7 Divine Reasons Why Lord Vishnu Is Worshipped on Thursdays

Nidhi | Sep 12, 2025, 15:30 IST

Vishnu

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Highlight of the story: Thursday, known as Guruvar, is considered the most auspicious day to worship Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe. Across India, devotees fast, chant Vishnu Sahasranama, and seek blessings for wisdom, prosperity, and spiritual growth on this day. But why is Thursday linked so closely with Vishnu and Brihaspati (Jupiter)? This article explores seven divine reasons behind this sacred practice, rooted in scriptures, astrology, and tradition. Discover the deeper meaning of Thursday fasting and how it aligns life with Vishnu’s eternal balance.

Among the seven days of the week, Thursday holds a sacred place in Hindu tradition as the day dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the eternal preserver of the cosmos. Known as Guruvar in Hindi, this day is deeply connected with the planet Brihaspati (Jupiter), who is revered as the divine teacher of gods. In many parts of India, devotees observe fasts, perform pujas, and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu on Thursdays seeking his blessings for wisdom, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment.

But why is Thursday specifically associated with Lord Vishnu? The reasons are not arbitrary. They are deeply rooted in Hindu scriptures, cosmology, and spiritual philosophy. Below are seven divine reasons that explain the significance of Thursday as the day of Vishnu worship.

1. The Day of Brihaspati, the Guru of Devas

Lord Vishnu

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Thursday is called Brihaspativar, named after the planet Jupiter (Brihaspati), the celestial teacher of the Devas. Jupiter is considered the embodiment of wisdom, dharma, and divine knowledge, qualities that resonate with Lord Vishnu’s cosmic role as the preserver of order and righteousness. In Vedic astrology, Jupiter governs wealth, education, and spirituality, all of which are blessings bestowed by Lord Vishnu. Thus, worshipping Vishnu on this day harmonizes one’s life with the energy of Brihaspati and strengthens the pursuit of dharma.

2. Connection with Vishnu’s Role as the Preserver

Pray

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Hindu cosmology assigns each day of the week to a planetary force and a divine being. Thursday’s association with Vishnu highlights his role as the preserver of the universe within the Trimurti. While Brahma creates and Shiva transforms, Vishnu sustains cosmic balance through compassion, protection, and order. By worshipping him on Thursdays, devotees align themselves with this sustaining energy, invoking stability in personal, social, and spiritual life.

3. The Link with Goddess Lakshmi and Prosperity

Lakshmi

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Thursday fasting and prayers to Vishnu are often performed together with offerings to Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune. Scriptural traditions state that where Vishnu resides, Lakshmi also dwells. Thursdays are therefore considered auspicious for invoking both sustenance and prosperity. Devotees believe that prayers on this day bring harmony in family life, financial stability, and protection against misfortune, since Lakshmi’s presence is inseparable from Vishnu’s grace.

4. Importance in the Bhagavata Purana and Other Scriptures

The Bhagavata Purana emphasizes devotion to Lord Vishnu as the supreme path for attaining liberation (moksha). Thursdays are traditionally marked for the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhagavad Gita, and stories from the Puranas that glorify his incarnations. The Garuda Purana also mentions Thursday as an auspicious day for rituals aimed at spiritual progress. This strong textual backing establishes Thursday not just as a cultural practice, but as a scripturally endorsed day for worship.

5. The Auspicious Beginning of Vratas and Rituals

Rituals of pitru paksha

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Many important vratas (vows) and spiritual observances in Hindu tradition are begun on Thursdays. The Guruvar Vrat is one of the most popular fasts dedicated to Vishnu and Brihaspati, observed especially in North and Western India. Devotees wear yellow clothes, consume yellow foods like chana dal, and offer yellow flowers to Vishnu, since yellow is both the color of Jupiter and the symbol of auspiciousness. Beginning a vrata on Thursday is believed to amplify its results, as the day is naturally charged with Vishnu’s sustaining energy.

6. Association with Knowledge and Spiritual Growth

Thursday worship is not limited to material prosperity; it is deeply linked with the pursuit of jnana (knowledge) and moksha (liberation). Jupiter, the ruling planet of Thursday, represents spiritual wisdom, while Vishnu is revered as the source of ultimate truth. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, declares that among the planets he is Brihaspati. Thus, Thursdays bridge the cosmic teacher (Jupiter) with the eternal guide (Vishnu), making it an ideal day to seek inner clarity, devotion, and liberation from the cycles of ignorance.

7. Continuity of Tradition Across Regions of India

Young Monks Performing Ritual on Ganges River

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The observance of Thursday as Vishnu’s day is not confined to one region but is found across India in different forms. In South India, devotees visit Vishnu and Venkateswara temples on Thursdays, offering tulsi leaves and chanting Vishnu Sahasranama. In North India, the day is observed with fasting, yellow attire, and prayers for prosperity. In Maharashtra, the Thursday fast is particularly popular among women, who observe it for family welfare. This widespread continuity across cultures highlights the deep-rooted significance of Vishnu worship on this day, uniting diverse practices under one divine principle.

Why Thursday Worship Still Matters Today

Thursday worship of Lord Vishnu is far more than a ritual; it is a weekly reminder of the principles of sustenance, wisdom, and balance that govern the cosmos. It connects the devotee with the planetary energy of Jupiter, the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, and the eternal guidance of Vishnu himself. Every prayer offered on this day is not just a request for material well-being, but also an affirmation of dharma and spiritual growth.

In a world often shaken by uncertainty, the Thursday fast and prayers to Vishnu offer a grounding anchor—a way to align one’s life with the sustaining rhythm of the universe. By observing Guruvar with sincerity, devotees invite not only prosperity into their homes but also harmony into their hearts.