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In ancient times, rakhi was more or less a talisman which symbolised the good wishes of a person for the wellbeing of the object of his or her affection. However, in medieval times, its manner and style changed as it got confined to sister-brother relationship. With the onslaught of foreign invaders, the practice of tying a rakhi extended beyond the bounds of family and sometime became an intra-family or even an inter-racial affair.
Alexander The Great and King Puru
The oldest reference to the festival of rakhi goes back to 300 B.C. at the time when Alexander invaded India. It is said that the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the Indian king Puru in his first attempt.
Alexander's wife sent a Rakhi to the King Puru asking him not to slay her husband in battle. King Puru accepted her as his sister and the great Hindu king responded and refrained from killing Alexander when such an occasion presented itself in the course of the battle.
Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun
For example, during the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions. In 1535 AD, Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged the fort of Chittorgarh. Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding and protection of sisters was foremost. A famous incident relates how rakhi by then had broken the religious barriers.
When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, she sent a rakhi to Humayun, soliciting his help against Bahadurshah, the ruler of Gujarat. Although, in other circumstances Humanyun would not have helped a Hindu Rajput, but he was touched by this gesture and decided otherwise. It is said that Humayun pledged himself to her service. But as the Mughal Emperor was busy fighting against Sher Shah Suri, he didn't manage to reach on time. Bahadur Shah caused immense carnage.It is believed that 32,000 men donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out to face a certain death. The Rani committed jauhar (self-immolation ) along with thousands of women to save her honour. Humayun was much perturbed after learning about this incident.
Akbar's Court
Rakhi became a national festival during the reign of Akbar. From Al Badaoni’s account in Muntakhabut-Tawarikh, we learn that rakhi meant an amulet formed out of twisted linen rags and the festival was celebrated by almost everyone in the emperor’s court. On the day of the festival, the courtiers and others adorned the Emperor’s wrist with beautiful strings of silk, bejewelled with rubies, pearls and gems of great value. Jahangir described the festival as "Nighadasht" and celebrated it like his father. Even Aurangzeb addressed the Queen mother of Udaipur as "dear and virtuous sister" in one of his letters.
British India
It would be interesting to note that Colonel Tod received such bracelets from a number of prominent Rajput women, among them the queens of Udaipur, Boondi and Kotah and Chand Bai, the maiden sister of the
Rana.
The most recent
reference of Raksha Bandhan as social revolutionary ritual found
when in 1905 British empire decided to break Bengal, a state of
British India in parts in basis of religion. Kaviguru Rabindra
Nath Tagore arranged a ceremony to celebrate Raksha Bandhan to
unite both Hindu and Muslim people of Bengal and launch a protest
against British empire.
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