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Story of Raksha Bandhan

Once in ancient time a King named ‘Shridharma’ was ruling in the city of ‘Ujjain’. He had four Brahmin secretaries named ‘Bali’, ‘Brahaspati’, ‘Namuchi’ and ‘Prahlad’. The King was Jain but all the four secretaries were against Jainism having aversion.

Once great ascetic ‘Acharya Akampana’ with 700 ascetic Munies (Saints) came to Ujjain and stayed in the outer forest of the city. As the King heard about this great occasion he went to visit the Muni Sangha, at first four secretaries tried to prevent the King from the visit of Muni Sangha, but they failed, and they also went to visit the Munies with King Shridharma.

Acharya Akampana were well-known about the nature of King’s secretaries, so he had already ordered to all Munies in his Sangha to keep mum to avoid unwanted situation. The King reached there and prayed, worshipped the Acharya and Munies. But Acharya kept silence. While the King was returning from there, a Muni named ‘Shrut Sagar’ met them coming from the city, the Muni was unknown about the order of the Acharya and about the nature of King’s secretaries. Secretaries started unwanted debate with Muni Shrut Sagar. Muni Shrut Sagar was learned enough so he defeated secretaries in debate.

Thus the all secretaries felt demoralized before King, they returned silent at that time but they decided to take revenge with Muni Sangha. Muni Shrut Sagar also came to Muni Sangha, he told about the event to Acharya. Getting informed about this unwanted debate, Acharya sank in deep thought / worries. In the end Acharya ordered to Muni Shrut Sagar to keep standing at the place of debate whole night and to practice the penance & meditation.

In the night all the four secretaries came to the right place, they were very angry due the defeat in the presence of King. As they saw Muni Shrut Sagar standing there, they tried to kill Muni by sword. But as soon as they lift their hands with sword, the God of Forest sticked their hands in the lifted position. Now they were unable to move any where, they were kept standing in the same position whole the night. In the morning public saw the strange scene, they made insulting comments on the secretaries and prayed Muni Shrut Sagar for his penance and meditation.

As the King heard about this event, he ordered to all four secretaries to leave the city at once after demoralizing them.

The four secretaries left the Ujjain and wandering here and there, they reached Hastinapur. The King of Hastinapur, ‘Shri Padma’ appointed them as his secretaries. Once with the help of four secretaries King Padma defeated his enemy King Singhabala and arrested him.

The King Padma get pleased over the four secretaries, he asked Bali to demand a boon. After some thinking, Bali told, “I am not in need this time, when I will feel the need, I will demand”.

After some time, Acharya Akampana with seven hundred Munies arrived at Hastinapur. He settled his ‘Chaturmas’ there and stayed in the outer of city.

Then Bali after discussing with his three friends / secretaries, went to the King and asked him about the boon kept reserved for future and demanded the rule of city for 7 days. King Padma accepted the demand and went to his palace.

After getting rule of city, Bali started creating so many types of troubles over Muni Sangha. Seeing this whole, Sangha in the headship of Acharya Akampana give up meal and movement. They decided to keep mum till the trouble ends and went in the deep meditation.

At that time the younger brother of King Padma, ‘Shri Vishnu Kumar Muni’ were practicing deep penance. He was accompanied with so many types of super natural powers due to his penance, one of them ‘Vikria Riddhi’ (The power to expand the body as wish). The Guru of Muni Vishnu Kumar was present at that time in Mithila Nagari. Suddenly some words were spoken by Guru, ”today a great crisis has been created over Muni Sangha”. At that time ‘Kshulllaka Pushpadanta’ were sitting there, he asked about the crisis. Guru said that only Muni Vishnu Kumar may solve the problem. Kshullaka Pushpadanta went to the Muni Vishnu Kumar and told them about the trouble over Muni Sangha in Hastinapur and also told that only he was able to remove it. Muni Vishnu Kumar was unknown about the power of ‘Vikria Riddhi’ in him. He tested first and then left for Hastinapur.

First Muni went to his brother King Padma and asked him to do the needful. But King Padma told about the boon awarded by him to Bali. Knowing all about Muni Vishnu Kumar make himself as a ‘Vaman Brahmin’, went near Bali. At that time Bali was preparing for ‘Yagya’ (Yajna). As Bali saw the Vaman Brahmin in Yagya Mandapa, he got pleased and told Brahmin to ask anything at that precious time. Muni Vishnu Kumar in Brahmin’s look first denied for anything, but when Bali requested again and again, he demanded little land equal to his three foot steps. Bali asked Brahmin to demand a lot but Brahmin denied for anything and said that the little land will be enough for his rest of life. Bali agreed for this, as Bali agreed Muni Vishnu Kumar expanded his body up to the sky and placed first step on ‘Sumeru Parvat’ (Hill), second on ‘Manushottar Parvat’ (Hill), there was no space for third step now. Whole the universe got excited and disturbed due to this happening.

Due to fear Bali fell down in the feet of Muni Vishnu Kumar. Devs and Gandharvas prayed and worshipped Muni Vishnu Kumar and ended the crises. All the seven hundred Munies were brought out of the trouble and thus their lives were saved.

Bali and his friends begged pardon for their offence. All the present persons worshiped Acharya Akampana and his Muni Sangha.

After this Muni Vishnu Kumar returned to his Guru, accepted expiation. After practicing deep penance and meditation, ultimately he got freedom from world and attained salvation.

In the memory of this event, saving of seven hundred Munies from dangerous trouble, the festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ is celebrated on day of ‘Shravan Shukla Purnima’ (the night of full moon in month of Shravan / Savan).