Rakshabandhan : Overview

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily in South Asia and other regions significantly influenced by Hindu culture . The festival is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August .

History: The origins of Raksha Bandhan date back to about 6000 years ago during the establishment of the first Aryan civilization. One popular legend from the Bhavishya Purana tells the story of Indra’s wife, Shachi, who tied a protective thread on Indra’s wrist during a war against demons, leading to his victory . Another well-known story involves Draupadi from the Mahabharata, who tied a piece of her saree around Krishna’s injured finger . There’s also a historical account of Rani Karnavati of Mewar sending a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun for protection. 

Significance: Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a talisman or amulet, known as the Rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. They symbolically protect them, receive a gift in return, and traditionally invest the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care . The festival is rooted in the practice of territorial or village exogamy, where married women travel back to their parents’ homes every year for the ceremony . The festival is also about giving assurance and confidence to each other that "I am there with you and I am committed to help you, and stand by you" .

Criticism: While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with much fanfare, there are criticisms related to its origins and practices. Some argue that it reinforces patriarchal norms by positioning the brother as the protector. Others point out that it can be used to turn romantic relationships into platonic ones by tying a Rakhi and declaring someone as a brother.

In Other Religions: Although Raksha Bandhan is predominantly celebrated in Hinduism, its essence transcends religious boundaries. The festival’s universal message of sibling love resonates across religions, including Jainism and Sikhism . It showcases the festival’s ability to transcend religious boundaries .

History of " Rakshabandhan "

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in South Asia and other regions influenced by Hindu culture. The festival is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August .

The term “Raksha Bandhan” translates to “the bond of protection, obligation, or care” in Sanskrit . On this day, sisters tie a talisman or amulet, known as the rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. This act symbolizes their prayers for their brothers’ longevity and prosperity. In return, the brothers pledge to protect their sisters and ensure their happiness .

The festival has its roots in the practice of territorial or village exogamy, where a bride marries outside her natal village or town, and her parents customarily do not visit her in her married home. On Raksha Bandhan, married women return to their parents’ home for the ceremony .

Historically, Raksha Bandhan originated about 6000 years ago during the creation of the first civilization - The Indus Valley Civilization5. Despite the diversity of languages and cultures across India, the traditional method of celebrating Rakhi remains consistent, albeit with minor regional variations .

One popular anecdote associated with Raksha Bandhan involves Lord Krishna and Draupadi from the epic Mahabharata. When Lord Krishna cut his finger while flying a kite, Draupadi tore a piece from her saree and tied it around Krishna’s finger to stop the bleeding. Touched by her concern, Krishna vowed to protect her from all evils throughout his life .

Raksha Bandhan is more than just a ritual; it’s a celebration of the unique bond between brothers and sisters. It’s a day filled with joy, gifts exchange, and family gatherings that strengthens familial ties and fosters love and respect among siblings .

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, often abbreviated to Rakhi, is a festival that primarily originates from Hindu culture. The term “Raksha Bandhan” is Sanskrit and literally translates to “the bond of protection, obligation, or care” .

In the Hindu tradition, this festival is celebrated on the full moon in the month of Sravana in the lunar calendar. On this day, sisters tie a talisman or amulet, known as a rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. This act symbolizes their love and also invests the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care. The brothers, in return, give gifts to their sisters .

The festival has evolved over time and is now celebrated in various ways:

Priests tie rakhis around the wrists of congregation members.

Rakhis are often shared between close friends.

Women tie rakhis around the wrists of the prime minister.

Rakhis are tied around the wrists of soldiers .

While Raksha Bandhan is predominantly a Hindu festival, it’s also celebrated in other parts of the world significantly influenced by Hindu culture. However, it’s important to note that the interpretation and significance of Raksha Bandhan can vary among different religions and cultures. As such, it’s always recommended to understand and respect the specific traditions and customs associated with Raksha Bandhan within each unique cultural context.

Shakuntala Devi

Shakuntala Devi: The Human Computer

Shakuntala Devi, born on November 4, 1929, in Bangalore, India, was a prodigious talent who etched her name in history as a mathematical genius and writer . Known popularly as the “Human Computer”, her extraordinary abilities in mental calculations earned her a place in the 1982 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records .

Early Life

Shakuntala Devi was born into a traditional Kannada Brahmin family. Her father, C V Sundararaja Rao, worked as a trapeze artist, lion tamer, tightrope walker, and magician in a circus . He discovered Shakuntala’s ability to memorize numbers while teaching her a card trick when she was about three years old . Her father left the circus and took her on road shows that displayed her ability at calculation. She did this without any formal education .

Mathematical Career

At the age of six, Shakuntala demonstrated her arithmetic abilities at the University of Mysore . In 1944, she moved to London and embarked on a tour around Europe, amazing academics and the public everywhere she went2. Her answers would often turn out to be different but correct when checked.

In 1976, The New York Times wrote about her that "She could give you the cube root of 188,132,517 — or almost any other number — in the time it took to ask the question. If you gave her any date in the last century, she would tell you what day of the week it fell on."

Contributions to Various Fields

Shakuntala Devi was not only a mathematical prodigy but also an author. She wrote several books in her later years, including novels as well as texts about mathematics, puzzles, and astrology . She also wrote “The World of Homosexuals”, which is considered the first study of homosexuality in India . She saw homosexuality in a positive light and is considered a pioneer in the field .

