Our secular textbooks trace Rakhi to Rani Durgawati and Humayun. The original legend is much older. According to this legend, during the Satayuga, King Bali, under the evil influence of his vaulting ego, declared himself to be the God. Bhagwan Vishnu assumed the form of Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin, and went to Bali to seek alms. Bali, who took pride in being the most generous, sought to know his specific need. Vamana asked for land equal merely to the measure of his three steps. When granted the freedom to take it anywhere he pleased, the Lord Vishnu emerged from his disguise of Vamana, expanded himself to infinity and measured the whole universe in his two steps. He, then, asked Bali to offer the space for the third. King Bali, thus having lost his entire Kingdom to Vamana, realised that Vamana is none other than Bhagwan Vishnu. He surrendered at His feet and begged to be pardoned. Having accomplished the purpose of his incarnation, just when Bhagwan Vishnu began to return, Bali requested the Lord to stay back to protect his kingdom, himself. The Lord agreed. Goddess Lakshmi, the Lords Consort, realised that the Bhagwan Vishnu had not returned. When she looked for him on the earth, she found the Lord guarding the kingdom of Bali. She, then, assumed the form of a small girl and reached the court of Bali. When Bali asked her to state her desire, the girl asked for the Lord who was engaged in the security of Bali’s kingdom. Bali realised that the girl is none but the Goddess Lakshmi. He surrendered at her feet and prayed to her, “Mother, who will protect my kingdom if you take the Lord away?” The little girl, then tore a strip of cloth from her drape and tied that to the wrist of Bali saying, this rakshasutra would protect your kingdom. Since then the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated. The following shloka in Sanskrit is recited by the sister while tying the thread: येन बद्धो बलि राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबल: तें त्वाम अभिबद्धामी रक्षमाचल्माचल: (Yen baddho bali raja, danvendro mahabalah Ten tvam abhibaddhami, rakshamachal, machalah) It literally means: Just as the all powerful and most generous King Bali was protected, I tie this thread and may it protect you always.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:40:45 +0000
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