Happy Birthday, Dear SUN...!!

Today being Ratha Sapthami, we all can say 'Happy Birthday, dear Sun!!'. Though popularly known as Ratha Sapthami, this day is also celebrated as Surya Jayanthi. Sun God is the son of Sage Kashyapa and Adithi. As the Sun God starts his journey in northerly direction on his ratha (chariot) on this seventh day of Shukla Paksha of Magha maasa in the Hindu Calendar, this festival is called 'Ratha Sapthami', meaning the seventh day of the movement of the Sun Chariot. It is well known that Sun God has a chariot of 12 wheels that is drawn by seven horses. The 12 wheels symbolically represent the 12 months in a year or 12 rashis (signs) of rashi chakra (zodiac) and the seven horses represent either 7 days in a week or 7 colours in the spectrum of white light (VIBGYOR). This is well told in the well known Sanskrit hymn'Sapthaswa rathamaroodham,,,,'. We all know that Uttaraayana Punya Kaalam starts on Makara Sankranthi Day. 'Uttaraayana' means the travel (ayanam) towards north (uttaram). Basically this festival Ratha Sapthami symbolises the start of the spring and the beginning of harvesting season. Bheeshma voluntarily opted for death in this Uttaraayana Punya Kaalam. The death of Bheeshma occured one day after Ratha Sapthami. On this Ratha Sapthami day, the temples of Sun God, at Arasavilli in Srikakulam District and at Tiruchanur in Chittoor District attract many devotees. At Tirumala, a mini Brahmotsavam is held for Lord of Seven Hills Sri Venkateswara. On this auspicious day the presiding Deity Lord Malayyappa Swamy along with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, is taken in procession on seven different vahanams (vehicles) as a mark of celebration of Ratha Sapthami.