1. Worship Sun God on
Rathasapthami to purge
the Sins.
Sun is the main source due to which life is
sustained on Earth. Ratha Saptami, the
seventh day of waxing phase of moon in the
month of Magha (Magha Sukla Paksha
Saptami) is the festival of Sun God. This
year Ratha Saptami is observed on
Sunday, 14th February, 2016, since this day
happens to be Sunday this is called as
“Vijaya Sapthami’.
By worshipping Lord Sun and observing
fast on this day sins done, knowingly,
unknowingly, by words, by body, by
mind, in current birth or in previous
births will be purged.
Dr.CH.D.RAVINDRA NATH
M.COM., Ph D
Worship of Sun God or Suryopasana is as ancient as Hinduism itself having
its origin from Vedic times. Numerous hymns addressed to Him are found in our
ancient scriptures viz., Saura Sukta of the Rig Veda, Aruna Prashna of the
Taittiriiya Aranyaka, Surya Namaskara mantras, Surya Upanishad of Atharva
Veda, Aditya Hridayam as mentioned in epic Ramayana etc.,
ॐ तच्चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच््कमुच्चरत ्।
पश्येम शरर्दः शतं जीवेम शरर्दः शतं
शृणुयाम शरर्दः शतं प्रब्रवाम शरर्दः शतं
अर्दीनाः स्यां शरर्दः शतं भूयश्च शरर्दः शतात ् ॥ ॥
Om Thatchakshurdevahitham purasthachakmuchcharat
Paschema saradasatham satham jeevema sharadam satham:
Srunuyema saradam satham prabhravama saradah satham

2. Adeenaha syam saradaha satham bhavascha saradaha shathat::
OM! That bright eye (in the form of the Sun) is high in front of
us.(With that eye as our guide) Let us see (properly) for hundred
years, live for hundred years, hear (properly) for hundred years,
speak (properly) for hundred years, be independent for hundred
years, and again have all these for hundred years.
These hymns describe Lord Sun as the source of energy and sustainer of all life
on the planet earth. The chanting of Gayatri Mantra – the sacred Vedic mantra
to Savitr (Sun god) – is recited by the traditional and orthodox Hindus every
day with great reverence. As the puranic Hinduism evolved around the early
Christian era, the worship of Sun, linked to the equinoxes, was established.
Lord Sun is worshipped in Greece as Helios and his Egyptian counter-part is
‘Ra’. In Mexican, Egyptian and Iranian civilizations the worship of the Sun-God
is remarkable. Excavations in different places have revealed that people since
very olden times were worshipping the Sun-God. Besides these areas, people
in the whole of southern Europe, the East, North-East America and Australia
were also worshipping the Sun in some form or other. In Japan the Sun-God is
worshipped in the name of Nitten. The ruins of balbek temple in the city of
Lebanon testify the Roman worship of Sun God from 323BC to 312 AD by
Romans in the name of “Bal-Hadad”
It is believed that Lord Vishnu in order to redeem the inhabitants of the
universe from sufferings, has taken birth from the womb of Aditi the wife of
Kasyapa Prajapati in the Year Prabhava in the constellation “Visakha”. There
are several temples that are built in the honor of Lord Sun and Ratha Saptami
is celebrated in all the temples in grandeur. It is believed that Sun is the main
source due to which life is sustained on Earth. Therefore, people do not miss
this chance of expressing their gratitude towards Sun. Ratha Saptami in villages
hold extreme importance as it also marks the beginning of harvest season for
villagers.
In Vedic astrology Sun is mentioned as “Ravi” and considered a mild malefic on
account of his hot, dry nature. Sun represents soul, will-power, fame, eyes,
general vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority.
He is exalted in the sign Mesha, is in mulatri-kona in the sign Leo (Simha) and
is in debilitation in the sign Tula. Surya is lord of three constellations Krittika,
Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. Surya has the following associations: the
colors – copper or red, the metals – gold or brass, the gemstone – ruby, the

3. direction – east and the season of summer. The food grain associated with him
is wheat.
It is believed that Lord Sun started enlightening the whole world on Ratha
Saptami day which was considered as birth day of God Surya. Hence this day is
also known as Surya Jayanti.
The journey of sun starts from Capricorn towards North for vernal equinox
from this very day which is known as Uttrayana. Vernal equinox is the day that
has day and night of equal time in spring. It is believed that the chariot of Lord
Sun used to be drawn by seven horses. These seven horses are the symbol of
seven colors of rainbow and the seven days of the week as well. The whole
religious significance of Ratha Saptami, Lord Sun and Chariot doesn't end here
but the glory is far more extended. The chariot consists of 12 wheels that
symbolize 12 different zodiac signs and the 12 months which constitute a year.
The journey of Sun includes all the 12 zodiac signs and has its effects on all the
natives individually. Each and every person on Earth deserves the kindness of
Sun in equal share and this can be seen as the main purpose of Ratha Saptami.
This festival 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 (March-April).
The festivities on this day start with a purification bath by holding several
Ekka(Kannada)/Jilledu(Telugu)/Arka(Sanskrit)/ Calotropis Gigantea(English)
leaves on one’s head while bathing and chanting a verse which is supposed to
invoke the benevolence of the Lord in all that one indulges in during the rest of
the year. Arghyam (water held in the palms) is offered to the Sun God on this
day while chanting hymns. After bath, milk is boiled until it overflows and Sun
God is worshipped by praying to the over flowing milk. Milk is boiled further so
that it overflows for three times and the remaining milk is offered as
Naivedyam(food offering). Drawing of Rath(chariot) as Rangoli in front of the
house is a common ritual. Fast can be observed to please Sun God.
Important prayers to the Sun god on this occasion are the Adityahridayam,
Gayathri, Suryashtakam, Surya Sahasra namam etc., . The preferred time for
the pooja is within one hour after sunrise.
Among the many names and epithets by which this deity is known, the
following are the most common:—
Dinakara, "The Maker of the day." Bhāskara, "The Creator of light."
Vivaswat, "The Radiant one." Mihira, "He who waters the earth;" i.e. he draws
up the moisture from the seas so that the clouds are formed. Grahapati, "The

