Raksha Bandhan 2013 & Astrological Significance

By Bala Mishra

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 2013 date is 21 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; the Hindus, Muslims. Sikh, Christians, primarily, 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 Bhuvishya Puran which states:

सर�वरोगोपषमनं सर�वाष�भ विनाषनम�।
सकृत�कृतेनाब�दमेकं येन रक�षाकृता भवेत�।।

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

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. To start with this festival is to be celebrated during ‘shravan month’. 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:

‘प�त�र पौत�र समाय�क�तो मित�रबृंद समाक�ल’

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 pukhsha’ individual born on this day is: ‘प�रतापीषील वान�ज�ञेयो’ meaning blessed with patience and popularity. It being ‘Purnamaasi’ , individuals born on this day are:

‘धर�मवृत�तिमानंदः स�न�दर कोमलवचः’

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

‘रिप�हृतास�मित�रष�च सत�पात�रधनवान�जरः बह�प�त�रसमाय�क�तो’

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 an auspicious manner. In a nutshells celebrating the festival as is auspicious will bring make one patient, popular, efficient, fun loving, heavenly , sweet spoken , destroyer of enemies, wealthy, worthy, happy and protected. So try celebrating this festival in a auspicious manner.

Raksha Bandhan Rituals

In the ‘Shravan’ month on ‘Shukla Purnima’, if one applies cow dung all around ones house, it results in ‘Grihshuddhi’ i.e. it purifies entire home and one is relieved of 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.

Raksha Bandhan 2013: Astrological Significance

On the Day of Raksha Bandhan in 2012, the transit planetary position in the Zodiac would be as under:

Of the above nine planets, Mercury will remain retrograde. As we are all aware that Full Moon Day, which is popularly, known as PURNAMASI occurs only when Moon is in opposition with Sun in the zodiac. This time around the Sun would be in Cancer the sign of Moon and Moon in Capricorn ruled by Saturn. Cancer is 4th house in the natural zodiac and is symbolic of emotion and Mother. Capricorn is 10th house in the natural zodiac representing work, career and govern.

Therefore, the mutual aspects between Sun and Moon from 4th and 10th house respectively are of weighty significance. The day being one of the most auspicious in the Hindu calendar as well as Vedic Astrological parlance, we can take pledge and commence the following work having bearing in our individual as well as social life.

1. Adore peace and shun violence of any form;
2. Deep rooted respect to womanhood with brotherly approach to protect them and resolve their problems;
3. Start thrifty habits. It is the most auspicious day to start small savings, as Moon is the natural significator of wealth and she is transiting the 10th house of natural zodiac on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
4. Start any auspicious work but consult your astrologer before that for analyzing your horoscope and electing a most auspicious time for you which would suit best for that particular intent.

Start any auspicious work but consult your astrologer before that for analyzing your horoscope and electing a most auspicious time for you which would suit best for that particular intent.