☀RATHA-SAPTAMI (24TH JAN 2018) AND BHEESHMASHTAMI (25TH JAN 2018) ANUSHTANA VIDHANAM AS PER SANATANA DHARMA SHASTRA
Namaskaram. Dharma Shastra says "Ratha Saptami" is a day which can wipe away sins committed by a person in his past 7 births (Sapta Janma), if you follow the simple procedure recommended by our ancient Vedic Rishis. Let’s first understand what is Ratha Saptami? You know that with the Sun entering Makara Rashi, Uttarayana i.e., day time for Gods in heaven has begun, which has happened in January 2018. On 24th Jan 2018 Surya Bhagawan (Sun God) who rides in his chariot drawn by 7 horses will turn towards the north eastern direction in the northern hemisphere. This celestial event which happens only once a year on Ratha Saptami day when Sun is most powerful. If we follow and perform the rituals mentioned in Shastras on this day, we will get the punya (merit) of performing rituals of Surya Grahana (Solar eclipse) and this day Lord Surya shines equivalent to the power of 1 crore Sun. “Surya graha tulya Ratha Saptami and Kotibhaskara” says Dharma Shastra. This day is also called as Surya Jayanti (birthday of Lord Surya) or Arogya Saptami (Health Saptami) as if you worship Lord Surya this day you will be relieved from your diseases and sins (papas).
As you know heat and water can remove dirt. Imagine a greasy vessel you are finding difficult to clean, if you heat it with water the grease loosens. Similarly on this day when you have a bath with mantras addressed to Surya, these mantras will burn your sins which you have accumulated like grease in your body, and the water will wipe you clean externally. The sins you committed in your last 7 birth are said to be destroyed by this early morning bath as per our Shastras. So what do you have to do on 24th Jan 2018 ?
1. Get up early in the morning before Sunrise. Finish your early morning activities like brushing your teeth, going to toilet etc.
2. Wear a clean dhoti and an Angavastra/Uttareya (uparna) for men. Sari for women. Children small dhoti/towel. You need to have bath with these clothes on, but before that….
3. You need to get 7 Arka leaves per person, who wants to perform this Snana Anushtana. Arka is called Aakh ke patte in Hindi, Rui in Marathi, Erukkam elai in Tamil, Jilledu in Telugu, Aakonda in Bengali, Neela Erukku in Malayalam. This leaves are offered to Hanuman as mala too on Saturdays. *Photo of Arka leaves attached in my FB post, photos section (www.facebook.com/vedaghosham)*. Please note that if these leaves are plucked fresh they release a milky white sap (liquid), which should not go in your eyes or mouth else it will cause irritation. If you buy or pluck and keep these leaves one day before then no sap will come so it is safe. But caution to be used if any sap seen in the end of leaves then it should not go into eyes or mouth. If you don’t get Arka leaves then you can use 7 Badari leaves. Badari is called Ber ke patte in Hindi, Bor che paan in Marathi, borehannu in kannada, Lanta in Malayalam, Regi in telugu, illandai elai in Tamil, Vadar in Bengali
4. You should keep 7 Arka leaves or 7 Badari leaves or both together, on top of your head and chant the “Ratha Saptami Snana Mantras” (see mantra PDF in 3 languages attached with this message) and have a bath. These are set of 3 slokas only and simple to chant. As the water flows from these leaves on your head through your body it purifies you and the mantras you chant at this time wipes away sins of your last 7 births.
Arka is another name for Surya, so on this day these leaves get the power and energy of Surya. Once you finish chanting these mantras you can allow the leaves to fall on the floor or in case of river you can allow it to float away then finish your bath. The Snana Mantras (Mantras to be chanted during bath) is sent with this message as a PDF file in 3 languages. Alternatively you can also download it from www.facebook.com/vedaghosham, in photo section of this post.
5. This bath has to be performed between 05:30am and 06:30am on 24th January 2018 as this is the Snan Muhurtha. Even though all over India in various cities there is small variations in the timing of Snana or bath I have seen the timings of all the cities and almost all of them definitely fall between 05:30am to 06:30am. Anyone who is abroad and wants to know the Muhurtha for Snan can refer to www.drikpanchang.com, set you location in settings and see the timings. But anywhere in India follow the above timing.
6. Once the bath is over you should wipe yourself and wear dry clothes. And offer Arghya (water) to Surya bhagavan at sunrise time. Mix some akshata (raw rice grains with turmeric), flowers, kusha grass and sandalwood/chandan in this arghya water before offering it, and offer it facing Surya once sunrise has occurred. Arghyadan mantras are separately written in the same page below Snan mantra, which you need to chant while offering Arghya to Surya.
7. Women should draw outside their house a Rangoli/Kolam of Surya Ratha (Chariot of Surya) which has a single wheel. A sample photo of this rangoli attached in www.facebook.com/vedaghosham. In center of this Rangoli of Surya Ratha you draw Surya Bhagavan and light camphor/Kapoor/karpooram on a cowdung cake/kanda/varati or in a mud lamp to signify his actual presence of Lord Surya in the form of Agni (Fire) in the center of chariot and worship him with family praying for good health and wealth. You can chant Aditya Hrudayam or Suryashtakam (available in PDF in google search and youTube). In ancient time people would perform full Surya pooja to this Rangoli outside the house. But currently in flat system it is not possible. So in your pooja room draw another similar Rangoli or if you have photo of Lord Surya do pooja and offer Neivedya/Prasad of Rice Kheer which is well cooked. Surya bhagavan is said to be “Adantakaha” or without teeth as mentioned in Vedas, so he likes well cooked soft Prasad. Consume this Prasad with family and pray to Surya Bhagavan.
8. This will complete the purificatory “Ratha Saptami Papahara Snana” which will destroy your sins of 7 births and will give you progress in life as you are pure now. We face failure in life because of Papas (sins) we have accumulated. No one likes to touch a greasy vessel. Once we are clean and start doing good deeds as recommended in Dharma Shastra we will get success.
9. On the next day of "Ratha Saptami" is “Bheeshmashtami” (25th January 2018) the day when Bheeshma Pitamaha’s soul departed from the earth after Mahabharata war. This day Dharma Shastra recommends all men to perform tarpan/tarpanam to Bheeshma Pitamaha to obtain his blessings for our family. Performing this tarpan will help childless couple to get a child and those who already have children will get blessings for Vansha Vriddhi/good progeny in future. On 25th Jan 2018 morning have your bath, perform Sandhyavandana, and sit facing east direction, change your yagyopaveeta to apasavya/prachinaveetam (the yagyopaveet/poonal/janeu should rest on right shoulder and come below left arm). Mix black til with water in a copper vessel/brass vessel/kalash and by chanting slokas in the same PDF page 3 - 6 in 3 languages also available in my Veda Ghosham FB page photo section with title “Bheeshmashtami Tarpana Mantras” offer tarpana 3 times for each mantra. The water should flow from Pitru theerta which is between your right hand thumb and index finger/forefinger. As per Dharma Shastra this should be performed by all including the people who have their father’s alive. Which means including children can perform this karma to obtain blessings of Bheeshma Pitamaha on this day.
It is a continuous endeavour of Veda Ghosham, to bring back ancient rituals and practices of Sanatana Dharma recommended by Vedic Rishis, back into practice and bring people out of their ignorance of our cultural heritage, misery and suffering and lead them to a happy spiritual life.
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"🕉 Bhaskaraya Vidhmahe Mahadyutikaraya☀ dhimahi, tanno Aaditya prachodayat"
