Risipanchami Brata

Green and wet soils are everywhere in the green season, the clouds are melting in drops and the soils are enchanted by the touch of water. The squares and monasteries are crowded with red saris, ornaments, and women's gatherings. Today is Rishi Panchami, a special day for women to worship the seven sages.

The history of Rishi Panchami is thousands of years old and just as old is the history of the importance given to women's sexual and reproductive health and rights by Vedic Sanatan rituals. It is customary for women to compare the days of menstruation according to the four goddesses: Chandalani on the first day, Brahmadhatini on the second day, Dhobini on the third day and purification by bathing on the fourth day.

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
 नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

 या देवी सर्वभूतेषु ज्ञानरूपेण संस्थिता।
 नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

 या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
 नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

The Goddess who is addressed as the consciousness among all beings, greet them, greet them, greet them repeatedly, frequently.  Those Goddesses who are intellectually situated among all beings, greet them, greet them, greet them repeatedly. Those Goddesses who are mercifully situated in all beings, greet them, greet them, greet them repeatedly.

Our heartfelt salutations to the omnipresent and all-pervading woman in the universe as a force. It is clear that comparing menstruation with untouchability is a misinterpretation of the classical statement. In ancient times, it was forbidden to do kitchen and other activities to get enough rest during menstruation. Later, this prohibition was taken as untouchability and guilt. Remember that the menstrual blood of women is the basis of the universe, the essence of creation comes from here.

Today, women useUpaMarga, i.e. a plant with special natural herbal properties, to brush and chew their teeth after completing their daily routine in the morning. The Upamarga is a plant readily available on Nepali soil. Upamarga means the disease eradicating substance in Sanskrit. After using the stalk pieces of 108Upamarga, the women use the soil on their body and go to the nearby stream or lake to bathe. After bathing, it is customary to mix Panchabhagya i.e. milk, curd, ghee, dubo, kush and cow dung, and consume one or two drops of it kept in a copper vessel.

It is believed that the consumption of Panchabhagya will cure tuberculosis and skin diseases. After bathing in the morning and purifying the body and soul, the women worship and invoke sages like Kashyap, Aarti, Bhargadoj, Vishwamitra, Gautam, Jamadagni and Vashishta by installing diyas, kalash and Ganesh and offering various hymns and prayers. After that, the ritual of Rishi Panchami is completed only after the Brahmin performs the ritual worship.
There is a special crowd in various sage ashrams across the country, including the Risheshwar temple in Kathmandu Teku. However, the COVID risk condemns the commemoration for this year. On this day, it is customary for women to offer Sindoor/ Potey as a sign of their good fortune. Best wishes to Rishi Panchami, one of the scientific festivals of Vedic Sanatan Hindu rites. Let us not have to listen to the unpleasant news that the girl has suffered and died due to untouchability and chaupadi, let this ancient foundation show the importance of menstruation.

Suyog Dhakal