On September 8, devotees across the country will celebrate Rishi Panchami, a fast to worship the Sapta Rishis. This festival is celebrated on the Panchami Tithi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha and is considered as a special fast dedicated to the sages. On this day, the Sapta Rishis – Kashyap, Atri, Bhardwaj, Vashishtha, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Vishwamitra are worshipped. These seven sages are considered to be the parts of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. They are considered to be the creators of the Vedas and scriptures. It is believed that by observing this fast, one gets freedom from all kinds of sins and brings happiness and peace in life. According to religious beliefs, this fast is considered important to protect women from inadvertent religious mistakes and the defects caused by it during menstruation. Vrat Katha should be heard or read on this holy day. Read further Rishi Panchami Vrat Katha…
Rishi Panchami Vrat Katha: A virtuous Brahmin lived in Vidarbha country. His wife was very devoted to her husband, whose name was Sushila. That Brahmin had a son and a daughter. When she became marriageable, he married his daughter to a groom of similar family. After some days, she became a widow. The sad Brahmin couple started living with the daughter in a hut on the banks of the Ganga.
One day, while the Brahmin girl was sleeping, her body was filled with insects. The girl told everything to her mother. The mother told everything to her husband and asked- Prannath! What is the reason for this fate of my pious daughter?
The Brahmin found out about this incident through meditation and told- this girl was a Brahmin in her previous birth too. She had touched the utensils as soon as she got her periods. In this birth too she did not observe Rishi Panchami fast following the example of others. That is why there are worms in her body.
It is believed in religious scriptures that a menstruating woman is impure like a Chandalini on the first day, like a Brahmaghatini on the second day and like a washerwoman on the third day. She becomes pure by taking a bath on the fourth day. If she observes the Rishi Panchami fast even now with a pure heart, then all her sorrows will be removed and she will get unfailing good fortune in her next birth.
Following her father’s orders, the daughter observed Rishi Panchami fast and worshipped the day as per rituals. Due to the effect of the fast, she was freed from all sorrows. In her next birth, she enjoyed eternal happiness along with unshakable good fortune.
