SHRAVANI PURNIMA : Upakarmam and Raksha Mantra

Shravani Purnima Upakarmam – Sat,  29 August 2015 is an important Hindu festival. Hindus wear a new holy thread and offer libations of water to the ancient Rishis on this day. 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. When the Brahmin boy is invested with this holy thread, symbolically his third eye, or the eye of wisdom, is opened.

Rakhi Muharat & Mantra : Most Auspicious Time of Raksha Bandhan 2015

श्रावण शुक्ल पूर्णिमा के शुभ दिन रक्षाबंधन के साथ ही श्रावणी उपाकर्म का पवित्र संयोग बनता है। विशेषकर यह पुण्य दिन ब्राह्मण समुदाय के लिए बहुत महत्व रखता है। आज के दिन जिनका यज्ञोपवित संस्कार हो चुका होता है, वह पुराना यज्ञोपवित उतारकर नया धारण करते हैं और पुराने यज्ञोपवित का पूजन भी करते हैं । इस संस्कार से व्यक्ति का दूसरा जन्म हुआ माना जाता है और द्विज कहलाता है |

This festival of Upakarmam reminds the wearer of the sacred thread of its glorious spiritual significance. Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom they owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted for their spiritual knowledge and the Vedas themselves. The true Hindu never forgets his benefactors! The followers of the four different Vedas have their Upakarmam on different days.

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”) and recovered the lost city of Amaravati.

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:

येन बद्धो बलि राजा, दानवेन्द्रो महाबल: |

तेन त्वांमनुबध्नामि, रक्षे मा चल मा चल ||

Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah;

Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshey maa chala maa chala.

“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.” The power of this Mantra protects the wearer from evil influences.