The Sun is the only pratyaksha devata, visible deity, in the world and the centre of energy for all the lokas, worlds. Lord Surya has been worshipped since time immemorial. Ratha Saptami is celebrated on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha of Magha month. It is believed that on this day, Lord Surya, astride on a chariot drawn by seven horses, illuminated the world. This day is also known variedly as Achala Saptami, Surya Ratha Saptami, Arogya Saptami, and Surya Jayanti, as this day is considered as the birthday of Lord Surya.
On the day of Surya Jayanti, after cleansing oneself and one’s home, arghya is offered to the rising sun. Arghya is a daily ritual in Hindu households, where water is offered to the Sun at sunrise and sunset. while reciting the Gayatri Mantra or Surya Upasana Mantra. This is followed by an offering of ghee-lit diya, red flowers, camphor and incense.
The Sun’s seven-coloured rays are represented by the seven horses of his chariot. When the reflection of these seven-coloured rays falls on any substance, then they return from there, excluding black, as this colour absorbs approximately 90 per cent of sunlight that hits a black object.
While offering water to the sun, when the rays of the sun fall on our body, the water quickly affects the eyes; as the pupils of the eyes are black, the sunrays do not reflect. It helps fulfil the deficiency of that colour in our body.
It is believed that Sun worship bestows one with health, fame, happiness and peace. It also helps in maintaining good relationships with parents. Sun worship helps remove obstacle in education, job or career. The rays of the sun have medicinal properties, as sunrays destroys disease-causing germs. It is also believed that the seven-coloured rays of the sun helps cure even mental ailments.
In astrology, the Sun is called the king of our solar system. In the Vedas, the sun is called the eye of the world and there is a daily ritual to worship it. The sun is the basis of the life of all living beings on earth, including trees and plants.
The Sun is in the sky but its receiver is in our body, which is in the right nostril related to Pingala nadi or Surya nadi. When the breath comes and goes from the right nostril, then heat enters the body through this nadi; we keep on receiving the sun’s energy, power and heat. It is advisable to work with Surya Nadi during the day. It is said that if one does physical labour while the right surya nadi is working, then one will feel no fatigue while completing the task.
Just as Lord Surya spreads his light on the world and removes darkness on Ratha Saptami day, we too should make continuous effort to move away from the darkness of our ignorance by seeking the luminous lamp of knowledge.
