Ratha Saptami
On the seventh day of the
bright half of the Magh month the Sun is worshipped. The sun is imagined to
be a chariot drawn by seven horses, which represent the seven colours of the
rainbow. The charioteer, Arun, has his feet deformed. Arunoday means the
dawn. On this day some people go to take bath in the river before dawn
carrying a lamp on their head. Then in the courtyard in front of the house
the sun is worshipped. A picture of the chariot and the seven horses is
drawn on the ground. On the four sides “rangoli” is made (designs made with
powders) and in the centre cow dung is burnt. Then on the stove milk is
boiled in earthen vessels while facing the sun. When the milk boils it is
believed it reaches the sun. Then an offering of “khir” made of wheat is
shown to the sun. In the “sup” (basket for sifting corn) twelve heaps of
grain are offered to the sun, the number corresponding to the twelve
constellations through which the sun goes. Grain is offered to the brahmins.
Some people show their respect to the sun by bowing twelve times every day
to the sun, repeating every time one of the twelve names of the sun. These
twelve names are: Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Ahanu, Khag, Pushan, Hirnyagarbha,
Marichi, Aditya, Savita, Arka, and Bhaskar. On this day a new season begins,
the sun sitting on his chariot sets out on his journey.
In the country of Kamboj there was a king named Yashovarma. He was a
religious minded ruler, arid happiness prevailed in his kingdom. But the
king had become old and had no children. He prayed to God to give him a son.
Finally God heard his prayer and the king got a son. But the son was very
sickly. All remedies were tried but the boy would not be cured.
One day a Muni named Vinit came to the
palace. He was a very learned Muni and knew the three times (“tricalgnani”),
which means that he knew the past, the present, and the future. So the king
asked the Muni when his son would get alright. Muni Vinit remained with his eyes
closed for a while. Then he said to the king, “Your son is sick because in
his previous life he was very rich, but never gave any alms and used his wealth
for himself only.”
King Yashovarma asked, “If he was a sinner, how is it that he was born the
son of a king?”
Muni Vinit replied, “Yes, he was a sinner in his previous life. But once
with his eyes he saw the “puja” (worship) of Rath Saptami. With this he acquired
the merit needed to be born of a royal family.”
“So, will not his sickness disappear by a similar act of merit?” King
Yashovarma eagerly asked.
“Yes, make him observe the vow of ‘Rath Saptami’ and his sickness will
completely disappear.”
Then Mimi Vinit gave the king information about Rath Saptami and by the
merit of this vow the King’s son was liberated from his disease.
The Gayatri Mantra
From ancient times men have attributed divinity to the sun. For the
“munj” (thread) ceremony the boy is made to stand facing the sun, and the priest
makes the following prayer, “Oh Sun, this is your student. Protect him, and give
him a long life.” After the “munj” ceremony every day in the evening the Gayatri
mantra must be recited. This mantra is given great importance:
“God is the mover of this world. The shining brilliance of God is the most
exalted and the most difficult to describe. This brilliance is liked by
everybody. We meditate upon such brilliance. We bring it to our mind. May this
God, who is the sun, inspire our intellect and our devotional medita-tion and
may the recitation of this gayatri illumine our intellect.”