Ratha Saptami (Tamil: ரத ஸப்தமி, Sanskrit: रथ सप्तमि) is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Saptami) in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Tamil month Thai (தை). As the month is called Makara (மகர மாசம்) it is referred to as Maagha or Magha Saptami in the Northern parts of India. This year Ratha Saptami occurs tomorrow, 26 January 2015.
Ratha Saptami marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). The day is also celebrated as the birthday of the Sun God and called as Surya Jayanti. In Tamil (and some parts of the other 3 southern states) ritual, the day is celebrated with a ceremonial bath and water offering to the Sun (அர்க்யம்).
The ceremonial bath is performed by placing a little turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் தூள்), some rice (அக்ஷதை), some Bermuda Grass (அருகம்புல்), on 7 Giant Milkweed leaves (வெள்ளை எருக்கு, अर्कपत्रं, Calotropis procera), placed on top of the head and taking a shower or immersion in a water body. Then water offering is performed thrice.
The actual procedure – that is placing the leaves, etc. – during Ratha Saptami depends various sect and family traditions, though the mantras are the same. Some do not use Bermuda Grass, some split the 7 leaves on the head and both shoulders, and variations thereof.
A word of caution though. Arka leaves (Giant Milkweed, வெள்ளை எருக்கு, Calotropis procera)are highly toxic and if not properly handled or ingested can cause blindness or even be fatal. They have to be handled with extreme caution.
The mantras for both the ritual bath and the water offering for Ratha Saptami 2015 in Tamil ishere [download link] Bhishma Astami is on 27 Jan 2015, procedure will be uploaded soon.
Ratha Saptami marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). The day is also celebrated as the birthday of the Sun God and called as Surya Jayanti. In Tamil (and some parts of the other 3 southern states) ritual, the day is celebrated with a ceremonial bath and water offering to the Sun (அர்க்யம்).
The ceremonial bath is performed by placing a little turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் தூள்), some rice (அக்ஷதை), some Bermuda Grass (அருகம்புல்), on 7 Giant Milkweed leaves (வெள்ளை எருக்கு, अर्कपत्रं, Calotropis procera), placed on top of the head and taking a shower or immersion in a water body. Then water offering is performed thrice.
The actual procedure – that is placing the leaves, etc. – during Ratha Saptami depends various sect and family traditions, though the mantras are the same. Some do not use Bermuda Grass, some split the 7 leaves on the head and both shoulders, and variations thereof.
A word of caution though. Arka leaves (Giant Milkweed, வெள்ளை எருக்கு, Calotropis procera)are highly toxic and if not properly handled or ingested can cause blindness or even be fatal. They have to be handled with extreme caution.
The mantras for both the ritual bath and the water offering for Ratha Saptami 2015 in Tamil is
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