Guruvar (Thursday) Vrat Vidhi: Vishnu and Brihaspati Puja, Yellow Items, Banana Tree Worship and Rules

Thursday is regarded as the day of Lord Vishnu and Brihaspati (Jupiter), the guru of the gods. The tradition is to keep a vrat and worship on this day, with special importance given to the colour yellow. The vrat is kept with a prayer for knowledge, learning, good judgement and the family's wellbeing.

**Key Takeaways** - Day: Thursday, the day of Vishnu and Brihaspati - Yellow clothes, chana dal, jaggery, turmeric and banana are regarded as special in the puja - There is a tradition of worshipping and watering the banana tree - Some families eat one meal on this day, and some also follow rules such as not cutting hair or nails

Guruvar Vrat Vidhi

1. 1.Bathe in the morning, wear yellow or clean clothes and take the vrat sankalp.
2. 2.Place an image of Vishnu and Brihaspati Dev at the puja space.
3. 3.Offer yellow flowers, turmeric, chana dal, jaggery and banana.
4. 4.Light a ghee lamp and offer tulsi leaves.
5. 5.Chant Om Namo Narayanaya and hear the Brihaspativar vrat katha.
6. 6.Perform the Vishnu aarti.
7. 7.Offer water to the banana tree and light a lamp.
8. 8.Take fruit through the day or one sattvic meal.

Why Yellow?

Yellow is regarded as Brihaspati's colour, so wearing yellow on Thursday and using yellow items (turmeric, chana dal, banana, yellow flowers) is considered auspicious. That is why many families include chana dal or besan dishes in the meal on this day.

Banana Tree Worship

By tradition, Brihaspati and Vishnu are held to reside in the banana tree on Thursday. Water is therefore offered at its roots, turmeric and roli applied, and a lamp lit.

Rules in Some Families

According to family tradition some people avoid washing hair or getting hair or nails cut on this day and eat one meal without salt. These are family-based traditions, not universal rules.

More on Vishnu Worship

For the recitation of Vishnu's thousand names read Why Recite Vishnu Sahasranama, and for the Ekadashi vrat Ekadashi Vrat: Significance and Rules. To learn each weekday's deity see Which God Is Worshipped on Each Day. For tulsi worship read Tulsi Significance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whom is the Thursday vrat kept for?

Thursday is regarded as the day of Lord Vishnu and Brihaspati, the guru of the gods, so the vrat is kept to worship them.

Why is yellow worn on Thursday?

Yellow is regarded as Brihaspati's colour, so wearing yellow and using yellow items like turmeric, chana dal and banana is considered auspicious.

Why is the banana tree worshipped on Thursday?

By tradition Brihaspati and Vishnu are held to reside in the banana tree on Thursday, so water is offered at its roots and a lamp is lit.

Which mantra is chanted in the Thursday vrat?

Om Namo Narayanaya is chanted for Lord Vishnu, along with the Vishnu aarti.