Udaipur : The ‘Apno Se Apni Baat’ Shiv Katha, being held at Narayan Seva Sansthan under the guidance of institution president Prashant Agrawal, concluded on Thursday with a devotional finale.
On the concluding day, Agrawal explained the significance of Shravan Purnima and the festival of Raksha Bandhan. He said the sacred thread tied around the wrist is not merely a thread, but a symbol of trust, protection and a commitment to honour a given promise.
Story of King Bali and Lord Vaman
Narrating the episode of the Devasur conflict, Prashant Agrawal said Indrani had tied a protective thread to Indra, which became a source of freedom from fear and victory for him.
He then narrated the story of King Bali and Lord Vaman. He said Bali, who became the ruler of the three worlds through intense penance, was known for his generosity. During a yajna, Lord Vishnu appeared before him in the form of Vaman and asked for three steps of land.
Guru Shukracharya informed Bali about the divine purpose behind the request. However, Bali said that when the Lord himself had come as a seeker, it would not be appropriate to send him back empty-handed.
Lord Vaman covered the earth and sky in two steps. For the third step, Bali offered his head. Lord Vaman then made him the king of the netherworld and blessed him with prosperity equal to that of Indra in the future.
Bali asked Lord Vishnu for the boon of becoming his gatekeeper. When Goddess Lakshmi came to know about this, she tied a rakhi to King Bali and accepted him as her brother, thereby securing the release of Lord Vishnu.
Agrawal said this illustrates the power of the promise associated with the sacred thread, which travelled from heaven to the netherworld and continues to inspire trust and commitment to honour promises in relationships.
Reference to Draupadi and Krishna
Referring to an episode from the Mahabharata, Agrawal said that when Draupadi tied a rakhi to Lord Krishna, he also protected her honour.
He said people should live not merely to please the world, but to please the Lord of the universe.
Personal Experiences Add Warmth to the Katha
During the Katha, Prashant Agrawal interacted with Saiyed Arbaaz from Maharashtra, Hukmaram from Rajasthan, Rajnandani from Bihar, Sachin from Chhattisgarh and Abhinav from Uttar Pradesh, who had come to the institution for treatment and prosthetic limbs. He learned about their experiences.
He also interacted with Devendra and Nikita, who have been leading married life after their mass marriage at the institution, and learned about the changes in their lives.
At the conclusion, Prashant Agrawal prayed for the welfare of the world and appealed to everyone to make Raksha Bandhan meaningful by celebrating it not merely as a ritual, but with a spirit of love, protection, service, trust and commitment to honour promises.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.