The Indian culture has been preserved and handed over to progenies through oral
preachings. The main aim and objective of this practice was to inculcate in
people eternal values like chastity, truthfulness, donation to the needy,
helping and serving the elders, good family relations, respect for women,
kindness towards all creatures - big or small, preserving nature and natural
objects, accepting the nature’s gifts as boons, fair dealing with all, devotion
or bhakti, shedding hatred, pride-jealousy, anger etc. This was attained through
observing fasts and leading a disciplined life and controlling diet and food
habits.
The present collection of cultural and religious stories is an attempt to bring
to light our oral culture. The Week Days’ stories have special significance in
as much as they propose a weekly engagement for the common folk and specially
for the women folk. Each day of the week brings a special message. These stories
have given solace to millions of people from time immemorial.
It would be worthwhile to explain as to how a particular day of the week was
allotted to particular star or planet. According to Indian astronomers, the
position of the planets, in order of their placement in the sky, is Shani,
Vrihaspati, Mangal, Ravi, Shukra, Budha and Chandrama. They rotate in their own
orbits or paths.
The sun was visible on the first dawn upon this earth. This ‘hora’ or hour was
dedicated to this planet. People called it Ravivar or Adityavar i.e. Sun’s day.
In the second ‘hora’ or hour, the other planets appeared in quick succession in
the rotation as referred to above. In the 24th ‘hora’ or hour, moon appeared in
the sky. So this day was named as Somvar, Chandravar or Moon’s day. Likewise
other planets followed this pattern and the days were named after them which
appeared in the first hour of the succeeding dawn. So ‘Shani’ was the deity of
the dawn on the 7th day.
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