# 29 The Spirit of Raksha Bandhan | The Gita Podcast | Jaya Row

Yes.

Uh, so let's start with the sig- with the background.

Uh, it started, it is reputed to be started by the story of Krishna and Draupadi.

So apparently once, uh, Krishna injured himself, and Draupadi immediately tore a part of her sari and bandaged the, the wound.

And at that time, Krishna was so, uh, moved by it that he pledged that, uh, he gave her a promise that, "I will help you whenever you need me." So this was the starting of a sibling relationship and the purity of intent in that relationship which we need to continue.

And then when Draupadi was disrobed in open parliament by the, uh, Kauravas, and learned people like Bhishma, Dronacharya, and all, they couldn't do anything.

Her own husbands didn't help.

And she had no choice but to appeal to Krishna and, and at that time, everyone knows the story.

Uh, the sari never stopped.

Mm.

And so her honor was, uh, retained.

Ever since then, this Raksha Bandhan, or the bond of protection, uh, came into being where, uh, the sister ties a rakhi to the brother and gives a gift.

And the brother in turn gives a gift back and gives the promise that, "I will take care of you." Now, this is not just a bond of protection.

It is, um, an endorsement of the Sakya Bhava.

So in devotion, in, um, bhakti, there's supposed to be five bhavas.

So one is the lowest, is protected to the protector.

So you look upon God as the protector and you appeal to God to protect.

And then it becomes closer and closer.

So it becomes then Sakya Bhava where you treat God as a friend.

Mm.

It becomes more intimate.

You know? Like you share good things with a friend, you are open with a friend, you don't keep any secrets.

Even if you make a mistake, you tell the friend that.

It's, um, you are free, uh, with the friend.

And Arjuna and Krishna were like that.

Yes.

Uh, so let's start with the sig- with the background.

Uh, it started, it is reputed to be started by the story of Krishna and Draupadi.

So apparently once, uh, Krishna injured himself, and Draupadi immediately tore a part of her sari and bandaged the, the wound.

And at that time, Krishna was so, uh, moved by it that he pledged that, uh, he gave her a promise that, "I will help you whenever you need me." So this was the starting of a sibling relationship and the purity of intent in that relationship which we need to continue.

And then when Draupadi was disrobed in open parliament by the, uh, Kauravas, and learned people like Bhishma, Dronacharya, and all, they couldn't do anything.

Her own husbands didn't help.

And she had no choice but to appeal to Krishna and, and at that time, everyone knows the story.

Uh, the sari never stopped.

Mm.

And so her honor was, uh, retained.

Ever since then, this Raksha Bandhan, or the bond of protection, uh, came into being where, uh, the sister ties a rakhi to the brother and gives a gift.

And the brother in turn gives a gift back and gives the promise that, "I will take care of you." Now, this is not just a bond of protection.

It is, um, an endorsement of the Sakya Bhava.

So in devotion, in, um, bhakti, there's supposed to be five bhavas.

So one is the lowest, is protected to the protector.

So you look upon God as the protector and you appeal to God to protect.

And then it becomes closer and closer.

So it becomes then Sakya Bhava where you treat God as a friend.

Mm.

It becomes more intimate.

You know? Like you share good things with a friend, you are open with a friend, you don't keep any secrets.

Even if you make a mistake, you tell the friend that.

It's, um, you are free, uh, with the friend.

And Arjuna and Krishna were like that.