सप्तमी तिथि भगवान सूर्य को समर्पित है, सूर्य को सात सफेद घोड़ों वाले रथ पर विराजमान माना गया है। माघ महीने में शुक्ल पक्ष सप्तमी को रथ सप्तमी या माघ सप्तमी के रूप में जाना जाता है। मान्यता है कि, भगवान सूर्य देव ने रथ सप्तमी के दिन पूरी दुनिया का ज्ञानवर्धन करना शुरू किया था अर्थात इसे भगवान सूर्य का जन्म दिवस भी माना जाता था। इसलिए इस दिन को सूर्य जयंती के रूप में भी परिभाषित किया गया है।
साल 2020 में रथ सप्तमी का व्रत 1 फरवरी को रखा जाएगा और इस दिन स्नान का शुभ मुहूर्त सुबह 05 :24 से लेकर 07: 10 तक का है।
सूर्यग्रहणतुल्या तु शुक्ला माघस्य सप्तमी ।
अचला सप्तमी दुर्गा शिवरात्रिर्महाभरः ॥
रथ सप्तमी को दान-पुण्य के लिए सूर्य ग्रहण के समान अत्यधिक शुभ माना गया है। रथ सप्तमी पर अरुणोदय के दौरान स्नान करना चाहिए। सूर्योदय से पहले स्नान करना एक स्वस्थ परम्परा है, और यह सभी प्रकार की बीमारियों से मुक्त रखता है। इस मान्यता के कारण रथ सप्तमी को आरोग्य सप्तमी के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। संतों के बीच यह दिन अचला सप्तमी के नाम से भी जाना जाता है।
आज के दिन स्नान करने के बाद सूर्योदय के समय सूर्यदेव को अर्घ्यदान* देकर उनकी पूजा करनी चाहिए। इसके बाद शुद्ध घी का दीपक जलाना चाहिए और कपूर, धुप और फूलों से सूर्य देव की पूजा करनी चाहिए। सूर्यदेव को प्रातः काल स्नान कर अर्घ्यदान तथा दान-पुण्य करने से लंबी आयु, उत्तम स्वास्थ्य और समृद्धि प्राप्त होती है।
* अर्घ्यदान: भगवान सूर्य के सामने मुँह करते हुए, नमस्कार मुद्रा में, मुड़े हुए हाथ से, छोटे कलश की सहयता से धीरे-धीरे जल चढ़ाते हैं।
रथा सप्तमी के अनुष्ठान
रथा सप्तमी के दिन, सूर्योदय से पहले भक्त पवित्र स्नान करने के लिए जाते हैं। रथा सप्तमी स्नान इस दिन का एक महत्वपूर्ण अनुष्ठान है और इसे केवल 'अरुणोदय' के समय ही किया जाना चाहिए। यह माना जाता है कि इस समय के दौरान पवित्र स्नान करने से व्यक्ति को सभी बीमारियों से मुक्ति मिलती है और उसे एक अच्छा स्वास्थ्य प्राप्त होता है। इस कारण रथा सप्तमी को 'आरोग्य सप्तमी' के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। तमिलनाडु में भक्त इस पवित्र स्नान को एरुक्को के पत्तों के माध्यम से करते हैं।
स्नान करने के बाद सूर्योदय के समय में भक्त सूर्य भगवान को 'अर्घ्यदान' देते हैं। 'अर्घ्यदान' का अनुष्ठान सूर्य भगवान् को कलश से धीरे-धीरे जल अर्पण करके किया जाता है। इस अनुष्ठान के दौरान भक्तों को नमस्कार मुद्रा में होना चाहिए और सूर्य भगवान की दिशा के तरफ मुख होना चाहिए। बहुत से लोग 12 बार इस अनुष्ठान को सूर्य भगवान के बारह विभिन्न नामों का जप करते हुए करते हैं।
इसके बाद भक्त घी के दीपक और लाल फूलों कपूर और धुप के साथ सूर्य भगवान की पूजा करते है। यह माना जाता है कि इन सभी अनुष्ठानों को करने से सूर्य भगवान अच्छे स्वास्थ्य दीर्घायु और सफलता के वरदान देते है।
रथा सप्तमी के दिन कई घरों में महिलाएं सूर्य देवता के स्वागत के लिया उनका और उनके रथ के साथ चित्र बनाती है। वे अपने घरों के सामने सुंदर रंगोली बनाती हैं। आंगन में मिट्टी के बर्तनों में दूध डाल दिया जाता है और सूर्य की गर्मी से उसे उबाला जाता है और बाद में इस दूध का इस्तेमाल सूर्य भगवान को भोग में अर्पण किये जाने वाले चावलों में किया जाता है।
रथ सप्तमी व्रत विधि (Rath Saptami Vrat Vidhi Hindi)
भविष्यपुराण अनुसार माघ मास के शुक्ल पक्ष की पंचमी तिथि को एक समय भोजन करना चाहिए और षष्ठी तिथि को उपवास कर भगवान सूर्य की पूजा करनी चाहिए। सप्तमी में प्रात: काल विधिपूर्वक पूजा कर ब्राह्मणों को भोजन कराना चाहिए। साथ ही इस दिन अगर संभव हो तो भगवान सूर्य की रथयात्रा करानी चाहिए।
