Raja Nandivardhan is associated with Bhai Dooj? Read the story

By A Staff Reporter : On the second tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, sisters celebrate Bhai Dooj by putting a tika on their brother's forehead.Various myths and history are associated with this holy festival.The history is known from 'Dipotsavakalpa', a palm leaf of an Acharya Pandit named Sarbanandasuri in the fourteenth century.It is said that after the death of one of the great propagators of Jainism, Mahavira Vardhan, one of his loyal companions, Raja Nandivardhan, was very upset mentally and physically. He even stopped eating.In this condition his beloved sister Anasuya took Nandivardhan to her house.The day was the second tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Kartik. 

Putting a royal tilak on the king's forehead, sister Anasuya feed him some food and said,“The people of the kingdom are looking at you, this hunger strike does not suit you. O brother, O king, I have painted the royal tilak on your forehead and take food to satisfy your hunger. You are welcome. For all the good you wake up, God bless you. I wish you long life. Every year on this day you will be anointed with the royal tilak, this is my vow.”After eating the food given by his sister and hearing this from his sister, King Nandivardhan broke his fast and returned to the mainstream of life.