Raksha Bandhan
History & Mythology
The Bhavishya Purana records that when the gods were losing a great war against the asuras, Indra's consort Sachi tied a protective thread (raksha sutra) blessed with mantras onto Indra's right wrist. Armed with this sacred bond, Indra turned the battle and the gods prevailed—establishing the thread's protective power.
Even more moving is the story of Draupadi and Krishna. When Krishna accidentally cut his finger during the Shishupala battle, Draupadi immediately tore a strip of her silk sari and bound his finger to stop the bleeding. Krishna, deeply touched by this spontaneous act of care, promised to repay her a thousandfold. Years later, when the Pandavas lost Draupadi in the dice game and Dushasana tried to disrobe her in the royal court, Krishna miraculously extended her sari so that it became infinite—her modesty was protected through the bond she had woven with her own silk.
Historically, Queen Karnavati of Mewar sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat threatened her kingdom. Though Humayun arrived after Chittorgarh fell, he was so moved that he marched with his full army and restored the kingdom to her son—honouring the bond of a single thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.