(नोट: मुहूर्त दिल्ली समयानुसार है।)
Rituals during Ratha Saptami:
- On the day of Ratha Saptami, devotees get up before sunrise to take a holy bath. The Ratha Saptami Snan is an important ritual of the day and should be performed at the time of ‘Arunodaya’ only. It is believed that by taking a sacred bath during this time, will free a person from all illnesses and ailments and bestow good health. For this reason Ratha Saptami is also popularly known as ‘Arogya Saptami’. In Tamil Nadu, devotees take this sacred bath using Erukku leaves.
- After completing the bath, devotees offer ‘Arghyadan’ to Sun God at the time of sunrise. The rite of ‘Arghyadan’ is performed by offering water slowly from a small kalash in Namaskar Mudra to Surya Bhagwan by facing towards Him in the standing position. Many people perform this ritual 12 times along with chanting twelve different names of Surya Bhagwan, each time.
- Following this devotee light up a Ghee Deepak and worship Sun God with red flowers, kapoor and dhoop. It is believed that the observer of all these rituals to Sun God will be bestowed with good health, longevity and success.
- On the day of Ratha Saptami, in many households women draw the images of Surya God along with the chariot as a welcoming gesture. They make beautiful rangoli in front of their houses. In the courtyard, milk is put in mud vessels and boiled facing the sun. This milk is then used to make the sweet rice or ‘Paramannam’ Bhog for offering to the Sun God.
- Chanting ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and reciting ‘Surya Sahasranaam’, ‘Adityahridayam’ or ‘Suryashtakam’ or is considered very auspicious on this day.
Important Timings On Ratha Saptami
| Sunrise | February 01, 2020 7:10 AM |
| Sunset | February 01, 2020 6:09 PM |
| Snan Muhurta | February 01, 5:34 AM - February 01, 7:10 AM |
| Sunrise Time For Arghyadan | February 01, 2020 7:06 AM |
| Saptami Tithi Begins | January 31, 2020 3:52 PM |
| Saptami Tithi Ends | February 01, 2020 6:11 PM |
Significance of Ratha Saptami:
Ratha Saptami festival dates between 2017 & 2027
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Friday, 3rd of February |
| 2018 | Wednesday, 24th of January |
| 2019 | Tuesday, 12th of February |
| 2020 | Saturday, 1st of February |
| 2021 | Friday, 19th of February |
| 2022 | Monday, 7th of February |
| 2023 | Saturday, 28th of January |
| 2024 | Friday, 16th of February |
| 2025 | Tuesday, 4th of February |
| 2026 | Sunday, 25th of January |
| 2027 | Saturday, 13th of February |
Importance of Ratha Saptami
Surya
A. Importance of worship of Surya
B. MissionC. Qualities of Sun
D. The Sun’s Chariot and its worship
E. Qualities of Surya’s charioteer
F. Surya-loka
G. Importance of worshipping the Sun Deity
H. Prabhu Sriram being ‘Surya-vanshi
(descendant of Surya)’ could establish ‘Rama-rajya’
I. Bharat is a name of Deity SunWhy is boiled milk used as ‘prasad’ on the day of Ratha saptami ?
A Scholar
Ratha Saptami -Significance and Celebrations
What is Ratha Saptami?
When is Ratha Saptami?
About Ratha Saptami
What is The Importance of Ratha Saptami?
What Are The Rituals of Ratha Saptami?
