Ratha Sapthami, Rediscover Eternal Wisdom
Wisdom is perception at the core level of understanding. It can be about the Sun, a plant, or a neighbor.
A child looks at
a plant for its fruits and flowers
A farmer looks at the same for insects and worms so he can treat it
appropriately
A biologist looks at the same to understand its composition for research
An ayurvedic professional looks at the same for its medicinal
characteristics
A designer looks at the same for its colors and beauty
An environmentalist looks at the same for its biological formation to
understand its decomposition rate
A poet looks at the same for its softness and fragrance, or maybe the
hardness or thorns reflecting his/her emotions towards a topic
What is the perception of a Vaishnava, a believer in Vedas?
A Vaishnava has a clear understanding of three main eternal entities of the plant: the body made of nature (the roots, the trunk, the branches, the flowers, etc.), the soul (the indwelling life, generally referred to as ‘I’, ‘You’), and the supreme soul, God (the unseen source of power that keeps the soul and the body together). His perception is complete and to the core of the existence of the plant.
Upanishad states, Yo:sa vaso: purushah so:hamasmi
The same supreme soul that exists within you also exists everywhere in nature and within every other soul. This supreme soul is the source of the plant’s existence and the Sun’s existence. It is also the source of your existence.
His perception allows him to see everything that a child, farmer, biologist, ayurvedic professional, designer, environmentalist, the poet sees, and more! He looks at God’s grace in the form of the plant, the highest form of a genuine positive attitude. This allows him to conduct with the plant righteously pertaining to only needs and not greed, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of the existence.
However, why does one soul have the body of a plant?
Why does another soul have the body of the Sun?
Why do I have this human body?
Some of us (a subset of the innumerable souls) chose to ignore these three aspects of the true wisdom (a body, the soul, the supreme soul). Hence, each soul has a different body based on the level of ignorance on the three aspects. Due to such ignorance, some of us are in an arrogant state where…
We
perceive ourselves as the body that we are in; we perceive others to be the
bodies that they are in; we do not accept the existence of the supreme soul,
God
we believe that we are superior/inferior to other beings based on body and its
related characteristics
Why did we ignore or forget the three-aspect-wisdom in the first place?
Prakruthi (nature), the innumerable souls (including all of us), and the supreme soul (God), are three entities existing eternally. However, each soul gets uniquely carried away by nature, prakruthi (the ever-changing thatthva, body/ surroundings), forgetting the connection with God (the never-changing supreme thatthva). The intensity of one’s association with the body adds layers of ignorance over one’s innate wisdom, jnana (like soot from a lamp blocking its innate glow). This difference in jnana attributes to the way souls perform deeds, karma. Hence, do not let prakruthi force forgetfulness of the true inner wisdom.
The Sun is also a soul, just like we are. However, he remains humble to God, does not forget the nature of prakruthi and the nature of God. Therefore, God shines from within him (referred to as Surya Narayana) without being blocked by the arrogance of the soul, the Sun himself. Thus, He was appointed as a part of God’s administration and received a body that supports millions of beings every day.
Let us pray that our sinful reactions from bad karmic deeds out of arrogance and ignorance are burned to ashes.
Let us pray that our wisdom does not get blocked by nature: the body, senses, manas, or buddhi.
Let us pray that God shines from within each of us, in turn giving joy to those around us.
On the day of Ratha Sapthami, let us remind ourselves of this wisdom passed onto us by our seers and acharyas. Let us pray to the supreme thatthva, Sriman Narayana giving us His divine darsan through the Sun.
Dhyeyas sadaa savithru mandala madhyavarthi:
Narayanah sarasijaasana sannivishtaha |
Keyuravaan makara kundalavaan kirtih haarih
Hiranmaya vapuhu dhrutha sankha chakraha ||
–
From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Rattha Saptami, Feb 19, 2021
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RATHA-SAPTAMI
Hindus consider Ratha-Saptami as another auspicious day in the month of Magha to propitiate Sun-God. This falls on the seventh day of bright fortnight of Magha. On Makara Sankranti day the Sun begins its Northward journey and enters the zodiac sign Makara (Capricorn) coming from the Tropic of Cancer. Its slow journey starts from the Tropic of Capricorn northwards (Uttaraayana) on this day.
