The eternal bond

Do we ever stop marveling at the magic of love? They say love is as delicate as a flower that a single touch can bruise it, and yet so strong to withstand all storms. Brahma Kumari Asha writes.

Do we ever stop marveling at the magic of love? They say love is as delicate as a flower that a single touch can bruise it, and yet so strong to withstand all storms.

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Purity makes love bloom and strengthens it for all time. The festival of Raksha Bandhan (Bond of protection), tomorrow, speaks of this sacred, loving relationship that nurtures, protects and uplifts.

Although the present era has modernised the festival greatly, its simple and significant meaning exists incognito. A number of legends are connected with tying of the ‘Rakhi’ - symbolising the bond of love and protection, but the most intriguing one is where the devtas (deities) are said to have lost their heavenly kingdom to the asuras (devils).

Before he sets out for war to regain the lost sovereignty, Lord Indra’s (King of the Devtas) wife applies tilak of victory on his forehead and ties him a Rakhi. In due time, the deities gain victory and return to heaven.

Rakhi is undoubtedly the only bondage that truly frees us from all other bondages – all insecurities, fear and sorrow. Having forgotten our true identity of being an infinitesimal point of divine energy – soul, atma, ruha and spirit, we have got entangled in the bondage of ‘body- consciousness’ and the web of the vices (lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego).

God comes at the fag end of Kaliyuga, to awaken and enlighten the inner being, and He teaches us how to regain our lost sovereignty.

When the tilak of ‘soul-consciousness’ is applied, and one ties the sacred thread, i.e. taking the pledge to stay in original nature of peace, love, purity, wisdom and mercy, one’s every thought, word and action becomes elevated and divine. One sees every other being as a child of God and part of my spiritual family.

This unlimited vision of brotherhood breaks all barriers of caste, creed, age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, sanskars (personality traits). One then can live by one’s true self-respect and help others do the same.