- The first and the most significant ritual to be performed on the eve of Ratha Saptami is to wake up early and observe a holy bath. It is extremely vital to perform this ritual during Arunodaya (dawn) only.
- The very next ritual which needs to be performed after undertaking the holy bath is ‘Arghyadan’ in the name of Lord Surya during sunrise. Arghyadan is practiced by offering water to the God Sun through a Kalash and by standing in the Namaskar mudra. To get the maximum benefits, devotees are required to perform this ritual twelve times in a row while reciting the varied names of Lord Surya.
- After performing the Arghyadan, the devotees perform Ratha Saptami puja by lighting up an earthen lamp filled with ghee and offer dhoop, Kapoor and red colored flowers to Lord Surya.
- After that, the female devotees draw the Ratha (chariot) and Lord Surya images as a holy sign to welcome the deity and his divine blessings. In various regions, women make rangolis at the entrance of their houses as a symbol of prosperity and positivity.
- As an extremely significant ritual, milk is poured in a vessel made up of mud and then kept for boiling in a direction where it can face the Sun. Once it is boiled, the same milk is used for preparing the bhog (sweet rice) and later it is offered to the deity, Lord Surya.
- Continuous chanting of the Suryashtakam, Surya Sahasranaam, and Gayatri Mantra on the day of Ratha Saptami are considered as fortunate and highly auspicious.
How Ratha Saptami is Celebrated?
What Are The Benefits of Performing Ratha Saptami Puja?
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Ratha Saptami is one of the most important Hindu festivals that is observed on the ‘saptami’ (7th day) during the Shukla Paksha (the bright fortnight of moon) of the month of ‘Magha’ in the Hindu calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this date falls somewhere between the months of mid-January to February. Ratha Saptami normally falls on the second day following the celebrations of Shri Panchami or Vasant Panchami. This festival is devoted to Sun God and is also popularly known as ‘Surya Jayanti’, ‘Magh Jayanti’ or ‘Magha Saptami’. Lord Surya is known to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. This day celebrates the birth anniversary of Surya Bhagwan and is believed that on this day Sun God enlightened the whole world.
The word ‘ratha’ means ‘chariot’ and on the day of Magh Shukla Paksha Saptami, Lord Sun is worshipped sitting on His golden chariot that is driven by seven white horses. The glory of Lord Sun, His Chariot and Ratha Saptami is not just limited to this but is extended far more. In India, there are many temples built in honour of Lord Sun and special events and celebrations are held on the day of Ratha Saptami in all these temples. The festivities are very well-known in the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple with special puja arrangements. Ratha Saptami holds special significance in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The day of Ratha Saptami is very auspicious for Hindus and gives the same virtues as observing Daan-Punya activities on the day of Surya Grahan. In the Hindu religion, Sun God is referred as the God of Health and worshipped for good health and longevity. It is also believed that by staunchly worshipping Sun God on this day, all the kinds of sins, from the current or previous births will be pardoned.
Ratha Saptami also signifies the movement of Sun God in his chariot towards the northern hemisphere. This day signifies the arrival of summer season and is also indicative of the rising temperatures, mostly across Southern states of India. Ratha Saptami also denotes beginning of the harvesting season and thus for Indian farmers it symbolises a promising beginning of the New Year.
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Veneration for the Divine is an integral part of the Indian culture / Hindu Dharma. We worship not only the superior Deities, but also the Moon, Agni (Fire), Varun and Indra like inferior Deities. These Deities hold important place in life of all living beings. The festival of ‘Ratha Saptami’ is celebrated to offer gratitude and worship the Surya-devata. Information on ‘Ratha Saptami’ compiled by a seeker from Sanatan Sanstha, Ms. Madhura Bhosale is provided below.
Amongst all numbers, number 7 has a special significance. In this no. 7, there is balance of ‘Tri-gunas (three components – Sattva/ Raja/ Tama)’ as well as a special capacity to absorb subtle waves. There is divine union of Shakti and chaitanya on the day of Saptami. On this day, the waves of principles of specific Deities and shakti, bliss and peace are 20% more active and on ‘Ratha Saptami’, subtle waves of principle of Surya Deity are 30 % more active compared to the other days.
Worship of the Sun Deity has been accorded an important place in the Hindu scriptures.
