1. What is the significance of Ratha saptami?
Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the sun god, Surya. Ratha Saptami is symbolic of the change of season to spring and the start of the harvesting season. It marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). For most Indian farmers, it is an auspicious beginning of the New Year.It is said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
2. When is Ratha saptami observed/celebrated?
Ratha Saptami is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha, or waxing phase of moon, in the Magha Month (January – February) in a traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The day is of great significance in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Orissa, the day is observed as Magha Saptami. It also marks the birth of Surya and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday). This day is also known as achala saptami.
3. What is the religious significance of Ratha Saptami?
The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya is believed to ride a ratha (chariot) driven by seven horses – this form is worshipped during Rathasaptami puja and festival. The symbolic significance of the ratha and the seven horses reigned to it is that it represents the seven colours 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.
4. How is Ratha Saptami celebrated in Thirumala?
The festival is of great importance at the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple.On Ratha sapthami a one-day Brahmotsavam is held in Tirumala.On this day, the presiding deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy along with his divine consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken to a procession in Thiru Mada streets in Tirumala. The deities carried out in a jubilant procession around the Thiru mada streets encircling the holy Shrine of Balaji on seven different vahanams(sapthami=seven) .Due to this reason the day of RathaSapthami is called as "Mini-Brahmotsavam" in Tirumala.
5. What are the legends associated with Ratha saptami?
Kamboj empire’s King Yashovarma, a noble king had no heir to rule his kingdom. On his special prayers to God, he was blessed with a son. The king’s vows did not end with this, as his son was terminally ill. A saint who visited the king advised that his son should perform the Ratha Saptami pooja (worship) with reverence to rid of his past sins. Once the King’s son performed this, his health was restored and he ruled his kingdom well.
It is also said that sage Bhisma breathed his last breath fourth day after the Rathasaptahmi day on ekaadashi.
Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the sun god, Surya. Ratha Saptami is symbolic of the change of season to spring and the start of the harvesting season. It marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). For most Indian farmers, it is an auspicious beginning of the New Year.It is said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
2. When is Ratha saptami observed/celebrated?
Ratha Saptami is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha, or waxing phase of moon, in the Magha Month (January – February) in a traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The day is of great significance in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Orissa, the day is observed as Magha Saptami. It also marks the birth of Surya and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday). This day is also known as achala saptami.
3. What is the religious significance of Ratha Saptami?
The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya is believed to ride a ratha (chariot) driven by seven horses – this form is worshipped during Rathasaptami puja and festival. The symbolic significance of the ratha and the seven horses reigned to it is that it represents the seven colours 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.
4. How is Ratha Saptami celebrated in Thirumala?
The festival is of great importance at the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple.On Ratha sapthami a one-day Brahmotsavam is held in Tirumala.On this day, the presiding deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy along with his divine consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken to a procession in Thiru Mada streets in Tirumala. The deities carried out in a jubilant procession around the Thiru mada streets encircling the holy Shrine of Balaji on seven different vahanams(sapthami=seven) .Due to this reason the day of RathaSapthami is called as "Mini-Brahmotsavam" in Tirumala.
5. What are the legends associated with Ratha saptami?
Kamboj empire’s King Yashovarma, a noble king had no heir to rule his kingdom. On his special prayers to God, he was blessed with a son. The king’s vows did not end with this, as his son was terminally ill. A saint who visited the king advised that his son should perform the Ratha Saptami pooja (worship) with reverence to rid of his past sins. Once the King’s son performed this, his health was restored and he ruled his kingdom well.
It is also said that sage Bhisma breathed his last breath fourth day after the Rathasaptahmi day on ekaadashi.
