Guruvara Vrata 2028

Guruvara Vrata (गुरुवार व्रत), the Brihaspativara Vrata, is the Thursday vrata of Brihaspati, the guru of the devas, for removing the ill effects of Guru when he is placed badly. The Vratraj gives it, as its editor added it, from the Jayasimha Kalpadruma: it is begun on a Thursday with Anuradha nakshatra and kept for seven naktas.

How to keep the vrata

• Place a gold image of Brihaspati in a gold vessel with two yellow cloths and a yellow sacred thread, with sandals, shoes, an umbrella and a kamandalu.
• Worship with yellow flowers, kumkuma, incense, a lamp, fruit, sandal and rice, and offer sweets of khanda sugar, praying: धर्मशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ ज्ञानविज्ञानपारग।
• Offer homa with ghee and sesame, 108 or 28 samidhs of pippala dipped in honey, ghee and curd.
• The 25-name stotra of Brihaspati, recited at dawn, pleases even an adverse Guru.

When to eat

• Nakta: one meal at night, on each of the seven days. The meal is taken in Pradosha; each day's Pradosha time is shown with the dates above.