Rishi Panchami is one of the most auspicious days for the people those who follow Vedic teaching and all the Hindus. It is believed that this is the perfect day to remember Rishi Parampara(the teaching lineage of seers)by which one will be free from Rishi Runa (debt of seers).

The festival of Rishi Panchami is especially dedicated to the Saptarishi, the seven great seers  Panchami denotes the commemoration of great seers on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapad. Sapta Rishi refers to the seven learned seers who devoted their lives to the betterment of humankind (Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagmi and Vashistha). They were the Mantra Drastarah (seers of mantras). They taught people the basic principles of life without complicating and compromising the truth. They also handed over their wisdom to the people so that the people are able to follow the path of knowledge and become enlightened.

The story behind Rishi Panchami

Rishi Panchami is such an auspicious day that if the fast is observed and rituals are performed, a person will be relieved from all the omitions and commitions of his or her present and past lives. Lord Brahma himself is the one who narrated the story of Rishi Panchami. According to him, there was a simple Brahmin named Uttanka who used to live with his wife Sushila. Their daughter, who was a widow, also lived with them. One night, several ants covered the body of the daughter and the parents were astonished to see this. They became extremely worried and immediately called a sage so that he could mend the situation.

The Rishi whom they called was a learned sage and he explained the reason behind the trouble. He made them aware of the sin that their daughter committed in her previous life. He told them that their daughter had entered the kitchen and cooked food to serve people during her menstruation. The rishi advised the daughter to perform certain rituals on the day of Rishi Panchami to purify her gross body and subtle body so that she would be relieved of the commitions that she has committed. Following the instructions given by the sage, the daughter performed all the customs with absolute devotion. This set her body and mind free from the dosha.

Rituals to be performed on Rishi Panchami

Rishi Panchami is such an auspicious day that if the fast is observed and rituals are performed, a person will be relieved from all the omitions and commitions of his or her present and past lives. Lord Brahma himself is the one who narrated the story of Rishi Panchami. According to him, there was a simple Brahmin named Uttanka who used to live with his wife Sushila. Their daughter, who was a widow, also lived with them. One night, several ants covered the body of the daughter and the parents were astonished to see this. They became extremely worried and immediately called a sage so that he could mend the situation. The Rishi whom they called was a learned sage and he explained the reason behind the trouble. He made them aware of the sin that their daughter committed in her previous life. He told them that their daughter had entered the kitchen and cooked food to serve people during her menstruation. The rishi advised the daughter to perform certain rituals on the day of Rishi Panchami to purify her gross body and subtle body so that she would be relieved of the commitions that she has committed. Following the instructions given by the sage, the daughter performed all the customs with absolute devotion. This set her body and mind free from the dosha. Rituals to be performed on Rishi Panchami The rituals and customs dedicated to Rishi Panchami must be performed with a pure heart and good intentions. A person’s intentions play a vital role in the purification of his body and mind. Seekers have to wake up early morning and take a bath as soon as they wake up preferably in a river. Ganga snanam is more beneficial this day. A fast is observed on the day of Rishi Panchami. The one and only purpose of Rishi Panchami is to purify a person completely. Therefore, people do many things such as cleaning of teeth with upmarga (herb) and bathing with datwan herb. These herbs are very pure and are considered to leave the body extremely clean. Herbs are used for outer purification, whereas a mixture of curd, milk, Tulasi, and butter is drunk to purify the soul. Worshipping the seven great seers, or Sapta Rishis, forms the concluding part of the rituals performed. Different types of stotras are being chanted. The prayers are offered in order to get blessings from the seven seers.