1. Worshipping Surya devata accelerates awakening of ‘Surya-naadi (right channel of spiritual energy- flow system from base of spine to top of head)’ by stopping ‘Chandra-naadi (left channel of spiritual energy flow-system. Sun-worship is superior to moon-worship.
2. Worshipping of Deity Sun increases one’s capacity to absorb ‘Sattvikta’ and ‘Chaitanya’ by 30% and 20 % respectively.
3. Just by offering ‘Arghya’ and having His ‘darshan’ in the morning, Surya bestows His grace. Having Surya’s darshan is a part of His worship.
4. Doing ‘Tratak’ (staring at an object as a yogic exercise) by looking at the rising Sun increases efficiency of the eye and strengthens eye-sight.
5. Worship of Sun Deity (Tejtattva – the absolute Fire element) is an important step in the worship of ‘Panch-tattva’ (5 Absolute Elements).
6. Surya-namaskar : Among the different types of Yogasanas, ‘Surya-namaskar’ is an important kind of exercise. Using the entire body to bow before and offer salutations to the Sun Deity. Surya blesses a person who performs at least 20 ‘Surya-namaskars’ every day.
This relates to the subtle tasks of Deity Surya and are not related to the Sun seen with gross the eyes. Although the Sun is performing the task of Sustenance, it has also performed the tasks of Creation and Dissolution to achieve completeness in sadhana.
B. 1. Information about Creation
B. 1. A. Gross
Male Deities, ‘Yama and Shani’ and female Deities ‘Tapi and Yami’ were created from Deity Sun as His sons and daughters respectively. River Yamuna was created from Yami and River Tapi was created from Tapi.
B. 1. B. Subtle
1. Planets and ‘Nakshatra-loka’, Shani-loka and Graha-loka are sub-lokas which have been created from Sun.
2. Teja (Fire), Chaitanya filled with ‘Tej’ and 30 % of only the first part of chaitanya has been created fron Sun.
3. Sudarshan-chakra, Suryastra, arrow and weapons related to ‘Tej-tattva’ were created from the gross- Sun.
4. Sun has transmitted His ‘Teja’ to different weapons and Deities; therefore, these weapons look divine and radiant.
B. 2. Information about Sustenance
B. 2. A. Gross
Deity Surya transmits energy and luminosity by rising in the gross form of Sun to different planets and living beings; thus the Sun nurtures them in a way.
B. 2. B. Subtle
Along with the gross light and energy, the Sun emanates enormous amounts of Chaitanya (Divine Consciousness) which bestows power to many souls for practising spirituality; the covering on their mind and intellect gets reduced thus increasing their intellectual maturity.
B. 3. Information about Dissolution
B. 3. A. Gross
Water from lakes and rivers vaporizes due to sun’s heat and many times rivers and lakes dry up. Due to severe heat, many plants get burnt; it also adversely affects souls leading to death of a few.
B. 3. B. Subtle
Through light and heat of Sun, subtle-Tej of Sun emanates. This subtle-Tej destroys subtle microbes and subtle-souls full of Raja-Tama which reduces Raja-Tama level in atmosphere, increasing ‘Sattvikta’; thus balancing the Trigunas.
The sun rising and setting of the Sun is a daily affair. Thus Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution of Sun is going on continuously.
C. 1. Regular worship
The Sun is like a sage, immersed in the worship of Deity Narayan.
C. 2. Discipline
Sun is always punctual.
C. 3. Sacrifice
Sun gives His ‘Tej’, energy and chaitanya to souls from all the ‘lokas (subtle region)’ instead of keeping it limited to his own ‘loka’ (This also shows Sun Deity’s ‘Samashti Bhav’). Compared to other lower Deities, the capacity of Sun to absorb and transmit Chaitanya is highest.
C. 4. Expansiveness
Sun selflessly transmits ‘Teja’, energy and chaitanya to various souls in Brahmanda / Universe.
C. 5. ‘Samashti Bhav’
Due to His higher ‘samashti bhav’ (thinking about the welfare of all), He has qualities of higher Deities to the extent of 20%.
C. 6. Imparting Knowledge and guidance through Subtle
Knowledge (Dnyan) means light. Light is a form of knowledge. Sun also performs tasks related to knowledge; therefore, subtle waves related to knowledge and the light of knowledge are transmitted from Him. He gives knowledge to the extent of 30 % through such waves of knowledge. Karna used to take Darshan of the Sun every day and he used to get guidance from Sun.
