A mauli is a saffon coloured threaded band also called as moui, kalava or charandu. It serves a ritual role in Hinduism, and is tied by the priest or oldest family member.
Contents
Usage
in Hindu religion mauli has very important role, it is most sacred element in the auspicious occasions in India. It is the main thing in the poja thali. mauli or Kalava is normally used in pujan samagri. mauli offered to the gods is later given along with prasadam (consecrated temple food) to worn by people on their hand.
The thread is tied to invoke the blessings of the Hindu deities especially of the particular deity to whom the puja is dedicated. mauli is worn on right hand by the males and unmarried women whereas it is worn on left hand by the married women, mauli is also offered by sister to his brother at happiest occasion of Rakha Bhandan for mangalkamna. In marriage ceremony mauli tied the married couple with each other.
Today mauli is worn by people on their hand as fashion and dharmik Astha. Now a days mauli is also offered by one friend to other friend at happiest occasion of Friendship Day.
In scriptures
By mauli it is said that the blessing of tridevas-brahma, vishnu and mahesh and tridevis-saraswati, lakshmi and durga are received.From blessing of brahma we get fame, from blessing of vishnu we get defending power from evil and from blessing of shiva we get power to destroy our own bad and negative quality; similarly by the blessing of saraswati we get knowledge, from blessing of lakshmi we get wealth and from blessing of durga we get power.
In ancient times it is said that the god vanam tied raksha sootra (defending thread) in the form of mauli,for immortality of the great demon king bali. Since then the custom of tying mauli is continued. It is also mentioned in the shashtras that :
yen baddho bali raja danvedro mahabalah||
ten tvamanubandhnaami rakshe maachala maachala||.
In many parts of the country mauli is also treatred as sign of respect. mauli is treated equal to the vastra (cloths) that is as cloths are treated as the sign of respect mauli or kalava is also treated as sign of respect, dignity and nobility.
other legend marked in Mahabharata, one of time Kunti tied red thread (Kalava) on right hand of Abhimanyu before his last day war as divine protection.He was not defeated by many warriors till he had "Kalava" on his Right hand but Krishna wants his death,so his death was important later Krishna send mouse to cut his Kalava and after that he was killed.
This shows that the mauli plays important role in hindusm.