Ratha Sapthami - The birthday of Lord Surya Deva



Bhagavan SuryaNarayana with charioter Aruna and 7 horses







Ratha Sapthami



"When Bhagavan Vishnu wished to give light to the whole universe, an effulgence emanated from his being resulting into the creation of 'Surya' (The Sun). The whole universe became illumined with Surya's radiance and all the deities dwelling within the body of Bhagavan Narayana expressed their gratitude.





Initially, unbearable heat emanated from 'Surya', causing great uncomfort to the deities but later Bhagavan Narayana reduced it to bearable limit at the request of the deities. Surya had manifested himself on the auspicious day of 'saptami' (the seventh day) hence this particular day became deeply associated with the worship of Surya.



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 Aruna 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 (12 months of the year with 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 360 days to complete (plus the adhika maasa). The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God.



Ratha Saptami also marks the gradual increase in temperature across South India and awaits the arrival of spring, which is later heralded by the festival of Ugadi or the Hindu lunar New Year day in the month of Chaitra.



Legends



Ratha Saptami also marks the birth of Surya to sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday). A legend is narrated by the Kamboja empire’s King Yashovarma, a noble king who had no heir to rule his kingdom. On his special prayers to God, he was blessed with a son. The king’s vows did not end with this, as his son was terminally ill. A saint who visited the king advised that his son should perform the Ratha Saptami pooja (worship) with reverence to rid of his past sins. Once the King’s son performed this, his health was restored and he ruled his kingdom well.





It is also said that Bhisma breathed his last breath fourth day after the Rathasaptahmi day on ekadashi.



It should be noted that anybody who performs pooja of the Surya Deva and / or chants Surya Deva's mantra "Om Namo SuryaNarayanaya" will be happy, prosperous, and healthy.





Who ever has some health problems or who doesn't have children can do pooja and / or chant Surya Deva's mantra. If both is done than it is well and good.





To know more about the Surya Deva & his family and also to know about the Surya Deva’s different auspicious names, you can visit the below link:









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SRI GURUBHYO NAMAHA

OM NAMO NARAYANAYA



