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Sadā Śiva Samarambhāṁ Śaṅkarācārya Madhyamām Asmadācārya Paryantāṁ Vandhe Guru Paramparām. Guro Brahma Guro Viṣṇu Guro Devo Maheśvaraha. Guro Sākṣātpara Brahma Tasmai Śrī Gurave Namaḥ. Mannātha Śrī Jagannātha Madguru Śrī Jagadguru. Māmatmā Sarvabhūtātmā Tasmai Śrī Guruve Namaḥ. Salutations to the Cosmic Self. Salutations to Śrīla Puruṣa Siddhāpit Paramparā. Pozdravye Śrīla Puruṣa Siddhāpit Paramparā. Majdanwar Praṇāmsu. Abhilavad Gurudev. Viśwa Gurujī. Uctive pozdraveni. Om Namo Nārāyaṇa to all the sannyāsīs present here. Good morning to all of you who are present here and to those who are watching through Swamijī TV. Today is a very beautiful day for all of us. Today is a full moon. This occasion falls on the eighth full moon of the year, which is the first full moon after Guru Pūrṇimā. Pūrṇimā means full moon; the last Pūrṇimā was Guru Pūrṇimā, and this Pūrṇimā brings us the beautiful celebration of Rakṣā Bandhan. We are often scared of bandhan, which means to get bound or stuck. But Rakṣā Bandhan is a good bandhan. In this bond, you are not getting stuck; you are being protected. This is the bandhan of Rakṣā Bandhan, a bond of brotherhood and sisterhood. It is a bond where brothers promise to protect, and sisters promise to love. It is a reunion for us, where no matter how far apart brothers and sisters live, they unite, come together, or at least send messages and remember one another. It is not merely a physical bond but a spiritual and emotional one. This bond is not only for siblings but for anyone following Dharma, coming together as spiritual brothers and sisters. It invites blessings into our lives, for tying a rakṣā on the wrist is an act of inviting blessings. It cultivates love and gratitude. For the brother, it brings the comfort of being loved; for the sister, it is thankfulness and blessings for care. We all know the beautiful incident from the Mahābhārata. When Lord Kṛṣṇa cut his finger on bamboo, Draupadī immediately ran, tore a piece of her sari, and tied it on his finger. That was her love and caring nature, shown to one who was not yet formally her brother. In response, Lord Kṛṣṇa said, "From today onwards, I will always be there whenever you need me to protect you." Later, when the Pāṇḍavas lost everything in a dice game and Draupadī's sari was being taken, she remembered her brother Kṛṣṇa. His blessings caused the sari to flow endlessly, wrapping and protecting her. This was Kṛṣṇa showing his caring, protecting nature toward his sister Draupadī. There is another example of Rani Karnavatī. When the Muslim invader Humāyūn was about to invade her kingdom, she sent him a rakṣī. He asked what it was. This bond signifies that we become brothers and sisters, where you will protect and care for me, not invade my kingdom or marry me. Something clicked within him; he changed his mind, protected her, and promised to be there for her. In Sanātana Dharma, women are considered as mothers, sisters, and daughters. The sister gives love, support, and guidance. If a brother gets lost in bad company (Kusanga), the sister is the one who brings him back. The brother, as a protector, always safeguards the sister. Vasudhaiva Kuṭumbakam means the world is one family. For us, we are one family—all in one, one in all. The thread may break, but the bond of love, support, gratitude, and protection never breaks. Our Dharma is to stand by each other in every storm, be there for one another, and help each other cross every difficulty. So, on this beautiful occasion of Rakṣā Bandhan, you may tie rakṣīs to whomever you feel that bond with. But remember, after that, there is no romantic or marital relationship. Only tie it if you genuinely feel that brotherhood or sisterhood. Know that he will always protect and guide you. May this Rakṣā Bandhan celebration be very beautiful for all of us. May we all be blessed. May Gurudeva’s blessings always be with us, and may we all live in peace and harmony as Vasudhaiva Kuṭumbakam, as one beautiful, large family. Much love. Now you may come and tie rakhī, and you can also tie them to each other if you wish.