Sun related - What is Rathasaptami festival?

 Ratha sapthami festival 

Ratha sapthami (Rathasapthami) is a festival observed by Hindus. This is also known as Magha Sapthami. The Ratha Sapthami falls on the Sapthami thithi (seventh day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright half of the moon phase) in the month of Magha (Zodiac Capricorn – around 14^th January). It marks the 7^th day after the start of Uttara Ayana kaala (Surya’s Northerly transit of vernal equinox – The center of Sun and earth being on the same plane - equator). It happens 2 times a year once at the start of Utharayanakaalma in Magha (Capricorn) month and the other at the start of Dakshinayanakaala (Sun’s Southerly transit of vernal equinox) from the Month of Kataka – Karkataka (July August of English calendar). As mentioned earlier the Ratha Sapthami is observed on the 7^th day of Utharayana kaala symbolically representing the Sun God (Surya Bhagavan) turning his Ratha (chariot) towards Northern hemisphere to travel in North easterly direction. It is also the belief that the Lord Sun was born on the Ratha Sapthami day and hence it is also Surya Jayanthi. It is the belief as per the Hindu Mythology that Sun travels every day from East to West in his Chariot drawn by 7 horses (symbolically representing the 7 basic colors of the rainbow and also the 7 days of the week). Ratha Sapthami also represents the start of change of the season from winter to spring – harvesting season. For the Hindus it is considered as a good beginning of the year. The festival is observed at home and also at the temples. 

  

Religious observances on Ratha Sapthami

On the Ratha Sapthami day the god Vishnu in his manifestation as Surya (Surya Narayana) is worshiped. People get up early in the morning. Those who are near to ponds (tanks), rivers or sea take bath in them by holding Arka leaves on their head and chanting verses for invoking the benevolence of the Lord for the rest of the year. People offer Arghyam (Tharpanam) to the Surya Bhagavan (Sun god). Hymns are chanted to propitiate the Sun god along with the traditional pooja and offering of Neivedya (food items offering to god) with fruits, flowers and thamboola (betel leaves, arica nut pieces) etc.  Special chanting of Surya ashtakam, Surya Sahasra namam, Gayathri japa and Aaditya hrudayam etc (all Sanskrit verses on Surya) are done. In some places ceremonial processions carrying the idol of deity of Surya Deva are observed.

Ratha Sapthami and Thirupathi Thirumala

The Thirupathi Thirumala Srinivas temple celebrates the Ratha Sapthami festival by performing a one day Brahmotsavam. The idols of the deities of Lord Srinivasa (Balaji), his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken in procession through the streets of the Thirumala encircling the holy shrine at Thirupathi on seven (Sapthami means seven) different vahanas (chariots decorated and modeled on 7 different carriers off the gods like the Garuda – golden eagle, Sesha, Hanuman, Kalpavruksha etc). This is considered as a mini Brahmotsavam. The day starts and ends with chanting of Sarvabhoopala vachanas. 

The legends behind observation of Ratha Sapthami as a festival

One of the legends is to the effect that it is representing the birth day of Surya to the Sage (Maharishi) Kashyap and his wife Adithi). So it is celebration of Sun’s birthday. As sun is the son of Adithi he is also known as Aadithyan. 

Another legend is that an erstwhile king of Kambhoj Empire King Yasho varma did not have a successor to take over the rule of the country from him. He made special prayer and worship to the god and got a son. But the sun was terminally ill. Later a Maharishi (saint) who visited the king suggested that the king’s son who had past sins should perform Ratha Sapthami worship (pooja) with sincerity to rid of the sins. Accordingly this pooja was done by the king’s son and his health was restored and he ruled the kingdom well for several years. 

A third legend is involving Bhishma of the Mahabharata fame. After being mortally wounded and fallen Bhishma wanted wait for the start of the Utharayana kaala for his death as he had the boon of dying at his wish. When the Utharayana started, he did not die in spite of his wish. On the contrary his pain and burning sensation of the whole body became unbearable. At that time, King Yudhishtira and Sage Vyasa visited Bhishma on his bed of arrows. Bhishma expressed his anguish that he is not able die and the pain is intolerable. He said that he had sinned by not reacting and stopping of the sin of the attempt to disrobe Draupadi (Panchali) in the open durbar (conference) of King Dhritharashtra and because of this he is not able to die in spite his boon. Therefore he suggested the sage to use his power and make so much heat as if the heat of sun is extracted and burn him with this heat. Sage Vyasa said that he will attend to the problem and brought some leaves of white Arka flower plant (Arka plant is known as Giant milk weed, Crown flower and Calotropis Precera. In Sanskrit ‘Arka’ (also called as Ekka) means ray of light. Sage Vyasa explained to Bhishma that just as Lord Ganesha was a chronic bachelor Bhishma was also a chronic bachelor and as Lord Ganapthi likes Arka flower and leaves, the leaves will help Bhishma to rid of his sins and relieve him from the pains. So saying Sage Vyasa covered the body of Bhishma with the leaves of Arka. This happened on the Shukla paksha Sapthami day of Magha month. When Sage was keeping the leaves on his body, Bhishma went in deep meditation and after 3 days on the Ekaadasi (11^th day) Bhishma's soul left his body and became one of the Ashta (eight) Vasus (semi gods).      

On the death of his grandfather’s brother Bhishma Yudhishtira (also known as Brahmaputra) felt miserable and asked his doubt to Sage that since Bhishma was a bachelor and have no successor to do the last rites to him how his soul will get salvation. The sage replied that the souls of bachelors and sanyasees will get a better place than the ‘pitru loka’. No one has to do anything for their souls. However for your (Yudhistira's) satisfaction I decree that on this day the whole country will offer Sraaddha. Apart from this, he decreed that from that time on the day of Ratha Sapthami everybody will keep the Arka leaves on the body and take bath as a mark of respect to Bhishma and also to rid of the sins of the body.