( giving the first meal to the baby) ceremony. 
• At the age of three, the Aksharabhyasam ceremony (the ritual of starting to write the first letter of Alphabet) is celebrated.
• Thereafter, after attaining a certain age say 12 or afterward, we perform the Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) for boys and the Rajaswala function (Girl Maturity) for girls.
• Then comes the engagement ceremony and the marriage ceremony, the pregnancy ceremony, etc.
• Many other ceremonies are also performed according to your customs and circumstances.
• The final ceremony of life is the death ceremony that lasts for 12 to 13 days and thereafter the annual death ceremonies performed by his/her children.

Most of these ceremonies are to be performed by us to show reverence to our elders and the age-old traditions, even though we may not be believing in all these things.

Many people may try to dismiss all these functions to be superstitious and senseless and as a waste of time and money. But, look at the pleasure and joy it provides to you as well as your elders and family circles. Besides, it creates an atmosphere of family reunion and happiness for some period. You are meet and spend time with your people due to these occasions. Further, it provides a nice satisfaction and remains a sweet memory in your life.


Guidelines for the Performance of These Rituals

While performing these rituals, you may have to take a bath, wear the Dhoti (the traditional attire for performing ceremonies), and may have to bathe and change clothes again and again for some of those ceremonies, in order to perform the next step of that ritual. This may be awkward to you but it is to be performed for the sake of your family members and relatives.


In the case of performing the last journey of the deceased and their death-rites, it might be too much unbearable and undesirable for some people to follow the procedures. Your ego will be coming in between to perform such acts as washing the feet of pundits with your hands (fully wetting their feet with water) and then sprinkling the water on your heads. You may have to dry their feet with your towel and offer them a clean seat to sit. You may also require spreading your towel or Dhoti on the ground for them to walk over it and then, wear it again while performing the remaining part of the pooja.

Be Generous and Positive-Minded

All these practices may seem very silly and irritating to some people. It lies in your perception of things. If you see things as they appear to you it will be wrong for you. You must not perceive these things and interpret them as they appear to your physical senses. You must go in-depth and think of the spiritual and moral values of such practices. If you understand the essence of these practices, then you will not feel hurt or humbled down.


You must think of the Pundits as representatives of your God. While washing the feet of the pundit, you must know that you are washing the feet of God who is receiving your offers.

You cannot contact or come in touch with God directly. So you are keeping a medium in between you and God. That is why you are washing the feet of God represented in the form of your pundit and taking the blessings of God by sprinkling the water so washed over your heads. Whatever service you do to your pundit, think of it that you are doing all this to your God.


You may argue that we do not know whether there is God or not. But, at the same time, you experience some supernatural power controlling everything we do and at all times and all places whichever you cannot explain with all your science and technology. So you agree that there is some power above you. Name this power as God. Even if you do not want to personify Him, it is a fact that there is some Super Power.

• Think that that Super Power is represented by your Pundit. 
• Your pundit may be an ordinary simple man. 
• But to perform your pooja and offer your prayers and offerings, you are treating him as your God or that Superior Power and offering everything to him. 
• You need not go on his qualities or on his age. Simply offer everything to him in the name of God and think as if God is receiving whatever you are offering to him.
• When you think in this manner, you will never feel hurt or subdued and will be able to perform all these traditional rites and rituals with a purified mind and will be able to experience mental satisfaction and peace of mind. 
• You will feel happy and satisfied that you have done a good job.

Sex And Marriage

A lot of fuss is going on regarding the age of consent for sex and the age for marriage.

Discussion for deciding the minimum age of marriage is Okay.

But, I don't see the need for discussing the topic of the age of consent for having sex.

Why should we decide the age of consent to have sex at all? Sex will be there automatically when one is married or matured. Why think of sex and get deprived of other values of life?

• The modern generation has already become more and more materialistic and sexually extra conscious. 
• Ethical and moral values of men have decreased very much. 
• Everywhere, we witness crimes and violence. 
• Each person wants his own selfish enjoyment and growth at the cost of others. 
• Nobody cares about the others. He does not even hesitate for a while in causing trouble to other people for attaining his own desired motive.

In such an environment, publicly debating and wasting time in fixing an age of consent to have sex is very irrelevant. It indirectly implies that the institutions are encouraging the public to have sex among teenagers.

Our institutions should concentrate more on other important issues of life like giving a standard education to children and through that education make them aware of our moral and ethical values of life. And, concentrate more on eradicating the social evils of life and in the upliftment of living standards of people.

• Students must concentrate more on their studies and their health improvement. 
• Enjoyment of sex will be there on time after one is fully matured.
• They should not look for sex till their education is complete and get settled in their life.

Indulging in sex will distract your concentration from other goals of achievements. So, until education is completed, your priority should be your studies and in getting higher degrees and, thereafter, in getting a better career. Until then, sex should not be indulged in. Better devote extra time to improving health and in extra-curricular activities and the development of some nice hobbies. You may spend time with friends for improving these healthy habits and in building up your career.


What is alarming is matured parents debating over the age of consent for sex. Instead of taking care that younger generation does not involve in sexual indulgence, they discuss it publicly as if some most important thing of career is discussed.

We must not encourage sex before settlement in life and if it happens by mistake or spontaneously, we must guide those youngsters to be reasonable and not get flown by emotions.

So, do not waste your time in fixing the age of consent for sex.

One thing more I may want to point out is that sex should not be treated as a mere physical enjoyment.

It is more of a mental joy and peace.

When you have sex with your partner, besides the physical enjoyment, you will be experiencing a pure mental love and satisfaction with your partner. So, when enjoying it after marriage with your spouse, the bondage between both of you will become stronger (both mentally and physically) which will be more fruitful and eternal.