Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comThe Legends of Indra-Indrani and Draupadi-Krishna
Two well-known legends lie behind Raksha Bandhan's protective-thread tradition, one of Indra and his wife Indrani, and the other of Draupadi and Lord Krishna, both are told here in full.
Chapter 1 · Indra and Indrani's Protective Thread
Once, a fierce war broke out between Indra, king of the gods, and the demons. The demon army was extremely powerful, and the gods began falling in battle one after another. Indra himself came close to conceding defeat before the demon king Bali, his morale completely shattered.
Seeing this, Indra's wife Sachi (Indrani) grew deeply worried and prayed to Lord Vishnu for his protection. By the Lord's grace, she received a protective thread, which Sachi tied on her husband Indra's wrist on the Purnima of Shravan, praying that it would protect him and grant him victory.
Read the Vishnu Chalisa →By the power of that thread, Indra's lost courage and self-belief were reawakened, and he returned to the battlefield with renewed vigor. In the battle that followed, the gods were victorious and the demons were defeated. This event is regarded as the oldest tradition behind tying a protective thread, which in time developed into the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Chapter 2 · Draupadi and Krishna's Protective Thread
According to another famous episode described in the Mahabharata, when Lord Krishna slew Shishupala with his Sudarshan Chakra, the discus's release cut his index finger, and it began to bleed. Seeing this, Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, without a moment's hesitation, tore a strip from her saree and tied it around Krishna's wrist to stop the bleeding.
Krishna was deeply moved by this selfless affection and vowed that he would always protect her. Years later, when Dushasana dared to disrobe Draupadi in the Kaurava court, Krishna, through his divine power, made her saree endless, so that her honor remained safe.
In this way, the gesture of tying a small strip of cloth came to stand as a symbol of protection and affection, and together with the legend of Indra and Indrani, formed the foundation of the Raksha Bandhan festival.
About The Legends of Indra-Indrani and Draupadi-Krishna
This legend is told across two chapters. The first tells of Indra and Indrani, in which the protective thread tied by Sachi brings Indra victory over the demons. The second tells of Draupadi and Krishna, in which Krishna keeps his vow to always protect her in return for the cloth she once tied on his wrist.
This legend is the foundation of the Raksha Bandhan tradition. This page presents both stories' full text in plain Hindi, with adjustable text size and print support.
About The Bhavishya Purana and the Mahabharata
Neither of these two legends has a single authoritative printed 'katha text', the Indra-Indrani story is drawn from the Bhavishya Purana, and the Draupadi-Krishna story from the well-known episodes described in the Mahabharata's Sabha Parva and Vana Parva. The wording here has been composed independently, so it is not a word-for-word copy of any single website's or publication's text, though the sequence of events follows the Purana's and the Mahabharata's well-established tradition faithfully.
Frequently asked questions
Which is regarded as the oldest legend behind Raksha Bandhan?
The legend of Indra and Indrani is regarded as the oldest tradition behind tying a protective thread, in which the thread tied by Sachi brought Indra victory over the demons.
Why did Draupadi tie a cloth on Krishna's wrist?
During the slaying of Shishupala, Krishna's finger was cut while releasing the Sudarshan Chakra, and seeing this, Draupadi tore a strip from her saree and tied it around his wrist.
When did Krishna keep his vow to Draupadi?
He kept this vow in the Kaurava court, when Dushasana attempted to disrobe Draupadi, Krishna, through his divine power, made her saree endless.