RATHA SAPTHAMI - CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS..... (Significance of Arka Pathra) Arka Pathra Snaana (Taking bath with Arka Pathra) Arka is commonly called as Jilledu in Telugu; Ekka in Kannada; Erukku in Tamil; and Calotrope (bowstring hemp) in English. It is an age old tradition that, on the day of Ratha Sapthami one should take bath during Arunodaya kaala (before Sunrise) with seven Arka leaves (7 in number) by keeping one on the head, two on the shoulders, two on the knees and two on the feet. After taking bath Arghya should be given to Sun God. Taking bath on this day in holy rivers is highly meritorious. It is believed that by using Arka leaves while taking bath on this day, one will get rid of his/her sins committed in seven previous births. Arka pathra Snaana Manthra… Yadhyajjanma kritham paapam maya sapthasu janmasu Thanme rogancha sokancha maakari hanthu sapthami; Yetattjanmakritham paapam yachha janmaantharaarjitham Mano-vaakkayajam yachha gnathagnathancha yathpunaha; Ithi sapthavidham paapam snaanaanme saptha sapthake Sapthavyaadhi-samaayuktham hara maakari Sapthami… Suurya Arghya Manthra… Saptha-sapthi-vaha-preetha sapthaloka-pradeepana Sapthami-sahitho deva gruhanaarghyam Diwaakara ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಂತ್ರ ಯದ್ಯಜ್ಜನ್ಮಕೃತಂ ಪಾಪಂ ಮಯಾ ಸಪ್ತಸು ಜನ್ಮಸು | ತನ್ಮೇ ರೋಗಂ ಚ ಶೋಕಂ ಚ ಮಾಕರೀ ಹಂತು ಸಪ್ತಮೀ | ಏತಜ್ಜನ್ಮಕೃತಂ ಪಾಪಂ ಯಚ್ಚ ಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಾರ್ಜಿತಂ | ಮನೋವಾಕ್ಕಾಯಜಂ ಯಚ್ಚ ಜ್ಞಾತಾಜ್ಞಾತಂ ಚ ಯತ್ಪುನ: | ಇತಿ ಸಪ್ತವಿಧಂ ಪಾಪಂ ಸ್ನಾನಾನ್ಮೇ ಸಪ್ತ ಸಪ್ತಕೇ | ಸಪ್ತವ್ಯಾಧಿಸಮಾಯುಕ್ತಂ ಹರ ಮಾಕರಿ ಸಪ್ತಮಿ | ಸೂರ್ಯ ಅರ್ಘ್ಯ ಮಂತ್ರ - ಸಪ್ತಸಪ್ತಿವಹಪ್ರೀತ ಸಪ್ತಲೋಕಪ್ರದೀಪನ | ಸಪ್ತಮೀ ಸಹಿತೋ ದೇವ ಗೃಹಾಣಾರ್ಘ್ಯಂ ದಿವಾಕರ | Those who are eligible, should also offer Thila tharpana to forefathers on this day as a part of Shannavathi (Vaivaswatha Manvaadi) under Pithru Yagna. In South India, traditionally we find people drawing in front of their houses a picture of chariot driven with seven horses a symbolic reference to Ratha Sapthami festival. Some people also observe fasting on this day and or mouna vratha. Charity given on Ratha Sapthami day is highly meritorious. Usually Kushmanda Dana (pumpkin) is prescribed on this occasion. Since it occurs in Magha Masam as per Maasa Dharma; Thila Dana, Thila Paathra Dana, Salagrama Dana, Vasthra Dana, Blankets, Umbrella, Amalakki, (Amla) are recommended to be given as charity. Significance of Arka Leaf & Ratha Sapthami… In Hindu religion certain plants are associated with certain deities in performing of rituals. Like Thulasi with Lord Vishnu, Bilva with Lord Shiva, Durva (Garike) with Lord Ganapathi. Similarly, Arka is associated with Sun God and since Ratha Sapthami is a Sun Centric festival its usage on this day has gained lot of significance. Arka is a Sanskrit word. Arka means a ray, a flash of lightning. It is believed that Sun God’s chariot is in perfect square shape and his shoulders are also in square shape (four angles). Configuration of Arka dala also appears in perfect angle with one pair of leaves exactly opposite to the other and it is believed that Arka leaves represent the shoulders and chariot of Sun God. The name Arka is also related to Konark a place dedicated to Sun God in Orissa state. It is known as Arka Kshethra. There is a world famous Sun temple at Konark that attracts tourists from all over the world. Konark is a confluence of two words Kona and Arka. Kona mean angle and Arka means Sun God. Konark means corner of the Sun dedicated to Sun God. Arka plant has very good medicinal value in Aayurvedic system of medicine. It is used in curing skin diseases, leprosy, tumors, joint pains, wounds etc., It is called as a healing herb like Sun God as a healer. Ratha Sapthami celebrations at Temples… Special celebrations are held at Sun temples on the occasion of Ratha Sapthami especially at Konark (Orissa), Arasavalli (Andhra Pradesh). This festival is also celebrated in all Vaishnavite temples especially at Tirumala and Sri Rangam. Suryanar Koil near Kumbhakonam is also very popular and dedicated to Sun God. There is a Sun temple in the temple complex of Goddess Padmavathi at Tiruchanoor (Tirupathi). At Tirumala Kshethra, Lord Venkateswara (utsava murthy) is taken out in procession seven times on seven different vaahanaas starting from dawn to dusk as a part of Ratha Sapthami celebrations. It is called Eka Dina Brahmotsavam. Some of the popular Sun temples are… • Sun temple at Konark (Orissa) • Surya Narayana Swami temple at Arasavalli (Srikakulam) A.P • Suryanaar Koil near Kumbhakonam (Tamil Nadu) • Dakshinaarka temple at Gaya (Bihar) • Sun temple at Modhera (Gujarat) • Surya Pahar temple in Assam • Sun temple in the temple complex of Goddess Padmavathi at Tiruchanoor near Tirupathi Aadi Deva namasthubhyam Praseeda mama Bhaskara Diwakara namasthubhyam Prabhakara namosthuthe Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu nAham kartA hariH kartA
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 10:36:30 +0000
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