Raksha Bandhan 2017 & Astrological Significance

Raksha Bandhan in India is a grand festival that is solely dedicated to all the brothers and sisters of the country. India is a land of various festivals celebrated from time to time to glorify the spirit and beauty of different relationships. One such festival is Raksha Bandhan. The sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan 2014 date is 10 August. In ordinary language Raksha Bandhan would mean, bonding someone into a lifelong relationship as your protector. Although this festival signifies a sacred bond with your protector, it is primarily celebrated as a festival that glorifies the bonding between a brother and sister. In a way this festival is an expression of the sacred love between a brother and a sister. While tying a rakhi on her brothers wrist the sister hopes that her brother will protect her from all kinds of difficult situations and protect whenever the need be. The significance of the festival Raksha bandhan is known to all and this is the reason that people take Raksha bandhan very seriously.

At the same time this festival has immense intellectual, religious and historical significance. Although celebrated with a lot of pomp and joy by the whole of India. Raksha bandhan is considered to be a Hindu Festival, that to specially sacred for the Hindu Brahmins. For the Brahmins it’s the biggest of all festival. Reference to this can be found in Bhavishya Purana which states:

सर्वरोगोपषमनं सर्वाषुभ विनाषनम्।
सकृत्कृतेनाब्दमेकं येन रक्षाकृता भवेत्।।

King Yudhisthira once asked Lord Krishna for a way to way off all evil spirits and bad luck so as to protect oneself. That’s when Lord Krishna made reference to Raksha Bandhan, a festival that protects you from any mishap. Celebrated in the ‘Shukla paksha’ of ‘Shravan’, observing this festival in an auspicious way keeps your enemies away.

There are several reasons for celebrating this festival as understood from the puranas. Besides this there are significant Astrological reasons that prove beyond doubt that celebrating this festival according to the stated rituals can actually protect you from enemies. Indian months as we already know are assigned in terms of the ‘nakshatra’, and so this festival is celebrated on ‘Maasant Diwas’. It’s a day of ‘Shravana Nakshatra’ and month of ‘Shravan’. Indian months as we already know are assigned in terms of the “nukshatra” , and so this festival is celebrated on ‘Maasant Diwas’. It’s a day of ‘Shravan Nukshatra’ and month of’ Shravan’. The blessings of Shravan month is stated as:

‘पुत्र पौत्र समायुक्तो मित्रबृंद समाकुल’

Meaning that if an individual is born in the month of ‘Shravan’, then he is surrounded by friends family and sons. Being a day of ‘Shukla paksha’, individual born on this day is: ‘प्रतापीषील वान्ज्ञेयो’ meaning blessed with patience and popularity. It being ‘Purnamasi’ , individuals born on this day are:

‘धर्मवृत्तिमानंदः सुन्दर कोमलवचः’

meaning blessed as religious, fun loving, heavenly and sweet spoken. As a result of ‘Shravana Nakshatra’ they are :

‘रिपुहृतासुमित्रष्च सत्पात्रधनवान्जरः बहुपुत्रसमायुक्तो’

meaning destroyers of enemies, good friends, wealthy and worthy and son bearing. Interestingly, not only does this apply to people born at this time but also to those who perform the rituals and puja in a proper manner. In a nutshell celebrating this festival is auspicious as it will make one happy, wealthy, praise worthy, dominate over enemies and protected from sudden obstacles. So, one should celebrate this festival with joy.

Raksha Bandhan Rituals

In the ‘Shravan’ month on ‘Shukla Purnima’, if one applies cow dung all around the house, it results in ‘Grih Shuddhi’ i.e. it purifies entire home and one is relieved from all sins. One should start the day by getting up early in the morning and taking holy bath at the time of sunrise. This is to be followed by ‘Tarpan’, where one offers pure water to his forefathers and family Gods. In the end, one should offer flowers, lighted incense, coconut, rice, mustard, moli and roli. Raksha Bandhan’s Nishidh Kaal is considered “Bhadra”. One should avoid tying Rakhi at this time.

So celebrate this festival by following all the rituals and customs in order to receive fruitful results.

AstroCAMP wishes a very Happy Raksha Bandhan…!!