1. Greatness of Sūrya Bhagavān

Sūrya Bhagavān is a pratyakṣa devatā, who is the Supreme Reality.  Expressing our gratitude to Sun God through daily prayers, salutations and mediation gives immense benefits to all. 

आदित्यस्य नमस्कारान् ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने ।

आयुः प्रज्ञा बलं वीर्यं तेजस्तेषां च जायते ॥

ādityasya namaskārān ye kurvanti dine dine।

āyuḥ prajñā balaṃ vīryaṃ tejasteṣāṃ ca jāyate ॥

Those who offer their salutations to the Sun daily, gain life, intelligence, strength, vigour, and their radiance also increases.

– (Mahā-subhāṣita-saṅgraha – 4723)

2. Why celebrate Rathasaptamī?

Rathasaptamī is an occasion to pay our humble respects and show our gratitude towards the ‘universal-life-sustainer,’ the Sun God. The sanctity of this day is compared to the profound impact of a Sūrya Grahaṇa (solar eclipse), highlighting its immense spiritual potency.

सूर्यग्रहणतुल्या हि शुक्ला माघस्य सप्तमी।

अरुणोदयवेलायां तस्यां स्नानं महाफलम् ॥

sūryagrahaṇatulyā hi śuklā māghasya saptamī।

aruṇodayavelāyāṃ tasyāṃ snānaṃ mahāphalam॥

“The seventh day (Saptamī) of the bright half of the month of Māgha is equivalent to a solar eclipse.  Bathing during the dawn (Aruṇodaya) on this day yields great benefits.” 

– पद्मपुराणे सृष्टिखण्डे ७७.६३

3. Why is it called Rathasaptamī?

Rathasaptamī commemorates the day Sūrya Bhagavān was bestowed with his magnificent chariot, symbolising his journey across the sky, and enlightening the world with his radiant glow. 

3.1 When is Rathasaptamī celebrated? 

According to the Hindu calendar, Rathasaptamī is celebrated on the Māgha Śukla Saptamī (i.e. the Saptamī that occurs after Makara Amavāsya), in the month of Māgha (Generally in February).

यस्यां तिथौ रथं पूर्वं प्राप देवो दिवाकरः ।

सा तिथिः कथिता विप्रैर्माघे या रथसप्तमी ॥

yasyāṃ tithau rathaṃ pūrvaṃ prāpa devo divākaraḥ ।

sā tithiḥ kathitā viprairmāghe yā rathasaptamī ॥

That day on which the Sun God first acquired his chariot, is declared by the learned (Vipra-s) as Māgha Rathasaptamī.

– स्कन्दपुराणे कौमारिकाखण्डे पञ्चमाध्याये १२९

4. Who can celebrate Rathasaptamī?

All living beings can be a part of this festival and offer their humble respects and gratitude to Sūrya Bhagavān. 

5. Where to celebrate Rathasaptamī?

Since Sūrya Bhagavān is omnipresent, we can celebrate Rathasaptamī at any comfortable place such as our home, river banks, sea shores, etc.

6. How to celebrate Rathasaptamī?

According to ancient texts, we can engage in sacred rituals, including Snāna (holy bath) and Dāna (charity), which are believed to dispel all forms of scarcity and bestow countless blessings. 

तस्यां दत्तं हुतं चेष्टं सर्वमेवाक्षयं मतम् ।

सर्वदारिद्र्यशमनं भास्करप्रीतये मतम् ॥

tasyāṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ ceṣṭaṃ sarvamevākṣayaṃ matam।

sarvadāridryaśamanaṃ bhāskaraprītaye matam॥

On that day, whatever is given (in charity), offered (in sacrifice), and performed (in terms of actions) is considered imperishable.  It is believed to be for the appeasement of Bhāskara (the Sun God) and is considered to eliminate all poverty.

– स्कन्दपुराणे कौमारिकाखण्डे पञ्चमाध्याये १३०

6.1 Details of Snāna: 

The ritual of Snāna, performed in the early hours before dawn (Aruṇodaya), just one and a half hours before sunrise, is considered especially meritorious. This ceremonial bath involves placing seven leaves of the calotrope plant (arka / erukku), akṣatā (rice grains), cow dung, Indian jujube (elandai / badari) fruit, and dūrvā grass upon one’s head, chanting the following verses. 

सप्तसप्तिप्रिये देवि सप्तलोकप्रदीपिके ।

सप्तजन्मार्जितं पापं हर सप्तमि सत्वरम् ॥

यद्यत्कर्मकृतं पापं मया जन्मसु सप्तसु ।

तन्मे रोगं च शोकं च माकरी हन्तु सप्तमी ॥

saptasaptipriye devi saptalokapradīpike।

saptajanmārjitaṃ pāpaṃ hara saptami satvaram॥

yadyatkarmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ mayā janmasu saptasu ।

tanme rogaṃ ca śokaṃ ca mākarī hantu saptamī॥

O Saptamī Devī, beloved of Sūrya bhagavān who has seven horses, illuminator of the seven worlds, swiftly remove the sins accumulated over seven births.