On Ratha-Saptami Day all the seven horses come to the position and start moving slowly towards north direction. There is a time lag between Sun's entry to Makara and the seven horses coming to a steady position to start the journey. This day is very important to farmers as their annual day for harvest season. There is also a strong belief that this is the Birthday of Sun or Soorya Jayanti.
This day is also known as Vidhaana Saptami, Aarogya Saptami and Achala Saptami. People take holy dip in early morning hours, fast and worship Sun-God, praying for good health and prosperity. This day is celebrated in Hindu homes and in rare Surya temples in Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh (installed as Soorya-Naaraayana) and Martaanda Temple in Kashmir. It is also celebrated in all Siva temples wherever Navagrahas are consecrated. It is also a special festival day in Vishnu temples where Lord Vishnu is taken in procession with the orb of symbolic Sun at the back of the deity called Surya-prabha. This is one of the mounts for Lord Vishnu for the annual event of Brahmotsavam in South Indian Temples. Ratha-Saptami is famous in Tirupati located in Andhra.
People Chant Soorya Sahasranaama or the more popular Aaditya-Hridayam with Soorya Ashtakam on this day:
Those who have undergone Upanayana Ceremony perform their mid-day prayers propitiating Sun-god with the following mantras (Maadhyahneeka mantras) which are also good for general prayer to him. These are:
itrasya charshanee dhritah snavo devasya | saanasim Satyam chitra-sravastamam |mitro janaan yaatayati prajaanan mitro daadhaara prithaveem-uta-dyaam | mitrah krisshteer-animisha-abhichashte satyaaya havya grithavad-vidhema | Prasmitra marto astu prayasvaan yasta aaditya sikshati vratena| na hanyate na jeeyate tvoto nainama(ga)m-ho asnoty-antito na dooraat ||
The Sun guides all and He watches every one of our actions. Soorya-mandala (Orb of the Sun) is Truth and has unique glow (Tejas). Only Yogis are fit to attain this Mandala (orb). Those who propitiate Sun with Havis (fagots) are gifted with good food, health and long life. Sins will not approach them either from their present births or earlier births.
Aasatyena rajasaa vartamaano nivesayann-amritam martyam cha | Hiranyayena savitaa rathenaa devoyaati bhuvanaa vi pasyan ||
Sun is self effulgent. As we behold this glow (tejas) we are all blessed with glow of the Supreme Principle (Brahma-tejas). Sun induces everyone to do their duty and awards fruits of action depending on the merit. He is present everywhere and comes in a golden chariot.
Sun is the repository of all knowledge. He is visible to all creatures in the world and helps to have an atma-darsana (Self revelation) to those who are qualified. The Sun rays take him everywhere like the horses. Sun is the eye for the Devas--Mitra, Varuna, Agni etc. He is the Self (Aaatma) of both animates and in-animates in the three worlds.
One who is the eye of the Devas who is effulgent and who rises in the East—let us see him for hundred years. Let us be happy for hundred years. Let us be happy and live with fame without fear of enemies and listen and extol his greatness for a Long time. [This is chanted while looking at the Sun with the Mudra (with aperture made out of fingers to avoid direct sun and to look at the bright mid-day Sun)].
The Sun rises as if he comes out of a big ocean. He, who bestows boons to his worshiper, let him cleanse our minds to be fit for divine knowledge!
[This mode of looking at the sun helps in strengthening eye-nerves and also gives finger exercise to overcome problems of arthritis etc. Yoga people recommend looking at the Sun for some time in the early morning hours.]
The following is a rare hymn on Lord Surya by King taken from Skanda Puranam, Vaishnava Khanda, AyodhyA Mahatmya, and Chapter 7. In the brief Phalashruti, Lord Surya promises to fulfill all rightful desires of those who recite this hymn with immense devotion.
sarvān kāmān avāpnoti yo'tra snānaṁ samācaret | mad bhaktena sadā rājan kartavyaṁ snānaṁ atra vai || 14 ||
yaṁ yaṁ kāmaṁ iheccheta taṁ taṁ kāmaṁ avāpnuyāt || 15 ||
Surya Namaskar is getting highly popular with the name of Sun Salutation all over the world. It is prominent because it is called the ‘King of Yoga’ by great yogis. Surya Namaskar is a very systematic technique that combines the twelve asanas in a yoga sequence.
