Sūrya Saptamī Vratas

Sūrya Saptamī Vrata, simply known as Surya Saptami Vratas, Sanskrit: सूर्य सप्तमी व्रत, Telugu: సూర్య సప్తమి వ్రతాలు, Hindi: सूर्य सप्तमी व्रत.

Bhagavān Sūrya was born on Saptamī, the seventh lunar day, so the Bhavishya Purāṇa treats Saptamī as the tithi most sacred to him. Its Brahma Parva gives most of its hundred or more chapters to the Saptamī vratas: the monthly vrata on any Saptamī, the great Ratha Saptamī of Māgha, the secret (rahasya) Saptamī, the named Saptamīs of each month, and rare combinations that give great phala.

All these vratas rest on one teaching: Bhagavān Sūrya is the adhidaivatā (presiding deva) of Saptamī. No tithi in the lunar calendar is more sacred to him.

Sūrya and the Saptamī tithi

The Saptamī-kalpa section of the Bhavishya Purāṇa (Brahma Parva, Chapter 47) opens with these words:

“O Mahārāja! Bhagavān Sūrya came into being on Saptamī tithi. He emerged from the aṇḍa (cosmic egg). Because he matured within the aṇḍa for a long time, he is called Mārtāṇḍa.”

Because Sūrya was born on this tithi, every Saptamī in every paksha and every month can bring especially powerful Sūrya pūjā. Seven Saptamīs have their own names: Jaya, Vijaya, Jayantī, Aparājitā, Mahājaya, Nandā and Bhadrā. They stand for the seven supreme qualities of the tithi.

Ratha Saptamī (Māgha Śukla Saptamī)

Ratha Saptamī is the most celebrated Saptamī observance. The Bhavishya Purāṇa calls Māgha Śukla Saptamī the atyuttama tithi, the supremely excellent tithi, for Sūrya pūjā.

The vidhi

• On Māgha Śukla Shashṭhī, keep upavāsa (fast) and perform Sūrya pūjā with gandha and the other upacāras.
• Spend the night at the temple, in the presence of Sūrya’s mūrti.
• On the morning of Saptamī, perform the full pūjā from prātaḥkāla (early morning).
• Feed brāhmaṇas generously.
• For the full year, on every Saptamī:
• on Kṛshṇa-paksha Tṛtīyā keep ekabhukta (one meal);
• on Caturthī keep naktavrata (eating only at night);
• on Pañcamī keep ayācita-vrata (eating only food that comes unasked);
• on Shashṭhī keep complete upavāsa;
• on Saptamī break the fast (pāraṇa) with Sūrya pūjā.
• After one year, perform the Ratha Yātrā (chariot procession) of Sūrya.

The mahimā

All snāna (bathing), homa, dāna, pūjā and upavāsa done on Māgha Śukla Saptamī give a thousand times the usual phala. Even hearing or reading about this Ratha Yātrā destroys mahā-pāpas (great sins), including brahmanahatyā. After the full year’s observance, the devotee reaches Sūrya-loka, in the full radiance of Sūrya’s divine light.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 58–60.

Vijaya Saptamī

Vijaya Saptamī is the Saptamī that falls on a Sunday (Āditya-vāra). The text says:

“Snāna, dāna, homa, upavāsa, and pūjanā performed on this day destroys even the most severe mahā-pātakas.”

The vidhi

• Beginning on the Pañcamī before the Vijaya Saptamī, keep ekabhukta.
• On Shashṭhī, keep upavāsa.
• On Saptamī itself, bathe, perform the full Sūrya arcana, and keep all the Saura dharma observances.
• Devotees who worship for four months with karavīra flowers, red sandal (rakta-candana), guggula incense and wheat-flour modakas receive the first pāraṇa.
• The second pāraṇa (months 5 to 8) uses mālatī flowers, śrīkhaṇḍa sandal (śrīkhaṇḍa-candana), vijaya incense and pāyasa as naivedya.
• The third pāraṇa (months 9 to 12) completes the yearly cycle.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 80–81 and 96–101.

The named Saptamīs: Jaya, Jayantī, Aparājitā, Nandā and Bhadrā

The Bhavishya Purāṇa names and describes five of the seven special Saptamīs. Mahājaya is named but not described, and Vijaya is given above.