C. 7. Very good Guru
Sun is proficient in ‘shastra (science)’ as well as in ‘Shastra-kala (weaponry)’. Rudravatar Maruti (Hanuman) had gone to the ‘Surya-loka’ to learn both these arts and Surya as a Guru, guided Him very ably. He gives light of knowledge to others so as to destroy darkness in the form of their gross and subtle ego.
C. 8. Very Good father
Sun has always performed His duties as a father towards His sons and daughters. He helps all souls and treats them all as His children.
C. 9. Kshatra-bhav (fighting against evil)
Indra is the Chief of all lower Deities. Deity Sun, although under control of Indra, opposes Indra whenever He takes wrong decisions and does not follow wrong orders given by Indra. Among lower Deities, Deity Sun has highest ‘Sattvikta’, Vyaapakatva (expansiveness), sacrifice, Samashti bhav and Kshatra bhav.
C. 10. Samabhav (equality shown to all)
Sun treats all souls with equality. He appreciates qualities in others; therefore, He does not do injustice to anyone. An example would be Hanuman, who had the qualities of a disciple was accepted as a disciple by Sun and given knowledge and different forms of art.
– God (note) – Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale
Surya devta has a chariot as His vehicle. Just as the presence of God in any temple, gives importance to such temple, the chariot of Sun has similar importance; therefore, on the day of ‘Ratha-saptami’, along with worship of the Sun, His chariot, in symbolic form, is also worshipped.
The chariot of Deity Sun has capacity to travel through ‘Sapta-lokas (7 subtle –regions) – ‘Surya-loka’, ‘Nakshatra-loka’, ‘Graha-loka’, ‘Bhuva-loka’, ‘Naag-loka’, ‘Swarg-loka’ and ‘Shiva-loka’ which is near Swarga-loka. The pace of the chariot changes as per need. The chariot flies as per the wish of Deity Sun. The wheels (made of gold) have delicately carved images of Surya which transmit ‘Teja’ and ‘Tej-tattva’ to the extent of 30% into the surroundings. With the grace of Shri Vishnu and transmission of ‘Tej-tavva’, a protective shield is created around the chariot which does not allow negative energies to create obstacles in the activities of Surya.
Arun is the charioteer of Deity Sun and has 40 % qualities in him. He can see only with his one eye. One can learn qualities like going towards oneness and performing duty irrespective of any condition; from him.
Next to Swarga-loka is the subtle ‘Surya-loka’. In the subtle Surya-loka, the principle of ‘Teja- tattva’ among the 5 basic elements (Pancha-mahabhootas) is more than 50%. Divine light, fire and flames of fire with feeling of heat is the gross form of ‘Teja’. It is experienced in Surya-loka. The spiritual level of many souls is less than 50%; therefore, they are unable to go to Surya-loka and unable to worship ‘Tej-tattva’. As a result, they cannot bear the gross form of ‘Tej-tavva’ – divine light, fire and heat. For getting a place in Surya-loka, it is necessary to have more than 50% qualities of Deity Sun and spiritual level of a soul should be more than 50%.
By worshiping Surya, one gets an opportunity to increase subtle ‘Tej-tattva’. It is therefore, useful to chant, worship ‘Om’ of ‘Tej-tattva’. Chanting of ‘Gayatri-mantra’ and recitation of various Surya-mantras is found beneficial. Worship of Surya increases concentration of mind of a soul. Eyes are associated with ‘Tej-tattva’, worshipping of the Sun results in such soul acquiring divine vision (Divya-drushti).
Note: God (through medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 11.2.2005; between 7.07 p.m. and 7.40 p.m.)
There is patriarchal rule in His ‘loka’ due to qualities of Sun. If a worshiper of Sun has those qualities; only then does he obtain a place in the subtle Surya-loka. Those, who worship Sun and have qualities of Deity Sun, are referred to as ‘Suryavanshi’. Prabhu Sriram was a Suryavanshi; so He was an ideal father and ideal son and could establish ‘Rama-rajya.’
Deity Sun is worshipped by other Deities, Sages- Seers and human beings. Sun has specific place in Hindu Dharma. Even in Indian almanac, Sun has more importance than moon. ‘Bharat’ is also a name of Sun. ‘S’ is the ‘Beejakshar (a mantra which is consolidated in a single letter)’ of Sun i.e. of ‘Teja’.
