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Raksha Bandhan Quotes – Swami Chidananda Saraswati

On this holy day of Raksha Bandhan there is so much to learn, so many vows to make. First, there are the ancient, traditional meanings, whereby girls and women remember their brothers – far and near – with love and affection. In exchange, all men and boys promise to protect their sisters – both against physical harm, and also against any kind of harm or dishonor to them. These are as crucial today as they were in the past.

However, perhaps even more importantly, we must realize that the only way the world will survive is united as one family. Thus, now, we must also take the deeper, underlying meaning of Rakhi. We must vow to make the world our brothers and sisters – not only in theory, but also in practice. Let us use rakhi as a symbol of our universal brotherhood. May our girls and women lead the way toward this universal family as they tie rakhi bracelets on the wrists of not only their closest male friends, but also on the wrists of enemies.

Let us use this holiday to reach out to those around us, embracing them as brother and sister.

Last and most importantly, let us offer the rakhi of our heart to the Lord. For He is our true brother, our true sister, our true protector. It is to Him that we want to be eternally tied. The divine rakhi that you offer to the Lord will never become untied, never become faded and will never break. He will forever protect you, forever be with you and forever love you.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati