Rathasapthami

Surya Jayanti(Rathasapthami)

Surya Bhagawan, the only visible God to mankind, is so kind hearted that anyone who prays to him chanting “Tam Suryam Pranamamyaham” is blessed by him with health, life span. He is worshipped with several names – Jagatrakshak (the protector of the Universe), Lok Bandhav (friend to the world), Padma Bhandhav (friend to lotuses), Aditya (son of Aditi), Martanda (Successful person), Bhaskara (Light maker) Bhanu (Bright one).

Lord Krishna made it clear that Surya is no different from him. He stated that “Adityaanaa Aham Vishnu“, Lord Vishnu further made it clear that Jyotish am Ravi Ramsuman which means of the Paramjyotis that are brightly lighting up the world, he is the sun.

Surya Bhagawan, the embodiment of light, is not different from Srimannarayana (Lord Vishnu). RathaSapthami is celebrated on the seventh day of Magha (Magha Shukla Sapthami), the day Lord Surya was born as a son to Kasyapa Prajapati. It is also called Surya Jayanti. People worship him this day.

Surya Bhagawan Controls the Nine Grahas [planets]

It is Surya Bhagawan who controls the nine Grahas (planets) all through and ensures that the kalachakra moves on with perfect precision.

The sun stays in one rashi a month across the twelve rashis, which are called Zodiac signs. Of these, Makara Sankramana [entering Capricornus] and Karkataka Sankramana [entering Cancer]  are significant. From the time the Sun enters Capricornus [Makara] zone, the period of six months, is called Uttarayana. From the time the Sun enters Cancer [Karkataka] zone, the next six months, is called Dakshinayana. Even though the Sun’s chariot moves northwards from Makara Sankramana day, the wheels of the chariot turns northward fully only from RathaSapthami festival onwards.

It is believed auspicious to worship Lord Sun who is the bestower of health, from this festival onwards.

On RathaSapthami day people keep White Gigantea leaves, or at least Gigantea [jilledu in Telugu] in the morning- one on the head, two on each shoulder, one on the neck, another on the throat, one on the heart and one on the navel – in all, seven leaves, and take bath while praying to Lord Surya. If Gigantea leaves are not available, the next best is Badari [BerHindi, ReguTelugu] leaves.

Further, the cow dung dumplings that were placed in front of the houses amidst colourful rangolis and dried subsequently in the form of cakes, are lighted in traditional charcoal stoves. Cow milk is boiled in a vessel on this and payas is prepared in sunlight, and then offered to Lord Sun along with prayer rituals. This is called Sapthami Vrat.

Saptha Sapthami Swapan Vrat

There are people who undertook Saptha Sapthami Swapan Vrat and worshipped Lord Surya and got children.

Long ago, there lived an emperor Kritaveerya for the empire of Saptha Dweepa Mandala [seven island area]. His wife was Sheeladharadevi. After they have ruled the kingdom for a long time, their one hundred sons died due to a curse given by Sage Chyavan. On the advice of Brihaspati, they did upasana to Lord Surya for an heir. Surya bhagawan gave darshan and asked him to perform Saptha Sapthami Swapan Vrat as it would ward off all the sins and bestows them progeny. Thereon, Kritaveerya performed the vrat and got Kartaveeryarjuna as son, who according to Datta Purana, is an incarnation of Sri Sudarshana Bhagawan.

Mayur Sataka

There are people who worshipped Lord Surya and got rid off dreadful afflictions and gained full health.

Once a person by name Mayura was afflicted white leprosy. Because of this, no one let him anywhere near them and were averse even to talk with him. Under this pitiable condition, someone suggested to Mayura to worship Surya Bhagawan. He prayed to Lord Surya with 100 poems. His disease disappeared promptly. That set of 100 poems gained prominence as Mayura Sataka and is being chanted by several people.

Saptha Girisha on Surya Chariot

The festival of Ratha Sapthami is traditionally celebrated in Sri Venkatachala Kshetra, the Vaikunt of Kaliyug.

On the day of Ratha Sapthami, the celebrations of Surya Jayanti are celebrated by Lord Tirumalesh tumultuously with thousands of devotees. That day from dawn to dusk the Lord of Seven Hills goes in a procession in seven different vahans [vehicles].

First, exactly at dawn, the Lord will be ready in the North-West corner for going in a clock wise pradaksh in procession on the golden sun chariot which is drawn by seven horses. He will be armed with all his five weapons-konch [shell], disc, mace, sword and the bow. Further, he will be adorned with glittering diamond-studded jewels, nine-gem necklaces and a dazzling crown, which will reflect the first sun rays from the crown to the feet. He will be in a glorious mien. Such a glory should be seen and experienced, but cannot be described in words. This memorable scene can be witnessed only in the morning of Ratha Sapthami.

