Pooja And Yagya Category

Dr.Surendra Kapoor 2018-11-14 08:21:47. Surya Shasthi Vrata- a day to seek powerful blessings from Lord Sun

Surya Shasthi Vrata is the holy day on which Lord Sun is revered by devotees. It is a day to thank one of the most important Hindu deities,Sun god, who makes life possible on Earth. It is believed that offering prayers to Sun god imparts wellbeing and prosperity. Though it is celebrated by people all over India, it is most popular in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. In this vrata, devotees offer their prayers to the setting as well as the rising sun. ‘Arghya’ at dawn is made to request god for peace, prosperity and good harvest while the ‘arghya’ at dusk is a prayer to thank him for all the blessings, bounty and energy bestowed upon us. The second day, a devotee makes an offering to the Sun god in the evening while the third day is the time to offer prayers to the rising sun. This is the only festival which does not require an involvement of any priest to perform the puja rituals. Any person of the family, after the purification rituals, can perform the puja.

A glance at the rituals

In Brahmavaivartapuran, Markand Puran and Surya Upanishad, a vivid description of the rituals, significance and tales related to Surya pooja is given. According to Skanda Purana, a devotee should take meal only once in a day on Kartik Shukla Panchami and then observe fast the next day, that is on Shasthi. As per ritual, the devotee goes to the bank of a river, lights a lamp and worships Lord Sun by offering flowers, fruits and ‘naivedya’ to Him. Red sandalwood paste and red flowers form an important part of the offerings to Lord Sun. At the end of the offerings,the worshipper takes pure water in a copper vessel, puts red vermilion (roli), flowers and unbroken grains of rice (akshat) in it and offers this to Lord Sun.

Paying homage to Mata Shasthi

On the occasion of Surya Shasthi Vrata, a particular type of sweet named thekua which is made from a mixture of whole wheat flour and jaggery needs special mention. Along with Lord Sun, Mata Shasthi is also revered on this occasion. Devotees make an idol of Mata Shasthi and offer prayers to her. After offering prayers, the idol is immersed in a lake. By worshipping Lord Sun, all the desires of a person are said to be fulfilled. It is also believed that a couple is blessed with a son by observing this vrata.

Vrata Katha (traditional story)

Once, there lived a woman who had no children. On the day of Kartik Shukla Saptami, she took a vow that if she is blessed with a son then she will observe this vrata. With the blessings of Lord Sun, she soon gave birth to a baby boy. But unfortunately, she did not keep her promise to observe the vrata.

The boy grew up to be an intelligent and strong young man. Soon, the boy got married to a beautiful girl with the consent of his mother. While the newly married couple was returning home after the marriage, they stopped to rest in a forest. As they were taking rest in a tent, the girl saw that her husband was dead. She was shocked at the incident. Just then, an old woman came to her and told her that she was Chath Mata. She also told her that the death of her husband was because of her mother-in-law, who had neglected the Surya Shasthi
Vrata. Chata Mata further told the girl that though she wanted to punish her mother-in-law by killing her son, she will not do so, considering the girl’s sad condition. Saying this, she blessed the boy and he was alive, once again. As soon as they reached home, the girl narrated the whole story to her mother-in-law. The woman realized her fault and finally observed the Surya Shasthi Vrata to appease Lord Sun and to apologize for her doings.

There are many other stories related to the origin of this holy festival. Some believe that king Jarasandha prayed to Sun god to cure his ancestors who suffered from leprosy. Others believe that it was initiated by Karna who was the son of Sun god, in Dwaparyuga. Yet others are of the view that this vrata was undertaken by Sita and Rama on the eve of the establishment of ‘Ram Rajya’ in Ayodhya.