Rishi Panchami vrat katha: why women observe this fast, its link to menstruation

Rishi Panchami is observed on the fifth day of the bright fortnight (shukla paksha) of the Bhadrapada month. The festival falls on the second day of Ganeshotsav. Women observe a fast on this day to be rid of the troubles of menstruation, and the Saptarishi (seven sages) are worshipped during it. Hindu tradition lays down several rules for women during menstruation, and it is said that if any mistake occurs during this time, women observe the Rishi Panchami fast to be freed of it. This year, the auspicious time for Rishi Panchami puja will be from 10:50 am to 1:18 pm on September 15, 2026.

According to the legend, a virtuous Brahmin named Uttank lived in the Vidarbha region. His wife Sushila was devoted to her husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the daughter came of marriageable age, the Brahmin, following family tradition, married her into a respected household. But within a few days, she was widowed.

Broken by the grief of widowhood, the daughter began living at her parents' home, keeping to the duty of a devoted wife. Seeing his daughter's suffering caused Uttank great pain. He handed over the household and other responsibilities to his son, and settled with his wife and daughter on the sacred banks of the Ganga, where he began teaching the Vedas to his disciples.

One day, while the Brahmin's daughter was sleeping, worms appeared on her body. She told her mother about this. The mother then asked her husband, "My dear, what has happened to my pure daughter, why is there so much suffering in her fate?" Uttank meditated to find out the cause and learnt that in her previous birth, this daughter had been a Brahmin woman. But she had touched utensils as soon as her period began, and, following her friends, had not observed the fast of Bhadrapada shukla panchami, that is, Rishi Panchami. This was the reason worms had appeared on her body.

Uttank went on to say, "O sinful woman, during menstruation a woman is considered impure. On the first day she becomes a chandali, on the second day a brahmaghatini, and on the third day a rajaki, that is, a washerwoman. On the fourth day she becomes pure. In her previous birth, influenced by her friends, she had disrespected the Rishi Panchami fast despite observing it. Yet, because she had observed the Rishi Panchami fast in her previous birth, she was born again into a Brahmin family in this life. But she disrespected that fast, the result of which was that worms appeared on her body. This is the real reason for her sin and punishment."

Having heard the story of her daughter's previous birth, Sushila said, "O lord, please tell me about that unique fast which, despite being born into a virtuous Brahmin family such as yours through observing only the Rishi Panchami fast, led to worms appearing on her body in the middle of the night because she disrespected that very fast." The sage said, "O Sushila, the greatest fast I am about to describe frees a person from all such sins. Observing this fast frees a person from physical, divine and spiritual suffering alike. Besides this, the fast also grants women happiness and good fortune."

Before beginning the fast on Bhadrapada shukla panchami, one should bathe in a river, pond or other body of water. After this, the Saptarishi should be installed in a dwarvati, that is, a mandap. Then, following the prescribed method, the Saptarishi should be bathed with milk and the other panchamrit, that is, sweet and sour substances. After this, fragrant sandalwood paste should be applied to them and camphor offered. They should also be decorated with flowers and worshipped with incense, lamps and other rites. During the puja, the sages should also be offered upavita, that is, an unstitched, uncut cloth.

After this, various fruits and naivedya should be offered along with arghya. While offering arghya, one should silently pray, "Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaj, Vishwamitra, Gautam, Jamadagni and Vashishtha, may you be pleased to accept the arghya I offer." Women observing the fast should listen to this story and should eat only vegetables during the fast. Women who observe the fast in this manner remain happy, beautiful and blessed with sons and grandsons. A woman who observes this fast with devotion enjoys every kind of happiness in this world.

Uttank then said that if the daughter observed the Rishi Panchami fast with a pure heart, all her suffering would end. Following her father's instruction, the daughter observed the Rishi Panchami fast as described. Through the effect of the fast, all her suffering vanished. Not only that, she was also granted unbroken good fortune in her next birth.