Tying Mauli on hand has great importance in Hindu religion. Before every puja or any auspicious work, Mauli is tied on the hand, which is also called Kalava or Raksha Sutra. Mauli is called Kalava, Manibandh, Raksha Sutra, Chandramauli, Red Thread, Nada, Sankalp Sutra or Manibandh. ‘Mauli’ literally means ‘topmost’. Mauli also means head. Because Mauli is tied on the wrist it is also called Kalava. Its Vedic name is also Up Manibandh. According to the scriptures, the tradition of tying Kalava was started by Goddess Lakshmi and King Bali. Kalava is also called Raksha Sutra, it is believed that tying it on the wrist protects from life’s troubles. The reason for this is that by tying Kalava one gets the blessings of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh Trinity.

Kalava is made of raw cotton thread. Mauli can be of red color, yellow color, or two colors or five colors. Kalava should be wrapped only three times. Men and virgin girls should always tie Kalava on their right hand. It is auspicious for married women to tie Kalava on their left hand. While tying Kalava, remember that your fist should be clenched. Well, Kalava is also of two types. Three-threaded and five-threaded. Kalawa with three threads has red, yellow and green colours. In the five-thread Kalava, apart from red, yellow and green, there are also white and blue threads. Kalawa with five threads is also called Panchdev Kalawa. Mars is strengthened by tying a red colored Kalava. Tying Kalawa removes financial problems and maintains positivity in life. It is believed that this Kalava becomes our protective shield in times of crisis, but this Kalava should never be changed. Only Tuesday and Saturday are auspicious days for changing Kalava. Apart from this, among domestic animals, cow, bull and buffalo are also tied with Mauli on the day of Padwa, Govardhan and Holi.

Apart from having religious importance, tying Kalava is also scientifically very beneficial. People who follow the Sanatan tradition wear red colored Kalava on their hands. Along with offering it to the Gods and Goddesses, it is tied on the hand as a Rakshasutra, so that the person is always protected from evil and all the work done by his hand is successful. It is believed that the person who has a red or yellow colored Kalava tied in his hand always remains blessed by God. Tying it also provides positive energy. Scientifically, its importance is that according to physiology, the nerves reaching many major organs of the body pass through the wrist. By tying Kalava on the wrist the functioning of these nerves is controlled. Due to this, harmony of Tridosha i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha is maintained. The major control of body structure lies in the wrist. This means that tying Mauli on the wrist keeps the person healthy. According to astrology, wearing a red colored bracelet on the wrist strengthens the planet Mars in the horoscope. Actually, in astrology the auspicious color of Mars is red. On the other hand, if a person ties a yellow colored Kalava, it strengthens Jupiter in his horoscope, due to which happiness and prosperity comes in the life of the person. Some people also tie a black thread on their wrist which is auspicious for the planet Saturn.

It is believed that once when Indra was going to fight Vritrasura, Indrani had tied a protective thread on Indra’s right arm. After which Indra was victorious and returned safely. From then onwards the tradition of tying Raksha Sutra started. It is said that those who tie Raksha Sutra, no trouble of any kind looms over them. According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Lakshmi was the first to tie Kalava as a Raksha Sutra after making King Bali her brother. In the hands of Kalava a person is believed to be under the blessings of the holy trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and it also pleases the 3 powerful goddesses Saraswati, Parvati and Lakshmi.