Surya Jayanthi / Rathasapthami
Rathasapthami is also known as ‘Surya Jayanthi’ because it celebrates the power of the Sun God who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Surya is considered Lord Vishnu and hence called Suryanarayana or Pratyaksha Daivam.
Rathasapthami is the festival that falls on the Seventh day of the bright fortnight after the new moon day, in the month ‘Magha’.
Rathasapthami is especially auspicious if it falls on a Sunday. This is a special writeup on the significance of Rathasapthami and How it is celebrated in Tirumala Hill Shrine. It is a festival in which the Sun god (in the form of Surya Narayana) is worshipped. It is also celebrated as the birthday of Sun God as the season changes from this day.
Kumbha Sankramanam
The importance of this Rathasapthami is that the sun is moving from the Makara Rasi (i.e. Capricorn) to the Kumbha Rasi (i.e. Aquarius) known as ‘kumbha sankramanam’.
The charioteer, Aruna, has his feet deformed. Aruna means the dawn. On this day some people go to take a bath in the river before dawn carrying a lamp on their head. Then in the courtyard in front of the house, the sun is worshipped. A picture of the chariot and the seven horses is drawn on the ground. On the four sides ‘rangoli’ is made (designs made with powders) and in the centre, cow dung is burnt.
Then the milk is boiled in earthen vessels while facing the Sun. When the milk boils it is believed it reaches the Sun.
Story of Aruna, the Charioteer of Lord Surya
Rishi Kasyapa had two wives; Kadruva and Vinata (daughter of Daksha). The first wife became the mother of a thousand snakes (Nagas), while the second wife, Vinata gave birth to two eggs, one of which was very late in opening. Therefore, she hastily broke the eggshell because of this a handicapped child (without legs) was born. The loving parents named the child ‘Aruna’.
The second egg opened naturally and ‘Garuda’, the bird with large wings, was born.
Aruna, even though disabled, rose to an exalted position as the charioteer of the Sun-god, Surya. Since ancient times, he continued to spread the Sun’s energy daily around the world, sustaining us with vital nourishment without which life would be impossible. His brother Garuda, also known as Vainateya, became the Vahana (vehicle) for Lord Vishnu.
Early in the morning every day, all living beings look eagerly to the eastern sky awaiting the arrival of Aruna; he does not fail them even a single day. He is ever punctual and appears with his master, Lord Sun, brilliantly painting the sky red (Aruna also means red). Riding majestically across the sky, he guides the seven horses in their majestic travel towards the Western horizon. No wonder that the ancients gratefully named sun-rise after him as Arunodaya, the appearance of Aruna!
Lovingly, his master Surya, the Sun-God, identified himself closely with his devoted charioteer and wanted himself also to be known as Aruna!
Then an offering of ‘khir’ made of wheat is shown to the Sun. In the ‘sup’ (basket for sifting corn) twelve heaps of grain are offered to the sun, the number corresponding to the twelve constellations through which the sun goes. Grain is offered to the Brahmins. Some people show their respect to the sun by bowing twelve times every day to the sun (Surya Namaskar).
Surya Temples
The Sun temple at Konark in Orissa is a famous and ancient temple dedicated to the Sun god. One of the beautifully stone-carved temples at Lakkundi, Gadag District of North Karnataka, built by the Chalukyas in the 10th century, is dedicated to Lord Suryanarayana.
Puranas
The worshipping sun god is nothing new, our Puranas have many instances of it. Lord Sri Rama worshipped the sun god before going for the battle against the King of Lanka, Ravana (also known as the king of Asuras i.e. Rakshasas). King Satrajit also worshipped the sun god and got a gem from him called the Samanthakamani, which is the cause of prosperity, which later on was given to Lord Krishna along with Satyabhama in marriage.
In Tirumala, Rathasapthami figures as one of the important festivals of the year. A one-day Brahmotsavam is held and the Utsava Murthi is carried out in seven vahanams around the main temple precincts during the day.