Whatever sins I have committed in my seven births, May this Saptamī remove those, along with illness and sorrow.

– स्कन्दपुराणे काशीखण्डे ५१.७८-८०

By doing this snāna, sins of seven births and seven kinds of diseases are destroyed:

इति सप्तविधं पापं स्नानान्मे सप्तसप्तिके।

सप्तव्याधि-समायुक्तं हर माकरि सप्तमि॥

iti saptavidhaṃ pāpaṃ snānānme saptasaptike।

saptavyādhi-samāyuktaṃ hara mākari saptami॥

O Saptamī of Makaramāsa, who belongs to Sūrya Bhagavān!  By my bath, please remove the seven types of sins associated with the seven diseases that accompany them.

– स्कन्दपुराणे काशीखण्डे ५१.७८-८०

6.2 After Snāna, arghya to be done: 

सप्तसप्तिवह प्रीत सप्तलोकप्रदीपन ।

सप्तमीसहितो देव गृहाणार्घ्यं दिवाकर ॥

दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।

स्नातोऽहं रथसप्तम्यां प्रभाकर दिवाकर । 

गृहाणार्घ्यं मया दत्तं दिवाकर नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । दिवाकराय नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।

गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये तत्र गुप्ते सरस्वति ।

त्रैलोक्यवन्दिते देवि त्रिवेण्यर्घ्यं नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

त्रिवेण्यै नमः इदमर्घ्यम्। त्रिवेण्यै नमः इदमर्घ्यम् । त्रिवेण्यै नमः इदमर्घ्यम् ।

saptasaptivaha prīta saptalokapradīpana।

saptamīsahito deva gṛhāṇārghyaṃ divākara ॥

divākarāya namaḥ idamarghyam। (3 times) 

snāto’haṃ rathasaptamyāṃ prabhākara divākara।

gṛhāṇārghyaṃ mayā dattaṃ divākara namo’stu te॥

divākarāya namaḥ idamarghyam।  (3 times)

gaṅgāyamunayormadhye tatra gupte sarasvati ।

trailokyavandite devi triveṇyarghyaṃ namo’stu te॥

triveṇyai namaḥ idamarghyam। (3 times) 

O Sun God, delighted by the seven horse-driven chariot, illuminator of the seven worlds, With Saptamī, accept our offering, O Divākara.

Salutations to Divākara, this offering is for you. 

Having bathed on Rathasaptamī, O Prabhākara, O Divākara, accept this offering given by me; salutations to you, O Sun God.

Salutations to Divākara, this offering is for you.

Between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, there Sarasvati lies hidden; to the goddess adored by the three worlds, at the Triveṇī, salutations to you.

Salutations to Triveṇī, this offering is for you. 

7. Conclusion:

The greatness of Sūrya can be understood through the incident in Sundara Kāṇḍa in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, where Hanumān first salutes Bhagavān Sūrya and then embarks on the duṣkara-kārya of Samudra-laṅghana, which no one else could do.

स सूर्याय महेन्द्राय पवनाय स्वयम्भुवे ।
भूतेभ्यश्चाञ्जलिं कृत्वा चकार गमने मतिम् ॥ ५.१.८ ॥

sa sūryāya mahendrāya pavanāya svayambhuve।

bhūtebhyaścāñjaliṃ kṛtvā cakāra gamane matim ॥ 5.1.8 ॥

Offering salutations with joined palms(añjalimudrā) to the Sun-God, Bhagavān Indra, Bhagavān of Wind, Bhagavān Bramhā and all Bhūta-gaṇa-s, Hanumān decided to cross the ocean. 

– Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇam

Rathasaptamī is not merely a celebration but a profound observance that connects us with the cosmic rhythm of this universe, reminding us of the eternal wisdom and benevolence of Sūrya Bhagavān. It’s a day to worship the light that illuminates our world, guiding us towards truth, purity, and spiritual awakening. 

Links to Courses

1. Adityahridayam – The power of Surya Upasana – Discourse
   https://www.sanskritfromhome.org/course-details/adityahridayam-discourse-7279
2. Enhance health by Surya – Upasana – Learn to Chant Adityahridayam
   https://www.sanskritfromhome.org/course-details/Adityahridayam-46035
3. Ramayana Ratnamala – Audio rendering of powerful selections from Valmiki Ramayanam
   https://www.sanskritfromhome.org/course-details/ramayanaratnamala-7158
4. Ramayana Ratnamala – book
   https://digitalsanskritguru.com/product/ramayana-ratnamala-ramaya%e1%b9%87aratnamala-book/?v=c86ee0d9d7ed
5. Ramayana Ratnamala – Flipbook (A collection of treasured gems from the ocean of Valmiki Ramayanam)
   https://www.sanskritfromhome.org/course-details/ramayana-ratnamala-flipbook-32820