Rishi Panchami is the festival dedicated to Seven sages aka Sapt Rishi of Hinduism.
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Introduction
Rishi Panchami is a vrat observed to honour the great Sapt Rishi or seven sages. They are known as foundation stones of Indian culture.
The seven Rishi were
- Sage Kashyap
- Sage Atri
- Sage Bhardwaj
- Sage Vishwamitra
- Sage Gautama
- Sage Jamadgni and
- Sage Vashishtha
All of above mentioned sages devoted their lives for the betterment and growth of humanity. Generally, woman observe fast on this day. But, men also observe this fast.
However, in many ethnicities, girls before attaining their puberty are asked to perform this vrat. Even, many woman observe it after their menopause. As ,it is known as shudhi (cleansing) vrat for womanhood.
Date and tithi of Rushi Panchami 2024
As per Hindu Panchang, Rishi Panchami falls on Panchami of shukla paksha of Bhadrapad month. Also, it falls after Ganesha Chaturthi and 2 days after Hatalika teej.
This year we have Rishi Panchami on September 8, 2024. Apparently, the tithi will start at 5:37 PM on September 7, 2024 and will end at 07:58 PM on September 8, 2024. Additionally, the puja muhurat for Rishi Panchami Vrat Puja will be from 11:06 AM to 1:33 PM.
Significance of Rishi Panchami
Rishi Panchami has profound significance in our lives. This vrat teaches us the value of spiritual growth and cleansing. The fast helps in detoxifying body as only fruits are fed on this day.
Not only this, the vrats denoted to acknowledge the selfless work of our sages for betterment of humankind.
In Jainism, both sects—Digambara and Shwetambara—celebrate Rishi Panchami as a Maha Parv. Additionally, they conclude their 11-day long fast on this day.
In Maharashtra, a special delicacy called Rishi Panchami Bhaji is prepared in households on this day. It is made from seasonal vegetables cooked in earthen pots without the use of spices, symbolizing the simplicity and austerity of the lives of sages. In fact, this festival is also widely celebrated in Nepal.
What is Rajaswala Dosha?
As per Hindu tradition and beliefs, women who are menstruating or going through their monthly cycle are forbidden from participating in any pujas or religious rituals. During this time, women should not touch anything related to worship, such as puja samagri, bhog, etc. If they do so, either intentionally or unintentionally, it leads to Rajaswala Dosha.
Furthermore, Rishi Panchami is a fast that serves as a remedy to get rid of this dosha. Indeed, Rishi Panchami is also called Bhai Panchami in various states.
Rishi Panchami 2024 vrat katha
In the Satyuga, there was a king named Shyenjit in Vidarbha city, who was as virtuous as a sage. In his kingdom, there lived a farmer named Sumitra and his wife Jayshree, who was very devoted to her husband.
Once, during the rainy season, while Jayshree was busy with farming, she began menstruating. Although she realized this, she continued to do her household chores. After some time, both Sumitra and Jayshree lived out their full lives and eventually died. Due to coming into contact with a menstruating woman, Jayshree was reborn as a bitch, and Sumitra was reborn as a bull.
Moreover, this transformation happened because of the menstrual impurity, there was no fault in either of them, and thus, they remembered all the details of their previous lives. Both of them, in their new forms, started living in the same city in the house of their son, Suchitra. The virtuous Suchitra treated his guests with utmost respect. On the day of his father’s shraddha, he prepared various types of food for the Brahmins to eat at his house.
When Suchitra’s wife had left the kitchen for some work, a snake entered and poured poison into a pot of kheer. Watching from a distance in the form of a bitch, Jayshree saw everything. When her son’s daughter-in-law returned, Jayshree put her mouth in the pot to save her son from Brahm Hatya (sin of poisoning a Brahmin). However, Suchitra’s wife, Chandravati, saw this and misunderstood Jayshree’s actions, took a burning stick from the stove and hit the bitch.
Thenafter, the poor bitch, hurt and scared, started running around in pain. Suchitra’s daughter-in-law would usually feed the bitch any leftovers from the kitchen, but in her anger, she threw everything out. After discarding all the contaminated food, she cleaned the pot and cooked fresh food for the Brahmins.
At night, the starving bitch approached her former husband, who was living as a bull, and said, ‘O Swami, today I am dying of hunger. Although my son used to feed me every day, today I did not get anything. I had touched the pot of kheer containing snake poison to prevent many Brahmins from consuming it and dying. Because of this, Suchitra’s daughter-in-law beat me and did not give me anything to eat.
On this, the bull then said, ‘Oh dear! Because of our sins, I too have been born into this form, and today my back has broken from carrying heavy loads. I plowed the field all day and did not receive any food from our son. He even beat me a lot. By treating me this way, he has rendered the Shraddha ritual fruitless’.
Furthermore, Suchitra overheard these words from his parents. Deeply saddened by their suffering, he fed them generously and then went to the forest. There, he sought the counsel of the sages, asking what deeds had caused his parents to be reborn in these lower forms and how they could be liberated.
Sarvatma Rishi then advised, ‘To liberate your parents, you should observe the fast of Rishi Panchami along with your wife and dedicate the fruits of this fast to them.
He then performed the fast and puja to free his parents from the sin.
Rituals
a) Firstly, wake up early in Brahhma Muhurat.
b) Secondly, have your bathing rituals on time, preferably in holy river like Ganga or Yamuna. Wear clean clothes.
c) Sprinkle holy water like Gangajal on self and whole house to purify.
c) Always Clean up your puja space, install idols of Lord Ganesha, Navgrih (all nine planets).
d) Lastly, observe day long fast on this day and brake it with fruits at the evening.
Conclusion
Thus, we know the meaning and relevance of this auspicious festival called Rishi Panchami. Let’s rejoice the tradition and beliefs of our culture to pay homage to the sages who lived and died for betterment of humanity.
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