The solar plexus (located behind the navel, which is the central point of the human body), also known as the second brain, is said to be connected to the sun. This is the main reason why the ancient rishis recommended the practice of Surya Namaskar because the regular practice of this technique enhances the solar plexus, which increases one’s creativity and intuitive abilities. Moreover, as we can do it almost anywhere and is relatively easy, it is one of the best things anyone could do to become fit.
- 1. Pranamasana (Prayer Pose)
- 2. Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)
- 3. Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot Pose)
- 4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian Pose)
- 5. Dandasana (Stick Pose)
- 6. Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute with Eight Parts Pose)
- 7. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
- 8. Parvatasana(Mountain Pose)
- 9. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian Pose)
- 10. Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot Pose)
- 11. Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)
- 12. Tadasana (Standing or Palm Tree Pose)
- Pranamasana helps maintain the balance of the body.
- Relaxes the nervous system.
- Hasta Uttanasana stretches and tones the muscles of the abdomen.
- Expands the chest resulting in the full intake of oxygen. Lung capacity is fully utilized.
- Hasta Padasana makes the waist and spine flexible.
- Stretches the hamstrings.
- Opens the hips, shoulders, and arms.
- Ashwa Sanchalanasana strengthens the leg muscles.
- Makes the spine and neck flexible.
- Good for indigestion, constipation and sciatica.
- Dandasana strengthens the arms and back.
- Improves posture.
- Stretches the shoulders, chest and spine.
- Calms the mind.
- Ashtanga Namaskara enhances flexibility of the back and spine.
- Strengthens the back muscles.
- Reduces tension and anxiety.
- Bhujangasana stretches the shoulders, chest and back.
- Increases flexibility.
- Elevates mood.
- Invigorates the heart.
- Parvatasana strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs.
- Increases blood flow to the spinal region.
- Ashwa anchalanasana tones the abdominal organs.
- Adds flexibility to leg muscles.
- Hasta Padasana stretches the hamstrings.
- Opens the hips, shoulders, and arms.
- Hasta Uttanasana stretches and tones the muscles of the abdomen.
- Expands the chest resulting in full intake of oxygen. Lung capacity is fully utilized.
- Tadasana improves posture.
- Strengthens thighs, knees and ankles.
- Relieves sciatica.
Hindu Reflections on Ratha Saptami 2021
Saptami Tithi is dedicated to Lord Surya. Shukla Paksha Saptami in Magha month is known as Ratha Saptami or Magha Saptami. It is believed that Lord Surya Dev started enlightening the whole world on Ratha Saptami day which was considered as birth day of God Surya. Hence this day is also known as Surya Jayanti. Ratha Saptami 2021 date is February 19. It is said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day. This day is also known as Achala Saptami. It is considered to be the most important saptami in a year. It is believed that in the Mahabharata, Bhishmacharya chose this day to leave his body and attain ‘moksha.’ It is also said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day. Interestingly, Ratha Saptami is also observed in the month of Margashirsha (December-January) by certain communities. It is also dedicated to Sun god and a fast is observed on this day. Taking bath at the time of sunrise is considered highly auspicious. This is observed largely in North India probably motivated by Bhagavad Gita in which Lord Krishna says among twelve months in a year He is Margasirsha.
Special rituals are also held on the day at temples dedicated to Surya especially at Arasavalli and Konark. The day is of great significance in Tirupati Balaji Temple. One can witness, Lord Balaji on seven different Vahanas on the day.
Ratha Saptami is highly auspicious in s day and it is considered as auspicious as Surya Grahan for Dan-Punya activities. By worshipping Lord Surya and observing fast on this day one can get rid of all type of sins. It is believed that seven types of sins done, knowingly, unknowingly, by words, by body, by mind, in current birth and in previous births are purged by worshipping Lord Surya on this day.