It’s an indelible experiences to witness the Lord who is worshipped with the rays of Lord Sun and also with aarati and dhoop. All our wishes would be fulfilled in addition to giving immense and inexplicable delight. Then the Lord reaches vahan mandap in Suryaprabha vahan.

The celebrations of Ratha Sapthami which begin with Surya Prabha chariot, are done on Chinna Sesha Vahan, Garuda Vahan, Hanuma Vahan. Also, the sacred disc is immersed in the Lord’s tank and then He goes on in a procession on Kalpa Vriksha Vahan, SarvaBhoopala Vahan and finally in the night, on Chandraprabha Vahan.

In all, Lord Srinivasa goes in a procession in seven chariots round the temple town on this occasion of Surya Jayanti which is called One day Brahmotsav or Ardha Brahmotsav.

Lord of Seven Hills and Surya Bhagawan who rides a chariot of seven horses are one and the same. Even then, Sri Venkateswara ingrained Surya Bhagawan and worshipped him. When did this happen? Where and why did this happen?

About 5,000 years ago, Srinivasa, in order to appease Sri Mahalaxmi dug a lotus pond in Tiruchanoor kshetra. He planted lotus plants and to keep them always in a blossomed state, he ingrained Lord Surya idol there and worshipped him. Sri Laxmi Devi who emerged from that lake got the name Padmavathi or Alamelmanga.

Also, it is auspicious to visit the Padma Sarovar in Tiruchanoor [Alamer Mangapuram], Lord Surya enthralled by Srinivasa himself and above all Sri Padmavati, who came out in the Lotus Lake. Such darshan would cause good results and shower riches, besides good health.

Aditya Hridayam

All of us are aware of Rama-Ravana battle, which lasted for several days. During that time, Sage Agastya visited Rama. Ramachandra requested him to suggest a technique to win the war. Thereon, Agastya gave him a stotra called “Aditya Hridayam” and asked Rama to recite it with devotion and worship Surya for victory in the battle. Thus, the stotra “Aditya Hridayam” bestowed victory to Rama. Even now, people recite Aditya Hridayam for success in any venture and good health.

Some Stories:

Samanthaka Mani

In DwaparYug, a king called Satrajit worshipped Lord Surya in the mornings, Pleased with his worship, Lord surya blessed him with a diamond, Samanthaka Mani, which used to yield tons of gold every day. Satyabhama, one of the wives of Lord Krishna, was the daughter of Satrajit. He married his daughter to Lord Krishna and also gifted the invaluable diamond along.

Shukla Yajurved

Once sage Yagnavalka, a disciple of Sage Jaimini had a serious tiff with his guru in a matter relating to King Janaka. Both of them were unyielding and heated arguments ensued. The infuriated guru, Jaimini ordered his disciple to abdicate all the knowledge that he had imparted. Immediately, Yagnavalka obeyed it and vomited all the | knowledge that had gained from his guru. Then he prayed to the Sun Lord and assumed him as his guru. Because of his new guru, he could study the Vedas. That’s what has emerged as Shukla Yajurveda. Since then, the pundits of Shukla Yajurveda are called Yaagnavalkas. In the Sukla Yajurveda imparted by Surya Bhagawan, the worship of Sun and the worship of Sri Sudarshan are prominent.

Lord Hanuman was the disciple of Lord Surya

When Hanuman was a boy, he looked at the red glowing round Sun and thought it was a fruit and leaped up and tried to swallow it. Lord Indra came to the rescue of the Sun and hit Hanuman with his deadly diamond weapon, Vajrayudh. Hanuma was hit on his jaws and had a dent there. That is why he is called Hanumantha. Then, Hanuma requested Lord Surya to impart education to him.

To this Surya said, “I won’t stay in one place. Even if I halt briefly, the rotation of time gets affected. How can you learn from me?” Responding to this Anjaneya increased his size to such an extent that he put one of his feet on the ‘dawn mountain’ and the other on ‘dusk mountain’. Delighted with this Surya assumed the role of guru to Hanuma and educated him. Thus Anjaneya learnt music and nine grammars (navya vyakaranas).

Akshay Patra

The Pandavas had a divine vessel, Akshay Patra with them during their exile that ensured that there is no paucity of food for them during their difficult days. That vessel is used to give them any food they wished unlimitedly. They were able to provide a full-fledged feast to their guests, irrespective of their numbers, even in dense forest. They got that vessel by the grace of Lord Surya when Yudhishter prayed to him to grant a boon ensuring food for them and their guests. Lord Surya who was pleased with him gifted Akshay Patra and said that it would give any quantity of food. However, once Draupati finishes her meal, it would not work for the day.