Saṅkrāntyudyāpana Vrata

Saṅkrāntyudyāpana Vrata, simply known as Sankrantyudyapana Vrata, Sanskrit: सङ्क्रान्त्युद्यापन व्रत, Telugu: సంక్రాంత్యుద్యాపన వ్రతం, Hindi: संक्रांत्युद्यापन व्रत.

The Saṅkrāntyudyāpana Vrata is a vrata for Bhagavān Sūrya. It is kept at the Vishuvas (the equinoxes) and the Ayanas (the solstices), the four turning points of the solar year. A lotus (padma) with eight petals is drawn and nine names of Sūrya are written on it. Bhagavān Sūrya is given an arghya with a mantra that praises him by seven names. At the end of the year, twelve cows and twelve gold lotuses are given. The Matsya Purāṇa gives this vrata in Chapter 97.

When it is kept

The vrata is kept at:

• Vishuva (the equinox, a day when day and night are equal): twice a year
• Ayanas (the solstices, Uttarāyaṇa and Dakshiṇāyana): twice a year

The day before is kept as eka-bhukta (one meal).

The vidhi

The bath

On the vrata day, after cleaning the teeth, bathe with tila (sesame) and sesame powder mixed with oil.

The setting for the pūjā

On a floor smeared with gomaya (cow dung), draw an ashṭadala padma (eight-petalled lotus) with sandal paste (candana), including the karṇikā (the centre). Invite Ravi (āvāhana) on this lotus.

The nine names of Sūrya are written on it:

Ravi is then worshipped on the sthāṇḍila (the prepared ground) with gandha, mālya, fruit and bhakshyas (foods).

The arghya

The arghya is offered on the ground with sandal water and flowers. The arghya mantra, in summary, is:

“Salutations to Ravi, who is Viśva (all-pervading), Viśvarūpa (whose form is the universe), Viśvadhāma (whose abode is all light), Svayambhu (self-existent), Ananta (limitless), Dhātā (creator and sustainer), and Yajusspati (lord of the yajñas and their fruits).”

The meanings of the names in the mantra are:

• Viśva: he who is all and has entered all
• Viśvarūpa: he whose form is every form of the world
• Viśvadhāma: he who is every tejas-tattva (principle of light)
• Svayambhu: born of himself, standing by himself, without need of any other
• Ananta: without end
• Dhātā: the maker of all
• Yajusspati: the master of the yajus mantras and of their fruit, which is reaching Sūryaloka

The dāna

A brāhmaṇa is honoured and given:

• an udaka-kumbha (water vessel)
• a ghṛta-pātra (ghee vessel)
• a suvarṇa-kamala (gold lotus)

These are given as suits the person.

Monthly rite and the close of the year

The vrata is kept every month at each saṅkrānti. At the end of the year, Agni is pleased with a homa of ghṛta-pāyasa (rice cooked in milk with ghee), and brāhmaṇas are fed. Then twelve pāḍī cows are given. Each has:

• gold tips on the horns
• silver hooves
• a bronze milking vessel
• flowers and cloth to adorn her
• good character

Along with the cows are given:

• twelve gold lotuses (padmas)
• twelve ratna-khaṇḍas (pieces of gems)

If twelve is not possible, four cows, or even one cow, may be given.

As far as the giver is able, a bhū-pratimā (image of the earth) of gold, silver, copper or sesame powder may also be given, with a ravi-pratimā (image of Sūrya). No miserliness (śāṭhya) is allowed in the dāna. Miserliness leads to a fall.

The phala

The one who keeps this vrata in the way laid down:

• lives in svarga (heaven), worshipped by all the hosts of gandharvas, for as long as the Mahendra mountains and the earth of seven dvīpas and seven oceans last
• when his puṇya is spent, is born on earth as a saptadvīpādhipati (ruler of the seven dvīpas), of noble family and character
• at the start of the next creation, is born with whole limbs, with a good and fitting wife and sons, in an excellent family, with all beings bowing at his feet with joy

Hearing this vrata, reading it or explaining it also gives a place in Indra-bhavana, with worship as of the devas.

Sources

• Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 97