Hindu Festivals No 18.

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Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

18.Rishi Panchami

(Bhadrapada suddha panchami.)

 

The fast on the fifth day (Panchmi) of the waxing moon (shukla paksha) of

Bhadrapada is undertaken by men and women alike. Its effect is to wash away sins

done voluntarily or involuntarily.

 

The devotee, in the previous day should take only one meal. On the next day,

after a bath in the sacred water, clean his/her hands and with the help of a

purohit, perform pooja of Lord Ganesha and Navagrahas at first. Then

Saptarushis viz 1. Kashyapa, 2.Athri, 3.Bharadwaja, 4.Viswamithra,

5.Gouthama, 6.Jamadagni,7.Vasishta, are to be worshiped individually.

Afterwards, rushi Agastya and devi Arundhathi are to be worshiped. This pooja

has to be performed for seven years and finally udyapana should be performed.

 

According to legend, once Dharmaraja asked Sri Krishna to tell him of a fast,

which would bestow the quickest result. Sri Krishna replied that Rishi Panchami

fast was the one such by virtue of which, all sins are washed away.

 

He narrated the story of a virtuous Brahmin Udanka of Vidharbha region. His

wife Susheela was a devoted lady. They had two children, a son and daughter. The

daughter was married to a young capable boy, but unfortunately became a widow

soon. The parents, leaving the responsibility to the son left the house. They

made a cottage on the bank of Ganga and lived there with their widow daughter.

One day while asleep, the ants covered the body of the daughter. The parents

were perplexed. The Brahmin through meditation found out that in previous birth

of his daughter’s earlier seventh janma, she had entered the kitchen on the

day of menstruation. It is believed that on the first day of menstruation, the

woman is Chandalini (demon), on second day Bhrahmaghathini (witch), on third day

a washer woman, and on fourth day after bath, she becomes purified.

 

Women undertaking Rishi Panchmi fast do not suffer from the attack of worms in

their future births and remain happily.

(A collection)

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.

 

 

 

 

 

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