Raksha Bandhan Puja

Introduction

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on Shravan Poornima – the auspicious day when Yamuna – the River Goddess – tied ‘rakshaa’ on her brother’s wrist and granted him immortality. Her brother Yama – the God of Death – was so touched by her gesture that he extended the boon to all brothers whose sisters tie rakhis on their wrists and pray for their long life on this day.

Again, it was Shravan Poornima when Goddess Lakshmi tied the sacred thread to Raja Bali and prayed for his long life, good health and good fortune. Later, she revealed her identity to Raja Bali, who asked her what she wanted as a Rakhi return gift. She asked Bali to release her husband – Lord Narayana – from his commitment to be the bodyguard of Bali forever. Bali acquiesced and liberated Narayana at the cost of his own safety. Goddess Lakshmi blessed him.

Since then, sisters tie rakhi on the wrists of their brothers and pay for their long life and good fortune. And those who aren't in the country prefer Sending Online Rakhi to India for their brother.

Significance of Raksha Bandhan Puja

Raksha Bandhan is now considered as a day to celebrate the sacred relation of a brother and a sister, but the vedic scriptures shows the Rishis tied rakhi to the people who came seeking their blessings. The sages tied the sacred thread to themselves to safe guard them from the evil. It is by all means the 'Pap Todak, Punya Pradayak Parva' or the day that bestows boons and end all sins. where in rakhi denotes a raksha or protection. It could also be tied by wife, a daughter or mother or anyone else to seek protection. However, on rakshaa bandhan it is the emotions which are important. The rakshaa bandhan ceremony performed is the symbolic everlasting bond between brothers and sisters that reinforces ties between them even across continents, and it is the one which has the most importance on this auspicious day and both should pray for strength to protect the nation and Religion.

Benefits of Performing Raksha Bandhan Puja

• To win over enemies/adversaries.
• To protect from any negative eventuality/evil effects.
• To minimize the malefic effect of afflicted Mercury.
• To bond everlasting love and harmony between brothers and sisters.
• To remove malefic effect of inflicted 3rd house in horoscope.
• To remove the Parakram heen dosha in the horoscope.
• To achieve mental and physical power.
• To acquire boldness to take risks and start new initiatives without emotions or fears.

Raksha Bandhan Puja Vidhi (Procedure)

Here is the right Raksha Bandhan puja vidhi to celebrate the occasion

• On the day of Raksha Bandhan, all family members should get up early, perform morning chores and take an early bath. All brothers and sisters dress up for the occasion in new but traditional dresses. Girls and women usually wear lehengas, salwar-suits and sarees while boys and men usually wear kurta-pyjamas or dhoti-kurtas.
• Both brothers and sisters observe fasts until Rakhi puja is completed.
• Womenfolk decorate Rakhi puja thalis, which are usually made of steel, copper, brass, bronze, silver or gold.
• Rakhi Puja Thalis have a lighted diya, a small glass of water, few flowers, roli, chaawal, kodi (optional), rakhi, coconut and sweets.
• In many homes, first rakhi is offered to Lord Ganesha or the deity of the family. Girls and women, who don’t have brothers, also tie rakhis to deities of their choice.
• At the time of puja, brothers are made to sit on a comfortable sofa, chair or a wooden seat (patra). Their heads are covered with new turbans or handkerchiefs. In case, a new handkerchief is not available people also use the palm of their right hand to cover their heads when sisters mark ‘tilak’ or ‘tikka’ on their forehead.
• Before performing the tilak, wet roli with a few drops of water with a flower to make a red paste. Tilak should always be done with the thumb of the right hand. It should start from the centre of the eyebrows and is stretched upwards.
• Then, sisters tie rakhi on the wrists of their brother chanting the mantra
• Sisters, then, give coconut to the brothers, which they take using both hands – with right hand on top of the left hand.
• Sisters also perform aarti of their brothers to ward off evil and bad luck. They pray for their long life and good fortune.
• After the puja is done, sisters feed sweets to their brothers and offer them water. Brothers, too, feed sweets to their sisters, vow to protect them and their happiness forever and offer them Rakhi gifts in return as a token of their blessings and commitment.

In many families, sisters tie Lumba rakhis to their bhabhis and pay for their protection too. When you tie rakhi to a bhabhi, Rakhi puja vidhi remains same, except that bhabhis are offered dry coconuts or gut. In turn, bhabhis offer a token cash gift or a combine Rakhi gift to sister-in-laws. This tradition originally belongs to Rajasthan and is rooted in Hindu edict that wives are the other halves of their husbands.

Raksha Bandhan Puja Shubh Muhurat

Raksha Bandhan should be performed during Shravana Purnima after avoiding Bhadra timings.