You must have often seen that after worship in homes and temples, Pandit ji ties a red colored   thread on our wrists and, many of us get it tied on our hands without realizing its need. Actually, the Mauli thread is not just any thread, rather, it is prepared from raw cotton and, it is in many colors like red, black, yellow or saffron. People usually tie Mauli on the wrist of the hand. And, it is believed that by tying Mauli on the hand, a person gets the blessings of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and the three goddesses – Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati.

It is said that by tying a Mauli thread on the hand, a person is protected from evil eyes because God protects him. And, this is said because tying a Mauli thread on the hand blesses a person’s health because, by tying this thread on the wrist, there is harmony between the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas in the body. And, this harmony is achieved because the main control of the body’s structure is in the wrist. You must have seen that doctors primarily use the vein of the wrist to measure blood pressure and heart rate. That is why scientifically, the Mauli thread tied on the hand works like an acupressure and protects a person from serious diseases like blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and paralysis to a great extent and the person tying it remains healthy.

Raksha Sutra is tied on the right hand of men and unmarried girls and on the left hand of married women. The hand in which Kalava or Mauli is tied should be clenched and the other hand should be on the head. For this pious work, one should be observant and have the feeling of accepting responsibility. If new clothes are not worn while worshiping, then Mauli must be worn in the hand. Have faith in religion. On Tuesday or Saturday, remove the old Mauli and wear a new one. Raksha Sutra protects us even in times of crisis.

The tradition of tying Kalava is going on since the time when Lord Vaman tied a protective thread on the wrist of the great and foremost donor Maharaj Bali for his immortality. It is also tied on the body as a protective shield. Before any auspicious work or before any worship, Tilak is applied and Raksha Sutra is tied on the hands and then the worship is started. It is said that when Indra was going to fight with Vritrasura, Indrani Shachi tied a sacred thread on Indra’s right arm as a protective shield and Indra won the war. Since then, this protective thread is tied. The obstacles of its ritual are removed.
Similarly, wealth is obtained from Lakshmi, power from Durga and wisdom from the grace of Saraswati.

Why is the thread wrapped three times?

To remind you that there are three responsibilities or debts on your shoulders – responsibility towards parents, responsibility towards society and responsibility towards knowledge. These are our three responsibilities or debts. We are indebted to our parents, we are indebted to society, and we are indebted to the Guru; that is, towards knowledge. So these are three types of debts, and Yagyopaveet reminds us of these three responsibilities. When we say ‘debt’, we think it is a loan which we have to repay. But we should understand it as a responsibility. To remember our responsibilities, towards the previous generation, towards the coming generation and towards the present generation. And that is why, you wrap the thread three times.