tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post115481208383152503..comments2023-09-16T07:34:36.539-07:00Comments on Green Parenting: Raksha Bandan – A Tradition Worth RethinkingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-86600344374447944532009-08-03T01:14:07.535-07:002009-08-03T01:14:07.535-07:00We Indians definitely do have some wonderful Festi...We Indians definitely do have some wonderful Festivals out of which Deepawali and RakshaBandhan are my favorites.Anamikahttp://hubpages.com/hub/Raksha-Bandhan-rakhi-Hindu-indian-Festivalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-64933922510012554082008-07-12T06:45:00.000-07:002008-07-12T06:45:00.000-07:00Rakhi Festival is celebrated both in India. This d...Rakhi Festival is celebrated both in India. This day is celebrated with sister's tying rakhi on their brother's wrist, performing arti and also praying for their long life and his happiness. This comment on Rakhi from <A HREF="http://www.infibeam.com/rakhi-gifts/" REL="nofollow">Send Rakhi Gifts to India</A>Mahi. Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05459162561127991820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-1156974859579350422006-08-30T14:54:00.000-07:002006-08-30T14:54:00.000-07:00Thank you for sharing explanation of Raksha Bandha...Thank you for sharing explanation of Raksha Bandhan by Swami Sivananda. <BR/><BR/>I think it's interesting how varied the idea of protection is in the descriptions of the raksha. Some descriptions emphasize that the sister is asking for the brother's protection. But in Sivananda's description, the stories are of consorts tying the thread on the vulnerable god's wrist. It is the woman giving the man protection. Not the sister, either, but the lover.<BR/><BR/>My point is that the tradition is very old and it is worth maintaining. Any tradition that keeps people connected in meaningful relationships is very important to save. At the same time, we shouldn't invoke the vedas as a way freezing the current practice of the tradition. The tradition and the language associated with Raksha Bandan aren't unitary or frozen. Women and girls should receive the thread, just as they are expected to give them.GreenDaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900051514824318419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-1156972361049867392006-08-30T14:12:00.000-07:002006-08-30T14:12:00.000-07:00FYI ....RAKSHA BANDHAN By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDARAKSH...FYI ....<BR/><BR/>RAKSHA BANDHAN By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA<BR/><BR/>RAKSHA BANDHAN is called Avani Avittam in South India. This falls on the full moon day of the month of Sravan (August-September). It is an important Hindu festival. Hindus wear a new holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day.<BR/><BR/>Recitation of the Vedas on this great day is highly beneficial. This festival is also known as Upakarmam, and is specially sacred to the Brahmins, who have been invested with the sacred thread.<BR/><BR/>When a Brahmin boy is invested with this thread, symbolically his third eye, or the eye of wisdom, is opened. The holy festival of Upakarmam reminds one who wears the sacred thread of its glorious spiritual significance. Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors, to whom they owe their birth; to the great Rishis, to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual knowledge; and to the Vedas themselves. The true Hindu never forgets his benefactors!<BR/><BR/>The followers of the four different Vedas have their Upakarmam on different days.<BR/><BR/>On this day, Sachi, the consort of Indra, tied a holy thread or amulet around the wrist of Indra, when he was defeated by the demons. Then Indra, the king of gods, gained victory over the demons by the power of this protection (Raksha means "protection"). He then recovered the lost city of Amaravati.<BR/><BR/>In North India, on this day, an amulet known as a Raksha or Rakhi, is tied round the wrist of brothers by the sisters as a protection from evil during the coming year. Brahmins and Purohits similarly tie amulets round the wrists of their patrons and receive gifts. A Mantra is recited when the Rakhi or the silken thread is tied. The silken thread is charged with the power of the Mantra, which is as follows:<BR/><BR/> Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah;<BR/> Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshey maa chala maa chala.<BR/><BR/>"I am tying on your hand this Raksha, with which the most powerful and generous King Bali himself was bound; O Raksha, don’t go away; don’t go away."<BR/><BR/>The power of this Mantra protects the wearer from evil influences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-1155067558588594272006-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:002006-08-08T13:05:00.000-07:00I think many older folks fear that traditions will...I think many older folks fear that traditions will be abandoned entirely more than they fear seeing the traditions modified. Of course, equal rights for gays stirs emotions when it comes to marriage even though it is an expansion of a conservative institution.GreenDaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900051514824318419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16788602.post-1154871767819592672006-08-06T06:42:00.000-07:002006-08-06T06:42:00.000-07:00actually that made sense.Imagine the look on the o...actually that made sense.Imagine the look on the older people's faces if we went around exchanging rakhis among sisters!Tia Rainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13311587755351586014noreply@blogger.com