Raksha

Raksha

रक्ष, rakṣa

1. Literally translated as “protector”, “guardian”, “watcher”. 

This is usually a masculine noun, but also can be feminine noun when it comes to a female protector.

In the name of Gorakshanath, “Go” is translated as “cow”, which means our feelings, Brahmanda, the creative force of the Universe, Shakti; and "raksha" – "protector", "lord". Therefore Goraksha is the protector of our feelings, prana, he preserves and maintains the Universe (both microcosm and macrocosm).

2. "Security", "protection", "salvation" – a feminine noun: रक्षा, rakṣā.

In Hinduism, raksha (another popular name is rakhi) is an amulet that is a bracelet (or a thread tied around the wrist) that protects a person from danger. In the famous ritual of Raksha Bandhan (“bonds of protection”), celebrated as part of the festival of the same name on the full moon day of the month of Shravan, the sisters tie sacred threads, rakshas, ​​on the hands of their brothers, protecting them from harmful forces.

In turn, the young men give gifts to the sisters and take an oath until the end of their lives to take part in their fate, to patronize them. The rite is not necessarily performed between blood relatives – by tying a raksha on a man's hand, a woman thereby expresses her desire to become his adoptive sister.

Sacred ash, vibhuti,  is also called raksha due to its protective properties: such ash is not only an antiseptic, or protects against bacteria and cures many diseases, but also protects a person from fears, negative energies, and the influence of evil spirits.