Today is Rakhsabandhan. An attempt to unfurl how the festival started. According to the Hindu Epics, Raja Bali was such a great devotee of God Vishnu that Lord Indra felt insecure of his throne. Indra worshiped Vishnu and asked the God to help him save his throne. Vishnu accepted Indras prayer and overthrew Bali. Vishnu took the form of a Dwarf (Vaman Avtar) and went to Raja Bali and asked for donations. Raja Bali, depsite being a Demon and descendant of demon Hiranyakashipu was a righteous King and donated generously. The dwarf asked the King for land as much as the size of his 3 feet. The King laughed and said he is the owner of Earth and Heaven and 3 feet are too little which he can generously offer. Raja Balis Guru Shukracharya recognizes the Dwarf is none else but Vishnu. He tried to stop Bali, but Bali said he had promised to donate before the Ashva medh yajna and was bound by his promise. Then Raja Bali tried to take Holy water from his Kamandal to the Dwarf a s a signature of his promise. However Shukracharya blocked the flow of Water from kamandal by taking a microform and entering the vessel. Dwarf knew this and gave a wooden prick to Bali to remove the blockade. Bali did the same which ended up destroying Shukracharyas one eye forever by the wooden prick. As soon as Bali poured water, the Dwarf took huge form, larger than the earth. With 1st foot he measured entire earth, with 2nd foot he measured entire heaven. When his foot measures heaven, God Bramha pours some water on his legs and stores it in a vessel (which forms the origin of River Ganges at a later stage). Now God turns to Bali and asks him, he promised 3 feet land but got only 2 feet, what would he do for the 3rd feet. king Bali says, he can place his 3rd foot on Kings head and relieve the King of his promise. God Vishnu does exactly the same. As soon as Good touches Balis head with his foot, Bali announces that now he belongs to the God and God must protect him from the wrath of his foes (Indra). God readily agrees. God Vishnu leaves his home Vaikunth and becomes a gatekeeper for King Bali to protect him Soon, Goddess Laxmi, wife of Lord Vishnu, went to Raja Bali, as a poor lady, and requested him for shelter. She regarded Bali as her brother and tied a Rakhi (Raksha) on to his wrist, on the Shravan Poornima day. When Bali wished to give her some present, she told him her true identity and the reason for her arrival. She also asked Bali to send God Vishnu back to Vaikunthdham. Raja Bali immediately requested God Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi to return. Goddess Lakshmi told Bali that the Raksha (Rakhi) on his hands would protect him and he wont need God Vishnu to act as his gatekeeper for protection anymore. From that day onwards, sisters tie Rakhi on the hands of their brothers to wish for their long life and brothers offer them presents. Thus the tradition has lived for millennia
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 07:24:33 +0000
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