On Ratha Saptami one should take bath during Arunodaya. Ratha Saptami Snan is one of the important rituals and is suggested during Arunodaya only. Arunodaya period prevails for four Ghatis (approx. one and half hour for Indian locations if we consider one Ghati duration as 24 minutes) before sunrise. Taking bath before sunrise during Arunodaya keeps one healthy and free from all types of ailments and diseases. Because of this belief Ratha Saptami is also known as Arogya Saptami. Taking bath in water body like river, canal is preferred over taking bath at home. After taking bath one should worship Lord Surya during sunrise by offering Arghyadan (अर्घ्यदान) to Him. Arghyadan is performed by slowly offering water to Lord Surya from small Kalash with folded hand in Namaskar Mudra while facing Lord Sun in standing position. After this one should light Deepa of pure Ghee and worship Sun God with Kapoor, Dhup, and red flowers. By doing morning Snan, Dan-Punya and Arghyadan to Suryadev one is bestowed with long life, good health and prosperity.
Sun worship is deep rooted in the Vedas of the Hindu religion and its antiquity also relates to several mythologies of the world such as that of China, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Sun Religion as I described earlier in reference Christmas day, was the earliest religion known to the world. The Gayatri Mantra japa– the sacred Vedic chants to Savitr (Sun god) – is recited by the Hindus every day with great reverence. As the puranic Hinduism evolved, the worship of Sun was established.
In the Rig VedaMandala 10/Hymn 85, the sun god's bride seated on a chariot pulled by two steeds is mentioned. This symbolism is therefore common to both Norse mythology and Vedic history.
The relevant verses (translated from Sanskrit by Ralph Griffith) are as follows:
10. Her spirit was the bridal car; the covering thereof was heaven: Bright were both Steeds that drew it when Surya approached her husband's, home.
11. Thy Steeds were steady, kept in place by holy verse and Sama-hymn: All cars were thy two chariot wheels: thy path was tremulous in the sky,
12. Clean, as thou wentest, were thy wheels wind, was the axle fastened there. Surya, proceeding to his Lord, mounted a spirit-fashioned car.
In Norse mythology, Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi are the horses of Dagr (day) and Nótt (night). The names Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi are bahuvrihi compounds, meaning "shining mane" and "rime mane" (or "frost mane"), respectively. Skinfaxi pulls Dagr's chariot across the sky every day and his mane lights up the sky and earth below.
In Greek mythology, the solar deity Helios was said to wear a radiant crown as his horse-drawn chariot raced across the sky, bringing daylight.
Ratha Saptami is symbolic of the change of season to spring and the start of the harvesting season. For most Indian farmers, it is an auspicious beginning of the New Year. The festival is observed by all Hindus in their houses and in his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses, with Aruṇa as the innumerable temples dedicated to Surya, across India.
Ratha Saptami also marks the gradual increase in temperature across South India and awaits the arrival of spring, which is later heralded by the festival of Ugadi or the Hindu lunar New Year day in the month of Chaitra.
Ratha Saptami also marks the birth of Surya to sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday).
Ratha Saptami is symbolically represented in the form of the Sun GodSurya turning charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. The symbolic significance of the Ratha and the Seven horses reigned to it is that it represents the seven colors of the rainbow. The seven horses are also said to represent the seven days of a week starting with Sunday, the day of Sun god Surya. The chariot has 12 wheels, which represents the 12 signs (each of 30 degrees) of the Zodiac (360 degrees) and constituting a full year, named Samvatsara. The Sun’s own house is Leo (Simha) and he moves from one house to the next every month and the total cycle takes 365 days to complete. The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God.
God Vishnu in his form as Surya (Suryanarayana) is usually worshipped on this day (adiya vai idam Brahman). Lord visualized as riding a chariot pulled by 7 horses:
Atmanam rathinam viddhi shareeram rathameva tu; Buddhim tu sarathim viddhi manaha pragrahameva tu; Indriyani hayanyahur vishayansteshu gocharan || (Katha Upanishad)
The atman is Rathi - the body; The intellect is the Sarathi - driver; The mind is the rein; The senses are the horses, and The Panch Vishayas - material objects of the five senses - are the fields of pasture for the horses.
