Santan Saptami fast is kept on Saptami of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapad month. This year, it will be celebrated on 10 September 2024,  This fast is kept to be blessed with a child or for a child’s success and protection. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped on this day. This fast is considered to be very important.

Saptami Fast Procedure

Saptami Fast is kept by women for their children. A woman keeping this fast should wake up early in the morning and take a bath. She should wear clean clothes. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva should be worshipped in the morning before beginning the fast.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati should be worshipped in the afternoon with sandalwood, rice, lamps, naivedya, supari and coconut. For Naivedya, kheer, puri and jaggery are used. Kalava should be dedicated to Lord Shiva for a child’s protection. The same kalava should be worn and the story associated with this fast should be heard.

Santan Saptami Fast Story

A legend is famous about Santan Saptami fast. According to this legend, Lord Krishna told Yudhishtir that once Saint Lomesh visited Mathura. Lord Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki served the saint and told him about the death of their other children. The Saint advised them to keep a Santan Saptami Fast.

Saint Lomesh told them about the worship procedure. He told them that Nahush was an aggressive king in Ayodhyapuri. His wife was named Chandramukhi. A brahmana named Vishnudatta lived in his kingdom. Vishnudatta’s wife was named Roopvati. Queen Chandramukhi and Roopvati were good friends. Once, they went to take a bath in a pond. Other women were also taking a bath in the same pond. These women made idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess parvati and started worshipping them. Chandramukhi and Roopvati were curious and asked for the worship’s procedure.

A woman told them that the fast could bless a woman with a child. Chandramukhi and Roopvati were committed to keep Santan Saptami fast. They wore a thread with the name of Lord Shiva on it. But they forgot to keep the fast once they reached home. As a result, they were born as Queen Vanari and Brahamani Murgi in the next life.

They were again born as humans in the next life. Chandramukhi was married to King Prithvinath in this life and Roopvati was born in a Brahmana’s house. Chandramukhi came to be known as Ishwari and Roopvati came to be known as Bhushna in this life. Bhushna was married to Raj Purohit Agnimukhi. In this life too, they were good friends.

Since Chandramukhi forgot about the fast, she had no children in this life too. Bhushna remembered the fast and gave birth to eight beautiful sons. Bhushna visited Queen Ishwari to console her. Queen Sihwari was jealous of her and tried to kill her sons. But, she was unable to kill them. She told the whole incident to Bhushna and asked for forgiveness. She asked Bhushna why she could not kill her children. She told her about the fast. As a result, Queen Ishwari also kept Santan Saptami fast and gave birth to a beautiful son. Since then, this fast is kept for the protection of one’s children and to be blessed with a child.

Santan Saptami fast Worship

Once a woman has heard the story associated with this fast, she should worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the evening. Lamps, dhoop, fruits, flowers and fragrance should be used in the worship. Naivedya should be offered to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva’s aarti should also be sung.