One worships Sun God to attain Akshaya Punya and baths and does charity for increased life

Posted By on 27 January, 2023

Rath Saptami 2023

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Ratha Saptami or Rathasapthami or Magha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Saptami) in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month Maagha. This year Rath Saptami falls on January 28.
It is believed that Sun God Surya turns his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses (representing seven colours) with Aruna as the charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easternly direction. Rath Saptami also marks the birth of Surya and hence is celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday).

Ratha Saptami is also symbolic of the change of season from winters to spring and also marks the beginning of the harvesting season. Therefore, for most Indian farmers, Rath Saptami is an auspicious beginning of the New Year. The temperature gradually increases across South India and awaits the arrival of spring, which is later heralded by the festival of Gudi Padwa, Ugadi or the Hindu lunar New Year day in the month of Chaitra.

The seven horses along with representing the seven colours of the rainbow also 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 Samvastsara. 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.

People fast on Rath Saptami dedicated to Lord Surya Dev which is observed on the Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Magh month. It is believed that taking a holy dip, doing charity, and worshiping on this day results in being showered by innumerable blessings. On Ratha Saptami, at sunrise, devotees go for a bath. It is believed that taking a pilgrimage bath during this time wards off diseases and gives one a good health. For this reason,son Rath Saptami is also known as Arogya Saptami. Donation made on this day are believed to give eternal fruit. Also, fasting on this day gives happiness to children and wishes are also fulfilled.

People worship with red flowers and incense

After taking a bath, at sunrise, people make offerings to the Sun God. The ritual of Arghadan is done by slowly offering water from the Kalash to the Sun God. While preforming this ritual the devotees should be in Namaskar Mudra and face in the direction of the Sun God.

Lord Surya should be worshiped with ghee lamp, red flowers, camphor and incense sticks to receive blessings of good health, longevity and success.

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