Today, millions of Hindu, Jain and Sikh sisters will tie colourful Rakhi threads on the wrists of their own brothers,to ensure their protection, ie, raksha, does it not strike us that this quite different from when we have read in religion and history? Was it not just the other way round, ie, sisters of all types sought protection and that too, not from their real brothers ?
Actually, blood-related brothers and sisters came into this Raksha purnima festival rather late and the Hindu calendar has another date earmarked for them, ie, Bhratri Dwitiya or Bhai Phnota or Bhai Dooj. And, Rakhis were reserved throughout history for non-related or strategic brothers and sisters. The oldest story about Rakhi is that of Indra mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana. The gods had great difficulties with some special demons and Bali is one such character, who repeatedly disgraced and defeated Indra, sending him into exile. Poor Indra sought professional consultations from his Guru, Brihaspati, who suggested an auspicious date and time but his wife Sachi decided not to take chances and tied a divine protective thread around Indra-dev's wrist. This ensured his protection and final victory on Shravan Purnima day, which explains the date of the festival though sisters were yet to come into the picture.
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