In the Indian Sanatan culture, fasting and yoga hold special significance. When auspicious dates, days of the week, and yogas coincide, that occasion becomes a superior moment for eliminating life's imperfections and gaining the energy of revitalization. Such a divine confluence is occurring on the Chaturdashi of the Ashadha month when the auspicious occasion of Ravi Yoga falls on a Wednesday. This conjunction is formed by a special astrological alignment of the Sun God and the Moon God and is considered the 'Sarvakarya Siddhi Yoga' (Yoga for the accomplishment of all tasks).
Wednesday Fast: An Auspicious Remedy to Obtain the Grace of the Planet Mercury
The Skanda Purana and many religious texts describe the Wednesday fast as extremely auspicious and beneficial. On this day, worshiping Lord Ganesha remarkably improves a person's intellect, wisdom, knowledge, and speech. Especially those whose horoscopes indicate unfavorable positioning of the planet Mercury, or those involved in education, writing, speech, business, or diplomacy, find this fast particularly fruitful. The planet Mercury is associated with intelligence, logical thinking, and communication skills. Therefore, the Wednesday fast not only provides spiritual advancement but also aids in worldly success.
Ravi Yoga: An Exceptional Confluence for the Accomplishment of All Tasks
Ravi Yoga is formed when the Moon is in any constellation and is situated in the fourth, sixth, ninth, tenth, or thirteenth position from the Sun's constellation. Any work initiated during this yoga yields long-lasting success. If one starts a new business, invests in property, gets married or engaged, or begins a new job or educational course on this day, it leads to extremely auspicious results in the future.
Worship Method: Perform the Puja Methodically, Attain Divine Grace
- Morning Bath: Wake up during the Brahma Muhurta (auspicious time before sunrise), take a bath, and wear clean green or yellow clothes.
- Offering to the Sun: Face the east, add a pinch of roli (vermilion) to red water, and offer it to the Sun God. Chant 'Om Suryaya Namah' 11 times.
- Puja Setup: Place a yellow cloth on a platform (chowki) in the Ishan Kon (northeast direction). Install the idol of Lord Ganesha.
- Abhisheka: Bathe Lord Ganesha with Panchamrit (a mixture of five ingredients) and pure water, then apply a paste of sindoor (vermilion) and ghee.
- Offerings: Offer the sacred thread (janeu), roli, three durva grasses, and yellow-red flowers. Offer green clothes and green moong dal to the planet Mercury.
- Mantra Chanting: Chant both 'Om Gam Ganapataye Namah' and 'Om Bum Buddhaya Namah' — one mala (rosary) each.
- Aarti and Story: Perform the Aarti of Lord Ganesha and the planet Mercury, then listen to the Wednesday fast story.
- Prasad Distribution: Distribute laddus or sweet halwa among family and relatives; also, give donations to the poor and Brahmins as per your ability and conclude the puja.
Do's and Don'ts
Do:
- Offer water to the Sun God
- Observe the Wednesday fast
- Wear red or green clothes
- Consume green vegetables and moong dal
- Practice mental purification and meditation
Don't:
- Consume meat and alcohol
- Speak lies, use abusive language, or engage in arguments
- Get haircuts or shave
- Avoid doing auspicious work during Rahu Kaal (12:26 PM – 2:10 PM)
- Avoid excessive anger and laziness
Fruits of the Fast: Stability, Success, and Peace in Life
This combined conjunction of the Wednesday fast and Ravi Yoga can give your life a new direction. It not only strengthens your intellect and speech but also, through the peace of the planets, automatically resolves many of life's crises. This fast is considered especially auspicious for students, business people, and writers. Individuals who observe this fast regularly for 12 Wednesdays and conclude it with the proper Udyapan (completion ceremony) are blessed with longevity, health, wealth, progeny, and good fortune.
On the Chaturdashi of this Ashadha month, when the extraordinary opportunity of Ravi Yoga and the merit of the Wednesday fast are coinciding, this becomes the best moment for self-transformation, accomplishment of tasks, and the attainment of divine grace. If you are troubled by mental complexities, educational setbacks, business failures, or planetary defects, then observe the fast and perform the puja with devotion on this day.
