Ratha Saptami रथ सप्तमी
Surya (Sun) · Partial fasting
The seventh day of the bright fortnight of Magha — marking the Sun god turning his celestial chariot (drawn by seven horses) towards the northern hemisphere (uttarayana). Considered Surya Jayanti — the symbolic birthday of the Sun. Devotees bathe at sunrise placing seven arka (calotropis) leaves on the head — one on each shoulder, both knees, both feet, and the crown — representing the sapta-ashva of the Sun’s ratha.
Rituals (vidhi)
- 1.Pre-dawn snan with arka leaves placed at 7 body points
- 2.Arghya (water offering) to the rising Sun facing east with Gayatri Mantra
- 3.Aditya Hridayam parayana — 31 verses from Ramayana Yuddha Kanda
- 4.Drawing the seven-horse ratha rangoli at the doorway
- 5.Distribution of jaggery-cooked rice (chakkara-pongal) as prasad in South India
Significance
Auspicious for any health-related sankalpa — Surya is the karaka of vitality, eyesight, bones, and the soul (atma-karaka). Major celebration at Konark Sun Temple Odisha, Suryanar Kovil Tamil Nadu, and the Modhera Sun Temple Gujarat. The day inaugurates the spring season per the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
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