Legacy

Shakuntala Devi passed away on April 21, 2013. However, her legacy lives on through her contributions to mathematics and literature. Her life story serves as an inspiration for many young minds who aspire to excel in their respective fields.

In conclusion, Shakuntala Devi was an extraordinary woman who used her talents to make significant contributions to various fields. Her life story is a testament to the power of human potential and serves as an inspiration for future generations.

A Sea Slug - Nembrotha Cristata

A Sea Slug - Nembrotha Cristata

The Nembrotha Cristata, a species of sea slug, is a captivating creature that resides in the depths of the ocean. This marine gastropod mollusk belongs to the family Polyceridae .

Appearance

The Nembrotha Cristata is a vibrant and colorful sea slug, boasting a striking black body adorned with green markings. Its body is covered with raised green nodules, giving it a unique and distinctive appearance. The rhinophores and gills are black, edged in green. Adults of this species can grow up to 50 mm in length.

Habitat

This species of sea slug is found on rock or coral reefs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean. It thrives at depths between three and twenty meters.

Behavior

The bright colors of the Nembrotha Cristata serve as an aposematic warning to predators. These sea slugs primarily feed on compound tunicates. Like all opisthobranchs, they are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.

Lifespan

These sea slugs have a lifespan of up to a year, during which they contribute to the biodiversity and ecological balance of their marine habitats.

Conclusion

The Nembrotha Cristata is a fascinating example of the diverse life forms that inhabit our oceans. Its vibrant colors and unique behaviors make it a subject of interest for marine biologists and underwater photographers alike. As we continue to explore the depths of our oceans, creatures like the Nembrotha Cristata remind us of the beauty, complexity, and diversity of life beneath the waves.

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily in South Asia, and in other parts of the world influenced by Hindu culture. It symbolizes the unbreakable bond and mutual protection between siblings, particularly brothers and sisters .

The festival is observed on the Poornima Tithi (full moon day) of Shravan Maas (Sawan month), which typically falls in August. On this day, sisters tie a talisman or amulet, known as a Rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists, apply tilak (a colored mark) on their foreheads, and pray for their prosperity and long lives. In return, brothers promise to protect their sisters, express their love and affection, and present them with gifts.

The name “Raksha Bandhan” translates to “the bond of protection, obligation, or care” in Sanskrit. The festival has evolved over time and in modern times, it’s not uncommon for brothers to also tie a Rakhi on their sisters’ wrists .

This festival holds significant cultural importance as it strengthens the familial bonds and fosters a sense of love and care among siblings.

Writing an article based on a picture

Writing an article based on a picture can be a challenging but rewarding task. A picture can convey a lot of information, emotions, and meanings, but it can also leave room for interpretation and imagination. To write an effective article based on a picture, 

you need to follow some steps:

Analyze the picture

Before you start writing, you need to observe the picture carefully and identify its elements, symbols, and connections. For example, in the picture you sent me, I can see four children’s hands holding soil with tiny plants in them. The hands are arranged in a circle and have different skin colors. The picture is in black and white and has a plain background. These are some of the obvious elements of the picture, but I can also look for deeper meanings and associations. For example, I can interpret the children as symbols of future and hope, the soil as a symbol of earth and ecology, the plants as symbols of growth and life, and the circle as a symbol of unity and harmony. The black and white color scheme can suggest contrast and diversity, or simplicity and clarity. The plain background can emphasize the focus on the hands and the soil, or suggest a lack of context and detail.

Choose a topic and a perspective. Based on your analysis of the picture, you need to decide what kind of article you want to write and what point of view you want to adopt. You can choose a topic that is related to the picture’s theme, message, or mood. For example, based on the picture you sent me, I can choose to write an article about environmental education, diversity and inclusion, or children’s creativity. You also need to decide what perspective you want to use to approach your topic. You can use a personal, informative, persuasive, or critical perspective, depending on your purpose and audience. For example, based on the picture you sent me, I can use a personal perspective to share my own experience or opinion about the topic, an informative perspective to provide facts and data about the topic, a persuasive perspective to convince my readers to take action or change their mind about the topic, or a critical perspective to analyze and evaluate the topic from different angles.

Outline your article. Once you have chosen your topic and perspective, you need to plan your article’s structure and content. You need to have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In your introduction, you need to introduce your topic, state your main idea or thesis statement, and provide some background information or context for your readers. In your body paragraphs, you need to develop your main idea with supporting details, examples, evidence, or arguments. You also need to use transitions to connect your paragraphs and create a logical flow. In your conclusion, you need to summarize your main points, restate your thesis statement, and provide some implications or recommendations for your readers.

Write your article

After outlining your article, you need to write it using clear and concise language. You need to follow the conventions of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style for your chosen genre and format. You also need to cite your sources properly if you use any external information or quotations in your article. You can use online tools such as Grammarly or Citation Machine to help you with these aspects.

Revise your article

 After writing your article, you need to revise it for content, organization, coherence, and clarity. You need to check if your article is relevant, accurate, complete, consistent, and logical. You also need to make sure that your article has a clear purpose, audience, tone, and voice. You can use online tools such as Hemingway or ProWritingAid to help you with these aspects.

Edit your article

After revising your article, you need to edit it for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. You need to check if your article is correct, polished, professional, and readable. You can use online tools such as Grammarly or LanguageTool to help you with these aspects.

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Good luck with your writing! 😊