There was a Brahmin named Uttank in a place called Vidarbha. He lived with his wife, Sushila, and they had a son and a daughter-in-law. Their son’s wife was a very dedicated and virtuous woman. After some time, both the son and daughter-in-law passed away. The parents, Uttank and Sushila, were deeply saddened by this loss and lived a very simple life.
However, a few days later, a strange incident occurred. The daughter-in-law’s body began to decompose and worms appeared on it. This was very unusual, as the body of such a virtuous woman should not have been in this state. The Brahmin couple was very worried and decided to consult a great sage to understand the reason behind this.
They went to a wise sage and told him everything. After meditating for a while, the sage said, “O Brahmin, your daughter-in-law had unknowingly committed a sin. During her period, she did not follow the proper rules. She cooked and touched household items on the fourth day of her cycle. Because of this, she was cursed, and worms have appeared on her body. If she had lived, she would have suffered in hell.”
The sage then said, “To be free from this sin, one must observe the fast of Rishi Panchami. By observing this fast, one is freed from the sins of such unintentional mistakes. Tell your daughter-in-law to observe this fast according to all the rituals.”
Hearing this, the Brahmin couple decided to observe the fast themselves on behalf of their daughter-in-law. They fasted and worshiped the Saptarishis (Seven Sages). They performed all the rituals with a pure heart and begged for forgiveness. As soon as the fast was completed, the daughter-in-law’s body became pure and she went to heaven.
From that day on, the fast of Rishi Panchami became a special tradition. Women observe this fast to purify themselves from any mistakes, especially those related to menstrual impurity. By worshiping the Saptarishis, they pray for forgiveness and purity.