Sudha Murty explains Raksha Bandhan post after it didn’t sit well with X

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty He recently shared an emotional message on the occasion of Raksha Bandhandescribing the meaning of the festival to her and telling a story behind the tradition. However, her comments sparked a debate on social media, with some users questioning the historical accuracy of the account she shared.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Murty, the wife of Information systems President Narayana Murthy spoke about the importance of Raksha Bandhan. “Raksha Bandha is an important festival for me, where a sister ties a thread to indicate that in case of any difficulty, you should always be there for me,” she explained.

Murty then shared a story he learnt during his childhood, which links Raksha Bandhan to Rani Karnavati of Mewar. According to the tale, Rani Karnavati, facing an imminent threat to her kingdom, sent a thread to Mughal Emperor Humayun, requesting his protection as a brother. Though Humayun set out to help her, he could not reach her in time and Karnavati eventually died. “This idea is when you are facing a threat or are in distress. A thread indicates that someone should come to my aid, and it means a lot,” Murty added.

However, her version of the story did not sit well with several X-users, who pointed out that the origins of Raksha Bandhan are most commonly associated with the ancient epic, the Mahabharata. They recounted how Draupadi tore a piece of cloth to bandage Lord Krishna’s finger when he cut it with the Sudarshan Chakra. Moved by her gesture, Krishna vowed to protect her, a promise he kept during his Chirharan by the Kauravas.

Amid the online debate, Murty addressed X and stressed that the story he shared was just one of the many associated with Raksha Bandhan. “The story I shared about Raksha Bandhan is just one of the many stories associated with the festival and certainly not its origin. I mentioned in the video that ‘this was already a custom of the land’. My intention was to highlight one of the many stories I learnt growing up, about the beautiful symbolism behind Raksha Bandhan,” he stated.

Raksha Bandhan has a rich tapestry of stories tied to its history. Another popular tale involves King Bali and Goddess Lakshmi. According to this legend, King Bali, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, was promised protection by Vishnu, who left his heavenly abode, Vaikuntha, to safeguard Bali’s kingdom. In a bid to reunite with her husband, Goddess Lakshmi tied a Rakhi on Bali’s wrist during Shravana Purnima. This act is believed to have established the tradition of inviting one’s sister to tie an auspicious thread on Raksha Bandhan.