1. “Rakshabandhan is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan (August).”
The choice of Purnima (full moon) is significant — it represents completeness, illumination, and the fullness of human affection. In the month of Shravan, nature is refreshed by the rains, symbolizing a renewal of bonds and the washing away of past grievances. Just as the moon’s light is shared equally with all, the essence of Rakshabandhan is to share love and goodwill beyond the limits of personal circles.
2. “It is a day when brothers and sisters affirm their bond.”
Here, “brother” and “sister” go beyond blood relation — in Vedic culture, these words often denote sacred companionship, where mutual care, respect, and protection form the foundation of the relationship. Affirming a bond means consciously renewing a commitment, much like a spiritual vow.
3. “Sisters tie the sacred thread on their brothers’ wrists.”
The Rakhi is more than just a thread — in symbolism, it’s a protective amulet, akin to a yajnopavita (sacred thread) in spiritual rites. Its tying is a mindful act: the sister binds her brother’s destiny with prayers for his well-being, and, by tradition, infuses the thread with divine mantras.
4. “This thread, which pulsates with sisterly love and sublime sentiments, is rightly called the ‘Rakhi’.”
The “pulsation” here is poetic — it means the thread becomes a living symbol of emotion and intention. It is no longer an inert object; it is a carrier of feeling, a sankalpa (sacred resolve). In essence, the Rakhi transforms into a covenant of protection and love.
5. “The brothers in turn give their sisters gifts and promise to protect them.”
This is a reciprocal dharma — protection is not only physical defense; it includes supporting her dignity, happiness, and freedom. Gifts, in this sense, are tokens of gratitude, but the real offering is the vow itself, which is timeless and binding.
6. “Rakshabandhan is celebrated in different forms and is also referred to as rakhri, baleva and saluno in different parts of India.”
The diversity of names reflects the adaptability of the tradition — its essence remains the same, but each region infuses it with local customs, foods, and rituals. This universality within diversity mirrors the broader Indian spiritual ethos.
7. “The tradition of tying Rakhi can be traced to various stories in Indian Mythology.”
This anchors the practice in the cultural memory. Mythological references serve as archetypes — they are not just stories, but moral frameworks, each showing how a simple thread can symbolize profound loyalty, sacrifice, and honor.
8. “According to one legend the Demon King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu.”
The reference to King Bali’s devotion reminds us that dharma can be upheld even by those labeled “asura” (demon). It’s devotion, not social label, that determines the nobility of a soul.
9. “Lord Vishnu had taken up the task to guard King Bali’s kingdom leaving his own abode in Vaikunta.”
Here, Vishnu’s act is symbolic — protection is not hierarchical but relational. Even the divine leaves His celestial home to honor a devotee’s promise, showing that protection is a sacred duty.
10. “Goddess Laxmi wished to be with her lord back in her abode.”
Lakshmi here represents the yearning of the heart for reunion — the emotional dimension behind every bond. Even in the divine realm, there is longing and love.
11. “She went to Bali disguised as a Brahmin woman to seek refuge till her husband came back.”
Disguise in mythology often serves as a test — it reveals the true nature of people. Here, Bali’s response to a stranger’s need shows his generosity without knowing her true identity.
12. “During the Shravan Purnima celebrations, the Goddess Laxmi tied the sacred thread to the King.”
The timing is deliberate — Purnima is when vows are sealed under auspicious cosmic alignment. The act also extends Rakshabandhan beyond family — it becomes a universal rite of trust.
13. “Upon being asked why, she revealed who she was and why she was there.”
Revelation in myths always follows trust — truth is shared after the bond is formed, teaching that faith precedes full understanding.
14. “The king was touched by her goodwill and her purpose and requested Lord Vishnu to accompany her.”
This is the selflessness of dharma — Bali does not cling to his privilege; he releases even divine protection for the sake of another’s happiness.
15. “He sacrificed all he had for the Lord and his devoted wife.”
Sacrifice here means recognizing that bonds of love are greater than the bonds of possession. True protection sometimes means letting go.
16. “Rakshabandhan is said to be a sattvic bandhan whereby you tie yourself in with everybody, with knowledge and love.”
This is the heart of Gurudev’s point — sattvic ties transcend attachment and are grounded in selfless goodwill. It’s the opposite of possessiveness; it is expansive, including all beings in the circle of care.
17. “Thus the festival is also called Baleva that is Raja Bali’s devotion to the Lord.”
