History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.598

v6.c81.598

On the 5th tithi of the bright half of Bhādrapada occurs the Ṛṣipañcamī-vrata. It was meant for men of all varṇas but is now mostly practised by women. Hemādri (on vrata, vol. I. pp 568-572) describes the vrata at length quoting from the Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa. One should, after bathing in a river or the like and after performing his daily duties, repair to his *agnihotra* shed, should bathe with Pañcāmṛta the images of the seven sages and, anointing them with sandalwood paste and camphor, worship them with flowers, fragrant substances, incense, lamp, white clothes and yajñopavītas and sumptuous naivedya and offer them arghya³⁸⁰ with the mantra noted below. One should, when engaged in this vrata, subsist on vegetables alone and observe celibacy. The result is freedom from all sins and from troubles of three kinds³⁸¹ and the increase of one's good fortune. If a woman performs this vrata she enjoys happiness, becomes endowed with good bodily form, beauty and sons and grandsons