On Rathasapthami day a special bath is taken with seven yekka/arka/calotropis procera leaves along with ‘Mantrakshathas’ (Rice mixed with Turmeric). One leaf is kept on the head, 2 on the shoulders, 2 on the knees and 2 on the foot while having a bath.
The following mantra on the Sun god is chanted while taking a bath.
“Saptha Saptha Maha Saptha |
Saptha Dweepa Vasundara |
Sapth Arka Parna Madaya |
Sapthamyam Snana Machareth ||”
The Festival performed in Tirumala / Rathasapthami at Tirumala
Rathasapthami or Surya Jayanti is a festival at Tirumala and is a celebration of the Lord as Surya Narayana. Aruna Prasnam, katakam are recited.
As the Sun moves from Dhanur raasi to Makara raasi, the days get warmer. In this important annual festival at Tirumala, Sri Malayappa Swami with Ubhaya Naacchiyars are taken around the four Mada streets on seven different Vahanams from Sunrise to Sunset.
‘Sapthami’ denotes the number ‘7’, So Lord Malayappa Swami is taken for a procession around four mada streets in 7 Vahanams in a single day.
The 7 Vahanams in the order of usage
- 1. Surya Prabha Vahanam
- 2. Chinna Sesha Vahanam
- 3. Garuda Vahanam
- 4. Hanumanthavahanam & Chakra Snanam
- 5. Kalpa Vruksha Vahanam
- 6. Sarva Bhupala Vahanam
- 7. Chandra Prabha Vahanam
In the middle of the Utsavam Chakra Snanam is grandly conducted at Swami Pushkarini.
Laghu Brahmotsavam
Rathasapthami is celebrated as the Surya Jayanti festival at Tirumala. So it is called a ‘Laghu Brahmotsavam’. Lord Malayappa Swami splendidly adorned with precious Jewels and ornaments will come out for a procesion on Surya Prabha Vahanam from 5:30 AM to 8 AM.
The Procession stops near Nairruti side (South-West Corner) and waits until the Sunrise (Calculated according to Local Sunrise) as soon as the Sun rises, Lord Malayappa Swami in the Surya Prabha Vahanam is offered with Karpoora Harathi (camphor) who bless us in Surya Narayana form and offered with ‘Bakala Bath’ (Curd Rice) Naivedyam. Now the procession reaches the Vahana Mandapam.
- Lord Malayappa Swami is now seated on the Chinna Sesha Vahanam, and again Visesha Samarpana is performed. He now blesses the devotees in this Vahanam from 9 AM to 10 AM.
- The next Vahanam is the sacred Garuda Seva. This is the only time the devotees can view the Garuda Vahanam in the Morning, which is a very nice divine experience. This procession goes from 11 AM – 12 NOON.
- Now Lord Malayappa Swami is taken for a procession on the sacred Hanumantha Vahanam from 1 PM – 2 PM. Lord Malayappa Swami is taken back to Sannidhi.
- At 2 PM, to perform the Chakra Snanam, Sri Sudarsana Chakram is brought from the Sannidhi and is given a holy dip in the Swami Pushkarini.
- The Madhyahnika Aradhanam is performed to the Lord now in Sannidhi. Second Bell and Bali are performed.
- After the Second Bell, Lord Malayappa Swami now blesses devotees along with Consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, in Kalpa Vriksha Vahanam from 4 PM – 5 PM.
- Sarvabhupala Vahanam is the next one, where Sri Malayappa Swami again comes out for procession with Thayars from 6 PM – 7 PM.
- The last one and the coldest one, Chandraprabha Vahanam is from 8 PM – 9 PM, after which Lord Malayappa Swami will return to Sannidhi for Night Kainkaryams.
It is spectacular to watch Lord Malayappa Swami on this Rathasapthami day, with 7 Vahanams. Those who miss Brahmotsavam, those who wish to cherish the divine bliss of Brahmotsavam again, can enjoy the divine ecstasy on a single day.
There is also an account stating that in the era of Kings, Brahmotsavams were conducted every month and over time this procedure went out of practice. Now, the remaining Utsavams are conducted on a single day. That is the reason Chakra Snanam is also conducted during Rathasapthami at Tirumala.
