Observe the Ritual of Ratha Sapthami

Observe   the Ritual of Ratha Sapthami     on  12/2/2019(tomorrow ) 

Compiled by

P.Ramachander

  Ratha Sapthami also called as Surya Sapthami or  Surya Jayanthi    is a festival  celebrated on  the Shukla Panchami  in the month of Makara /Kumbha  Masa(Magha masa  for those    who follow Chandra Mana)  .This year the  festival  is  being observed  tomorrow  (12-2-2019)  . It is observed with  several rituals  in the  states of Andhra Pradesh /Karnataka /Maharashtra(For details see  http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/01/how-to-do-ratha-saptami-puja.html ) .

   In  tamil Nadu the day starts   with ritual bath  by Keeping seven  leaves of  Vellai Erukku (Giant milk weed –Kannada Ekku, Telugu  Jilledu  , Sanskrit –Arka )  on the head .(some people keep one on head, two on shoulders, two on knees   and two on feet) A head bath is taken ,.Some people keep uncooked  rice also on the  Erukku leaves. Women in addition sprinkle turmeric powder  on the rice . You are not supposed  to apply  oil on  the head for that day. During the   ritual bath the  following Manthra  or sloka is chanted:-

I.Manthra (translation by P.R.Ramachander)

“Saptha Saptha Maha Saptha, Saptha Dweepa Vasundara, Sapth Arka Parna Madaya, Sapthamyam Snana Machareth”.

“seventh , seventh  , great seventh  , the earth has  seven islands ON this seventh day  I am  observing bath keeping   seven  Arka(erukku)  leaves  on the head.”

2. Stotra/Sloka(Translation by  P.R.Ramachander)

Sapthsapthi-priye devi
Sapthalogaiga deepike!
Sapth-janmaarjitham papam
Hara sapthami sathvaram       (1)

Oh  Goddess  who likes the seventh of sevenths  ,

Who is   the lustrous lamp among the seven worlds,

During this seventh linar day  please remove,

The sins that  I have earned in the seven births.(1)

Yanmayaathrakrutham papam
poorvam sapthasoojanmasoo!
thathsarvam  Soka mohou cha
maakare hanthu sapthami    (2)

All of those sins   committed   by  me ,

In the earlier seven births ,

As well    as   my sorrows   and passions,

May please be destroyed By Sapthami of Makara  Month(2)

Namaami sapthameem devim
Sarvapaapa-pranaasi'neem!
sapthaarkka - pathra - snaanena
Mama papam vyabohathu!     (3)

I salute    the Goddess  Sapthami ,

Who is capable  of destroying  all sins  ,

And by the bathing with seven  Erukku leaves,

Let   all  my sins   be   completely removed.(3)

After this  any time   during the day  read or hear  Adithya  Hrudaya , which is taught  by sage Agasthya   to Lord Rama  in Ramayana  , so that he has the ability to kill  Ravana 

The Sloka in English with  my translation is available  in  http://stotrarathna.blogspot.in/2009/07/adithya-hrudayam.html .

You can hear it by clicking  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsGJlyFcdQM .

You can also chose  to read it in Sanskrit  alphabets in http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2012/03/aditya-hridayam-lyrics-in-sanskrit.html .  

You can read it n Tamil   from http://www.omjai.org/Aditya%20Hrudayam%20-%20Tamil .

You can read it in Kannada by clicking http://poojavidhana.blogspot.in/2010/02/aditya-hrudayam-in-kannada.html