4. Lord of the stars." Karmasākshi, "The Witness of (men's) works." Mārtanda, "A
descendant of Mritanda."
On Ratha sapthami a one-day Brahmotsavam is held in Tirumala. On this day,
the presiding deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy along with his divine consorts
Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken to a procession in Thiru Mada streets in
Tirumala. The deities carried out in a jubilant procession around the Thiru mada
streets encircling the holy Shrine of Balaji on seven different
vahanams(sapthami=seven) .Due to this reason the day of RathaSapthami is
called as "Mini-Brahmotsavam" in Tirumala.The day starts with 'Surya prabha
vahanam' at early morning followed by Sesha, Garuda, Hanumantha,
Kalpavriksha, sarvabhoopala vahanams respectively.The day is ended with the
Chandra prabha vahanam.
आहर्दत्यस्य नमस्कारान् ये कु ववनतत हर्दने हर्दने ।
जनमानतरसिस्रेषु र्दाररद्र्यं र्दोष नाशते ।
अकालमृत्यु िरणं सववव्याधि ववनाशनम् ।
सूयवपार्दोर्दकं तीर्थं जठरे िारयाम्यिम् ॥ ॥
Aadityasya namaskaran ye kurvanti dine dine;
Janmantara sahasreshu daaridryam dosha nashate:
Akaalamrithu haranam sarvavyadhi vinashanam;
Suryapadodakam teertha jatharey dharayamyamam::
Who do Surya-namaskar (the yogic Sun asana) everyday, their defect
of poverty is destroyed for a hundred births. I hold in my mouth
the holy water which removes all diseases and untimely death.
By worshipping Sun god disputes and disagreements between father and son,
wife and husband and co-borns can be sorted out. Internal and external
enemies will be humbled. Heart ailments, defects in blood circulation and
hypertension, relief from eye ailments, success in profession/business can be
obtained. Mayura, who lived in the court of Harshavardhana composed the
Surya Satakam in praise of Surya and is believed to have been cured of
blindness. The celebrated Surya Satakam which is familiar in house holds in
India starts with the following Sloka:
AadIdev namstubhym PrseIdmm .askr :
idvakr nstubym Pra.akr nmoStute ::

5. AadidevaNamastubhyampraseedamamaBhaskara:
DiwakarNamatubhyamPrabhakaraNamostuthey::
My respectstoyouthe visible Godof yore and originatorof light;
You are the makerof dayand nights,mysalutationstoyourgreat illuminations::
Legend: Sambu is the son of Lord krishna through Jambavati. He was very
handsome and of good physique. He happened to see sage Durvasa who has
become very weak and senile due to severe penance and heckled about his
physique. The sage cursed Sambu to suffer from Leprosy. Sambu then prayed
to Lord Krishna for redemption from the curse. Lord Krishna instructed Sambu
to worship Sun god to get cured of leprosy. Sambu worshipped Sun god and
cured his ailment.
Mantras and methodof doingSuryaNamaskara:
Prostration to Him who is affectionate to all.
Prostration to Him who is the cause for change.
Prostration to Him who induces activity.
Prostration to Him who diffuses Light.
Prostration to Him who moves in the sky.
Prostration to Him who nourishes all.

6. The Vedas declare, that the colours embeded in the Sun rays cure all
diseases.
These Seven rays, viz. 1. Red 2. Orange 3. Yellow 4. Green 5. Blue 6. Indigo 7.
Violet, are the seven horses of Surya. We also see the same colours in the Rainbow.
In “Chromopathy” systematic application of the Seven colours present in Sun is
made for curing the diseases. Patients of Leucoderma and heart diseases are
exposed to the red rays of Sun for restoration of health. Application of blue colour
is made to cure fever, dysentry, diabetics, blood motions. Bronchitis, head ache,
urinary disorders, small pox, filarial Elephantasis. In orange rays, the ultra violet
ray are hidden, exposure to these rays help producing “D” vitamin(Calcium) in the
body. The blue colour gives good health and the red colour enthusiasm and energy.
Likewise, all the seven colors in sun rays contain inherent curative system.
Dr. CH.D.RAVINDRA NATH
98486 22239
Prostration to Him who contains everything.
Prostration to Him who possesses rays.
Prostration to Him who is God of gods.
Prostration to Him who produces everything.
Prostration to Him who is fit to be worshipped.