The ultimate essence of the lore of Ratha Yatra on Ratha Saptami Day is that the Jiva or life should surrender to the supreme Sarathi, the God. Only through the true realization of one's inner self can one discover the God within. Our Yatra or traversal of life from Samsara can be successful only if our surrender to divine force of Almighty is pure and truly heartfelt. Ratha Saptami is all about having pure and righteous thoughts (horses) that pulls the mind (chariot) towards divinity. Surya (Sun) is currently on his Uttarayan transit which is the path towards divinity and this is the time a spiritual seeker gains momentum towards the divine.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/ratha-saptami_25.html
Wishing you all a very happy Ratha Yatra leading to North for an exciting spiritual Journey. May every being attain utmost peace and success in all endeavors through the realization of oneself!
Ratha Sapthami, Rediscover Eternal Wisdom
Wisdom is perception at the core level of understanding. It can be about the Sun, a plant, or a neighbor.
A child looks at
a plant for its fruits and flowers
A farmer looks at the same for insects and worms so he can treat it
appropriately
A biologist looks at the same to understand its composition for research
An ayurvedic professional looks at the same for its medicinal
characteristics
A designer looks at the same for its colors and beauty
An environmentalist looks at the same for its biological formation to
understand its decomposition rate
A poet looks at the same for its softness and fragrance, or maybe the
hardness or thorns reflecting his/her emotions towards a topic
What is the perception of a Vaishnava, a believer in Vedas?
A Vaishnava has a clear understanding of three main eternal entities of the plant: the body made of nature (the roots, the trunk, the branches, the flowers, etc.), the soul (the indwelling life, generally referred to as ‘I’, ‘You’), and the supreme soul, God (the unseen source of power that keeps the soul and the body together). His perception is complete and to the core of the existence of the plant.
Upanishad states, Yo:sa vaso: purushah so:hamasmi
The same supreme soul that exists within you also exists everywhere in nature and within every other soul. This supreme soul is the source of the plant’s existence and the Sun’s existence. It is also the source of your existence.
His perception allows him to see everything that a child, farmer, biologist, ayurvedic professional, designer, environmentalist, the poet sees, and more! He looks at God’s grace in the form of the plant, the highest form of a genuine positive attitude. This allows him to conduct with the plant righteously pertaining to only needs and not greed, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of the existence.
However, why does one soul have the body of a plant?
Why does another soul have the body of the Sun?
Why do I have this human body?
Some of us (a subset of the innumerable souls) chose to ignore these three aspects of the true wisdom (a body, the soul, the supreme soul). Hence, each soul has a different body based on the level of ignorance on the three aspects. Due to such ignorance, some of us are in an arrogant state where…
We
perceive ourselves as the body that we are in; we perceive others to be the
bodies that they are in; we do not accept the existence of the supreme soul,
God
we believe that we are superior/inferior to other beings based on body and its
related characteristics
Why did we ignore or forget the three-aspect-wisdom in the first place?
Prakruthi (nature), the innumerable souls (including all of us), and the supreme soul (God), are three entities existing eternally. However, each soul gets uniquely carried away by nature, prakruthi (the ever-changing thatthva, body/ surroundings), forgetting the connection with God (the never-changing supreme thatthva). The intensity of one’s association with the body adds layers of ignorance over one’s innate wisdom, jnana (like soot from a lamp blocking its innate glow). This difference in jnana attributes to the way souls perform deeds, karma. Hence, do not let prakruthi force forgetfulness of the true inner wisdom.
The Sun is also a soul, just like we are. However, he remains humble to God, does not forget the nature of prakruthi and the nature of God. Therefore, God shines from within him (referred to as Surya Narayana) without being blocked by the arrogance of the soul, the Sun himself. Thus, He was appointed as a part of God’s administration and received a body that supports millions of beings every day.
Let us pray that our sinful reactions from bad karmic deeds out of arrogance and ignorance are burned to ashes.
Let us pray that our wisdom does not get blocked by nature: the body, senses, manas, or buddhi.
Let us pray that God shines from within each of us, in turn giving joy to those around us.
On the day of Ratha Sapthami, let us remind ourselves of this wisdom passed onto us by our seers and acharyas. Let us pray to the supreme thatthva, Sriman Narayana giving us His divine darsan through the Sun.
Dhyeyas sadaa savithru mandala madhyavarthi:
Narayanah sarasijaasana sannivishtaha |
Keyuravaan makara kundalavaan kirtih haarih
Hiranmaya vapuhu dhrutha sankha chakraha ||
–
From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– Rattha Saptami, Feb 19, 2021
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