– God note : Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale
Ratha saptami is the day of worshipping Teja.
Information received by H.H. Mrs. Anjali Gadgil through God is given below.
On the day of ‘Ratha saptami’, waves of ‘Tej’-principle emitting through rays of Sun get drawn towards the sheath created around the earthen pot (used to heat milk) through milk, turning the milk into ‘prasad’.
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On the day of Ratha saptami, cow-dung is burnt in courtyard on which ‘sugad’ is kept with milk and it is heated till it boils over. Later, it is used as ‘prasad’ and distributed to all.
At some places, even rice is cooked in such milk. What is the science behind this ?
1. Importance of ‘Ratha saptami’
Ratha saptami is the day of worshipping Tej – tattva (the Absolute Fire Principle). On this day, waves of Tej-tattva transmitted through Sun-rays reach the earth. As they enter the orbit of Earth, they combine with particles of Water-principle; reducing severity of ‘Tej’ in those rays. These rays with ‘Tej-tattva’ enter the Earth’s atmosphere with the help of waves of the AbsoluteWater –principle.
2. Process of milk turning into ‘prasad’ –
An earthen pot (Sugad) is used for drawing the ‘Tej’ rays entering atmosphere. When milk is heated in this pot, with the help of a sattvik fire of Teja-tattva from burning cow-dung, waves coming out of heated milk with Water and Teja principles, create a transparent sheath around the pot. Sun’s rays charged with Tej-tattva get drawn towards this sheath and such milk when consumed as prasad, purifies the sheath of vital energy of a soul helping to light ‘Panch-pran’ in body of such soul. Thus, energy of ‘Tej-tattva’ is increased in a soul awakening his/her spiritual power. The earthen pot which represents the Earth and sheath created by heating milk with the help of cow-dung, shows similar characteristics to the sheath created around Earth, with waves of principles of ‘Teja and Water’ on the day of Ratha saptami. Instead of cooking rice in ‘sugad’, it is more beneficial to use milk which has higher Water-Principle. There is however, no need to heat milk till it spills over.
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Ratha Saptami is regarded as one of the most significant and religiously relevant festivals which is celebrated across India. The other popular names for this festival are ‘Magha Saptami, ‘Magh Jayanti’, and ‘Surya Jayanti’. Devotees celebrate the eve in order to worship Lord Surya who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
As per the Hindu calendar, the celebrations of Ratha Saptami are observed on the 7th day, i.e. Saptami tithi, in the Magha month during the Shukla Paksha.
The festival of Ratha Saptami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of God Sun. It is believed that on this particular day, Lord Surya lightened the whole universe with his warmth and brightness.
As per the Gregorian calendar, this auspicious festival falls in the period between mid of January to mid of February. Usually, the rituals of Ratha Saptami are performed two days after the Vasant Panchami celebrations.
The day of Ratha Saptami denotes the journey of Lord Surya to the Northern hemisphere in his chariot. It marks the arrival of summer and indicates a change in the climatic conditions across the regions of Southern India. It also symbolizes the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers.
The festival of Ratha Saptami is highly auspicious for performing all sorts of Daan-Punya activities (donations and charities). According to the legends, it is believed that by making donations on the eve of this occasion, the devotees get rid of their sins and illness are also bestowed with longevity, prosperity and good health.
Note: It is a belief that if people observe a holy bath at this particular time period (Arunodaya), then they are blessed with good health and they get free from all sort of ailments. Thus, ‘Arogya Saptami’ is another popular name by which Ratha Saptami is famous. In the regions of Tamil Nadu, people make use of the Erukku leaves for performing the sacred bath.
There are a number of temples and holy places which have been build in devotion to God Sun. Huge celebrations and special ceremonies take place on the eve of Ratha Saptami at all these places. Grand festivities are organized in temples such as Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple, Shri Manguesh Temple, Mallikarjun Temple and also in various regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
According to the legends, it is believed that by worshipping Lord Surya on the eve of Rath Saptami, devotees get rid of their past and present sins and take a step closer to the path of attaining salvation (Moksha). As per the Hindu religion, Lord Surya grants longevity and good health and it is believed that the devotees are blessed with the same if they worship and offer prayers to the deity on this auspicious occasion.
