Rishi Panchami Vrat 2025: Every year, Rishi Panchami is observed on the Shukla Paksha Panchami of Bhadrapada month, the day after Ganesh Chaturthi. This vrat is dedicated to the Sapta Rishis (seven sages) and also marks the birth anniversary of Rishi Kashyap. In 2025, the auspicious fast of Rishi Panchami is being observed on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
Unlike festivals, this day is primarily a fasting and purification ritual, observed especially by women to seek forgiveness for any mistakes related to menstrual impurity and to pray for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the family. On this day, devotees listen to or recite the Rishi Panchami Katha (story) as part of the rituals.
Mythological Stories of Rishi Panchami
1. The Story of Brahmin Uttank’s Daughter
In Vidarbha, a pious Brahmin named Uttank lived with his wife Sushila and two children. When his daughter became a widow, the family began living in a hut near the Ganga. One day, the girl found her body covered with worms. Distressed, she revealed this to her mother, who in turn asked her husband about the cause.
Through meditation, Uttank discovered that in her previous birth, the girl was a Brahmin who had unknowingly touched household items during menstruation and she even failed to observe the Rishi Panchami fast in this birth too. As a result, she was suffering.
Uttank advised his daughter to perform the Rishi Panchami vrat sincerely. She followed the rituals and, due to the power of the fast, was freed from her suffering. In her next birth, she received eternal happiness and unbroken good fortune.
2. The Story of Farmer Sumitra and His Wife Jayshree
In the Satya Yuga, King Shyenjit ruled over Vidarbha. A farmer named Sumitra lived in his kingdom with his wife Jayshree, who was deeply devoted to him. One day, while working in the fields, Jayshree continued household chores even after she had menstruated.
Because of this impurity, after their deaths, Sumitra was reborn as a bull and Jayshree as a bitch, despite being virtuous in every other way. They both retained memories of their past life and suffered greatly in their new forms.
Their son, Suchitra, was a dutiful man who served sages and Brahmins. On the day of his father’s Shraddha, an incident occurred when a snake poisoned a pot of kheer. Jayshree, in her form as a bitch, saved her son by touching the kheer to make it inedible. However, she was beaten and denied food by Suchitra’s wife.
Later, Suchitra overheard his reborn parents lamenting their condition. He fed them, and then approached sages to know the cause of their suffering and the remedy. Sage Sarvatma Rishi explained that only the Rishi Panchami vrat, observed with devotion and offered for his parents, could liberate them.
Following this advice, Suchitra and his wife observed the fast and worshipped the Sapta Rishis including Arundhati. As a result, both his parents were freed from their animal births and attained salvation.
The Essence of Rishi Panchami
The stories of Rishi Panchami emphasize the importance of purity, discipline, and devotion. Observing this vrat not only washes away sins but also ensures peace, prosperity, and liberation from past karmas.
Women especially observe this vrat with faith, as it is believed to bring protection for the family and eternal good fortune.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is based on beliefs and information only. Always consult a concerned expert.
