Today being Ratha Saptami, let us look into the symbolism, significance and festivites of this day…

Bharat – Revelling in Brilliance

“There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go away. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolour.”

– Keith Bellows (Editor-in-chief, National Geographic Society)

Bharat – Land of Festivals

One of the features that makes Bharat unique is the number and variety of festivals we celebrate. We celebrate our Gods, our domesticated animals, nature and the pancha Mahabhootas.

We have a Vasundhara Din (Earth Day) and a Pooja of Govardhan (Mountains). In the month of January we celebrate the arrival of fresh new crop. The first day of the Hindu month of Paush is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. The harvest festival is also known with various other names as, Lohri. Pongal. Magh Bihu, Uttarayan etc. On Makar Sankranti, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makara. From the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan journey.

The Bharatiya festival celebration includes ritualistic, physical, mental and social aspects. We are going to talk about one such festival which is unique and not much known to the world at large.

Ratha Saptami – the Legend

Ratha Saptami, also known as Magha Saptami, is a Hindu festival that falls on 7th day of Shukla paksha of Magha. The northward journey of the Sun intensifies and in the northern hemisphere, days start becoming longer.

As per the Hindu legend, Lord Surya was born to Rhishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi and hence it is celebrated as Surya Jayanti. It is believed that Lord Surya Dev started enlightening the whole world on Ratha Saptami day.

Ratha Saptami – Symbolism

As the name suggests, ‘ratha’ means ‘a chariot’ and ‘saptami’ is ‘seven’. So it is believed that the Sun God sitting in a chariot driven by seven horses turns it towards the northern hemisphere. The seven horses are said to represent seven days of a week, starting from Sunday. The chariot has 12 wheels representing 12 zodiac signs, constituting a full year, known as Samvatsara. Alternatively, the seven horses also represent seven colours of the rainbow.

Ratha Saptami – Significance

It is believed that on Ratha Saptami, one should take bath during Arunodaya. Ratha Saptami Snan is one of the most important rituals. Arunodaya period prevails for four Ghatis (approx. one and half hour as one Ghati duration is made up of 24 minutes) before sunrise. Taking bath before sunrise during Arunodaya keeps one healthy and free from all types of ailments and diseases. Because of this belief Ratha Saptami is also known as Arogya Saptami. Taking bath in a water body like a river or a canal is preferred over taking bath at home.

It is said that by worshipping Lord Surya and observing fast on this day, one can get rid of all seven types of sins. Sins which are done –

• knowingly 
• unknowingly
• with words
• by the body
• mentally
• in this current birth 
• in previous births 

Ratha Saptami – the Ritual

After taking bath one should worship Lord Surya during sunrise by offering Arghyadan (अर्घ्यदान) to him. Arghyadan is performed by slowly offering water to Lord Surya from small Kalash with folded hand in Namaskar Mudra while facing Lord Sun in standing position. After this one should light a lamp of pure Ghee and worship the Sun God with Kapoor, Dhup, and red flowers. By doing morning Snan, Dan-Punya and Arghyadan to Suryadev one is bestowed with long life, good health and prosperity and all the sins are purged.

The worship of Sun at the physical and mental level consists of Suryanamaskar or Sun salutations.  It is a practice in yoga incorporating a flow sequence of twelve gracefully linked asanas. As the Surya Nadi or Sun Channel runs along the right side, you begin the Surya Namaskar with your right leg first. Typically the number of repetitions are 12 or in multiples of 12. Maximum being 108. Regular practice accrues many benefits such as physical and mental strength, better command over body, calmness of the mind, balanced energies and inner peace. Surya Namaskar is a powerful technique to make you more mindful. With regular practice, it increases awareness forming a deeper connection between the body, breath and consciousness.

Ratha Saptami – the Festivities

The cultural or social aspect of the festival includes gathering of women folk. The ladies gather in the evening at the residence of the host who has invited them for Haldi- kumkum. The ladies exchange Haldi-Kumkum, sweet laddoos known as Tilgul.  It is believed that by exchanging the sweets, the bitter experiences of the past are forgotten and bonds of friendship and sweetness are renewed. They also offer gifts consisting household items like utensils or puja articles or decorative items like jewelry, stole etc. This is celebrated during one and half months from the day of Makar Sankranti to Ratha Saptami.

The other well-known way of Sun worship at speech level is through chanting of Gayatri mantra.  The word mantra comes from “मननत् त्रायते इति मंत्र:“. So it is believed that by chanting the mantra, the desired result will be achieved. The Gayatri mantra praises the sun in the form of Lord Brahma in the morning, as Lord Vishnu at noon, and as Lord Shiva in the evening. 

Swami Vivekananda translates the Gayatri Mantra as follows: “We meditate on the glory of that Supreme Power who has produced this universe. May He enlighten our minds.”

Our Scriptures compare the Sun or Surya to the Brahman, the origin of the whole universe. But let’s talk about it some other time. 

Written by Smt. Manisha Deole