Hari Om
Sri Siva Surya Narayanaya Namaha!
Ratha Sapthami (Birth day of Surya Bhagawan – Surya Jayanthi) falls on 1st February 2020 this year.
Ratha Saptami is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Hindu Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya is believed to ride a chariot driven by seven horses – this form is worshipped during Rathasaptami puja and festival. The festival is of great importance at the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. The earth’s inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
Ratha Saptami is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha, or waxing phase of moon, in the Magh Month (January – February) in a traditional Hindu calendar.
A kolam or rangoli of Lord Surya riding a chariot is made on the ground and worshipped in many places. Some people boil milk in earthen vessels on the day.
Ratha Saptami is highly auspicious day and it is considered as auspicious as Surya Grahan for Holy and Punya activities. By worshipping Lord Surya and observing fast on this day one can get rid of all type of sins. It is believed that seven types of sins done, knowingly, unknowingly, by words, by body, by mind, in current birth and in previous births are purged by worshipping Lord Surya on this day.
On Ratha Saptami one should take bath during Arunodaya. Ratha Saptami Snan is one of the important rituals and is suggested during Arunodaya only. Arunodaya period prevails for four Ghatis (approx. one and half hour for Indian locations ) before sunrise. Taking bath before sunrise during Arunodaya keeps one healthy and free from all types of afflictions and diseases. Due to this belief Ratha Saptami is also known as Arogya Saptami. Taking bath in water body like river, lake, canal is preferred over taking bath at home.
Ratha Saptami marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). It is symbolically represented in the form of the Sun God Surya turning his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses, with Aruṇa as the charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. The symbolic significance of the ratha and the seven horses reigned to it is that it represents the seven colours of the rainbow. The seven horses are also said to represent the seven days of a week starting with Sunday, the day of Sun god Surya. The chariot has 12 wheels, which represents the 12 signs (each of 30 degrees) of the Zodiac (360 degrees) and constituting a full year, named Samvatsara. The Sun’s own house is Leo (Simha) and he moves from one house to the next every month and the total cycle takes 365 days to complete. The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God.
What to do on that day?
- To take bath using Erukku leaves.
-
To worship Lord Suryabhagawan at Temple or at home Mandir doing proper Pooja.
-
To offer flower garland to Lord Surya photo or at Temple in Navagraha and to perform archana early in the morning preferably.
-
To be Veg and Abstain from drinking.
-
To chant Surya Mandala Stotra, Sri Aditya Hrudayam and / or Sri Vishnu Sahasranama or Sri Rudram Chamakam.
-
Reciting at least 1 Mala (108 times) Gayathri mantra will be highly beneficial.
Benefits
- As Surya is the Pratyaksha Deity and the Chief if Navagrahas, we will receive his full Blessings to provide vitality and strength to face life issues and to succeed in all endeavours.
-
Heart and Chronic patients get Surya Bhagawan Blessings for their betterment of Health.
-
People who are constantly troubled by enemies are protected.
GF Blessings.
Om Tat Sat