Ratha Saptami significance
The HinduAfter Pongal, the festival of thanksgiving and worship of the Sun, the observance of Ratha Saptami, also known as Arogya day, is the next major celebration of both the physical and spiritual world, said Damal S. Ramakrishnan in a discourse. Yoga sastra celebrates surya namaskar as being highly beneficial for one’s mental, physical and emotional well being. Veda Vyasa highlights the efficacy of praying to the Sun god for ridding oneself of one’s sins. Only one source of energy can help you: pray to Surya, he might offer a solution.” When Bhishma prayed to Surya, the latter suggested the he place seven erukkai leaves one on the head, one over each eye, one on each shoulder and one on each foot and pray to overturn the ‘sins’ of omission. The seven leaves symbolise the seven sins such as sinning with the body, mind, words, sins committed in current birth and those committed in previous lives; sins committed both knowingly and unknowingly.
History of this topic
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