Worshipping Lord Sun on Ratha Saptami has its spiritual significance. Sun is the source of energy in the Universe, which makes life possible. Sun is self-illuminated, which doesn’t rely on any other celestial body for its power and light. Hence it is the most potent source of energy that sustains every living being on Earth.
This is Sun’s gravitational pull that holds every planet in its place and is responsible for the revolution. This heavenly body is the main source that all the planets stay in their orbit, and seasons happen on Earth. Without Sun, one can’t imagine life because, without energy and heat, we would not exist.
Thus Sun is the most important entity in the scientific as well as the spiritual world. Ratha Saptami is the day on which Sun is worshipped, and people express their gratitude toward this celestial body.
Significance of Ratha Saptami Worship
There are legends that describe the importance of Ratha Saptami and how worshipping the Sun is related to it. There is one legend that takes us back to the time of the epic Ramayana.
Lord Rama approached sage Agastya to seek help and support for the great battle against King Ravana. Sage Agastya advised Rama to recite the powerful Adhithya Hridaya Stotram, which praises Sun. On the battlefield, when Rama was becoming hopeless, he remembered sage Agastya and started chanting Adhithya Hridaya Stotram hymns.
The praise of Surya by Lord Rama instantly filled the Lord with ultimate power and energy Surya. Rama then could sustain on the battlefield and fought against the demon king until the war was over and Rama became victorious.
There is another legend which is about King Yashovarma. The King was blessed with a son by the grace of the Sun. However, due to his past karma, the son was not able to live healthily and often fell ill. His health was declining with every passing day, which made the King anxious. A sage then advised the King to perform the Ratha Saptami worship.
The King did the same, and the Ratha Saptami worship cleared all past dues and sins of his son. The son started feeling healthy and strong again; the worship of Surya filled the son with vitality again.
In the Mahabharata, Ratha Saptami was described as important. The great saint warrior Bhishma chose this day to have his last breath because it is considered the most sacred day. Those who meet their death on this day attain Moksha. Also, sun salutation, if done on Ratha Saptami day, infuses the individual with strong health, power, and vitality.
Rituals of Ratha Saptami
On Ratha Saptami, people take a holy dip in the sacred rivers or any clean water body. They wake up early in the morning, bathe, and visit a Sun temple or where the Ratha Saptami is celebrated.
The holy dip is believed to wash off all the sins of the devotees and cut down their bad karma, which gets them near to attain salvation. Also, due to all the bad karma in the previous births lead people to have a short life or a life with chronic illnesses. They take a holy dip in the name of God Sun wash of the sins of these previous births blessing the devotees a longer and healthier life.
However, people can always take a bath in their home. They should take a bath while facing East and sitting on a block of wood. They should then place seven sacred Arkya leaves on their head and, finally, pray to Sun.
People also give water to Sun by holding it together in their palms and reciting the Surya mantra “Om Suryay Namah.”
People can also perform Sun salutation and recite Adhithya Hridayam to gain the sanctification of Surya.
On the day, people decorate their houses with Rangoli that look like Sun. They prepare sweets made of wheat since the grain is dear to Lord Sun. Pongal is also prepared and offered to the Lord. Many people also worship Surya Narayana, which is the form of Lord Vishnu himself. People also donate things to the needy and poor; making donations on this day have significant benefits and is a sacred act.
People visit the temples and participate in singing hymns for Lord Sun.