Baleva preserves the memory that devotion itself is a form of protection — when we honor dharma, we protect the world.
18. “It is said that since then it has been a tradition to invite sisters in Shravan Purnima for the thread tying ceremony or RakshaBandhan.”
This tradition is a re-enactment of the ancient vow — a living history performed every year to keep the memory and meaning alive.
19. “There are three types of bandhan or ties: Satvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic.”
This classification is pure Vedantic insight — all relationships can be evaluated by the quality of their energy: uplifting (sattvic), desire-driven (rajasic), or binding in ignorance (tamasic).
20. “Rakshabandhan is said to be a sattvic bandhan whereby you tie yourself in with everybody, with knowledge and love.”
By repeating this, Gurudev emphasizes universality — the true Rakhi is tied to the whole of humanity.
21. “On Rakshabandhan day, the festivities start at daybreak…”
Starting at dawn is symbolic of clarity and purity; the day begins with prayer so that the intention is sanctified.
22. “After invoking the blessings of the Gods, the sister performs the brother’s aarti…”
Aarti is not mere ritual — it’s the recognition of the divine spark within the other, circling light as a gesture of reverence.
23. “…puts tika and chawal on his forehead and ties rakhi on his wrist while chanting mantras.”
The tika (vermilion) is a mark of sanctity; rice (chawal) is abundance and fertility; mantras invoke the unseen forces that guard the relationship.
24. “Then she gives him sweets and gifts.”
Sweets symbolize the wish for sweetness in life — it’s the tangible expression of goodwill.
25. “The brother accepts her offerings and vows to take care of her…”
The vow is the core — without it, the ceremony is incomplete. It transforms the act into a moral contract.
26. “Rakshabandhan if taken in the true sense encompasses love, peace and protection.”
This sentence is the distilled teaching — love without fear, peace without conditions, protection without control.
27. “Although, now it is considered as a festival for brothers and sisters it was not always so.”
A gentle reminder that modern forms have narrowed an originally universal practice.
28. “There have been examples in history wherein rakhi signified raksha or protection. It could be tied by a wife, daughter or mother.”
Protection is not gender-bound — nor is it one-way. Women, too, have historically been protectors in their own right.
29. “The Rishis tied rakhi to the people who came seeking their blessings.”
Here, rakhi is a spiritual safeguard — like a talisman against inner and outer harm.
30. “The sages tied the sacred thread to themselves to safeguard them from evil.”
This reflects self-protection through remembrance — a physical reminder to stay in dharma.
31. “It is the ‘Papa Todak, Punya Pradayak Parva’…”
This name conveys its purificatory nature: it removes sin (papa todak) and grants merit (punya pradayak).
32. “…the day that bestows boons and ends all sins as it is mentioned in the scriptures.”
The festival thus transcends relationship — it becomes a day of cosmic reset, a renewal of the moral and spiritual order.
33. “Happy Rakshabandhan ❤️”
Though a simple greeting, it holds layers of meaning — in Sanskrit, Raksha means “to guard, to preserve” and Bandhan means “to bind, to connect.” So when we wish “Happy Rakshabandhan,” we are actually blessing someone with the joy of sacred protection and unbreakable bonds. The heart emoji, though modern, reflects the same timeless warmth and affection that the thread represents.
From here, we can see that the message is closing, but its philosophical continuation invites us to extend the meaning of Rakshabandhan into a timeless spiritual vow:
In Sanatana Dharma, any act of “tying” (bandhan) is symbolic of anchoring the mind in a higher truth. The Rakhi is a gentle tether between souls, reminding them to walk together in righteousness (dharma) no matter the storms.
When the sages tied threads to themselves, they demonstrated that the first and foremost protection must be self-remembrance — staying rooted in virtue and unshakable in wisdom.
When the Goddess tied a Rakhi to King Bali, she was teaching humanity that even apparent opposites — a Deva’s consort and an Asura king — can share a bond when the foundation is sincerity and respect.
When a sister ties Rakhi to her brother, or a disciple to a guru, or a citizen to a leader, it becomes a miniature enactment of the cosmic truth: We are bound together by the duty to protect each other’s light.
And so, Rakshabandhan in its pure sattvic form is a reminder that:
Protection is not control, it is freedom guarded with love.
Bond is not possession, it is companionship in truth.
Family is not limited by blood, it is defined by the shared flame of the heart.
This understanding allows the festival to breathe again in its original universality — transcending gender, relation, caste, religion, or geography — becoming a celebration of human unity under divine law.