• Jaya Saptamī. It falls when Śukla Saptamī meets Hasta nakshatra. The phala of all dāna, havana, japa, tarpaṇa and deva-pūjā done on this day is multiplied a hundred times. It gives pāpa-nāśana (destruction of pāpa), śreshṭha-yaśas (the best fame), putra-prāpti (a son), sarvābhīshṭa-phala (fulfilment of every wish) and Lakshmī. A golden Sūrya mūrti with two lotus-hands is made and worshipped for one year.
• Jayantī Saptamī. The full procedure is the pūjā of Sūrya in his Mārtāṇḍa form and pāraṇa by stages.
• Aparājitā Saptamī. It gives victory in all undertakings. It is cited especially for devotees who seek success in the world and freedom from enemies.
• Nandā Saptamī. Māgha Śukla Shashṭhī is called Nanda-vāra. On this day:
• keep naktavrata;
• bathe the mūrti of Sūrya Nārāyaṇa in ghee;
• worship with white sandal, agastya flowers and guggula incense;
• offer apūpa sweets, made from wheat or yava flour with ghee and sugar;
• feed brāhmaṇas and eat in silence;
• recite the words “Āditya-tejasotpannaṃ Rājñī-kara-vinirmitam…”
• Bhadrā Saptamī. It is worshipped with offerings suited to this Saptamī. Its phala is prosperity and the removal of obstacles.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 80–82 and 96–101.

Phala Saptamī Vrata

The Phala Saptamī vrata is a kāmya-upavāsa, a fast kept for a chosen desired fruit. It begins on Bhādrapada Śukla Caturthī with ayācita-vrata. One meal is eaten on Pañcamī, and then upavāsa is kept on Shashṭhī. On Saptamī itself, perform pūjā to Bhagavān Sūrya with pushpa (flowers), dhūpa (incense), dīpa (lamp), candana (sandal) and naivedya.

Bhagavān Sūrya is pleased even by small offerings made with devotion: a tender leaf, a tuft of dūrvā grass, a drop of water. He gives the desired fruit.

Cleaning a Sūrya temple (mandira-śodhana) also gives phala: for as many specks of dust as are swept away, so many years does the devotee dwell in Sūrya’s loka.

“One who sweeps even a small portion of Sūrya’s mandir is freed of all pāpas. One who recites Purāṇa in a Sūrya mandir becomes jāta-smara, remembering all past births.”

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 64.

Rahasya Saptamī Vrata

Rahasya Saptamī is the Secret Saptamī. It has this name because its niyamas (rules) are deeply hidden and its phala is extraordinary:

“Both seven past and seven future generations are uplifted. Wealth, sons, health, vidyā, vinaya, dharma, and all previously unattained objects are attained.”

The niyamas

On the day of this vrata:

• Do not touch oil. Do not wear nīla (blue or dark) clothes.
• Do not use āmalakī fruit in the head-bath.
• Do not quarrel with anyone.
• Do not sing, dance, play instruments, look at a corpse, laugh for no reason, sleep with a woman, gamble, weep, speak even playful falsehoods, sleep in the daytime, or cause pain to any being.

A brāhmaṇa who wears a dark garment on this day by accident must fast and take pañcagavya (the five products of the cow) to purify himself. The nīla plant (indigo) is forbidden above all: a garden that holds it is impure for twelve years after it is sown.

Duration

Begin in Caitra. Each month, worship Bhagavān Sūrya under his twelve names and forms in turn.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 65.

Siddhārtha Saptamī Vrata

Siddhārtha means both “white mustard seed” and “one whose goals are accomplished”.

The vidhi

• On the first Saptamī of the month, perform pūjā with gandha, pushpa, dhūpa, dīpa and naivedya.
• Take one white mustard seed and water in the palm of the hand. Face Bhagavān Sūrya and hold the wish in the mind.
• Swallow the seed without touching it to the teeth.
• On the second Saptamī, swallow two seeds. The count rises by one each month for seven months.
• The liquid changes too: water in the first month, then ghee, honey, curd, milk, gomaya (cow dung) and pañcagavya in the following months.

The mantra before swallowing is:

Siddhārtha kastvaṃ hi loke sarvatra śrūyase yathā | tathā māmapi Siddhārtha arthataḥ kurutāṃ Raviḥ ||

It means: “As you, O Siddhārtha, are known throughout all the worlds as one who accomplishes, so may Ravi make me also a Siddhārtha, accomplished in all purposes.”

Phala. All desires are fulfilled in this life. At death the devotee reaches Sūrya-loka.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 68–70.

Trivarga Saptamī

On Phālguṇa Śukla Saptamī, worship Bhagavān Sūrya by the name Heli, with japa repeated 108 times. This may be done seated, walking, standing or rising. At all times Sūrya’s name should be on the lips. During the upavāsa, harsh speech and contact with persons who do not follow dharma are forbidden.

Recite this śloka:

Haṃsa haṃsa kṛpālus tvam agatīnāṃ gatir bhava | saṃsārārṇava magnānāṃ trātā bhava Divākara ||

It means: “O Paramahaṃsa Sūrya! You are compassionate. Be the refuge of those who have no shelter. Be the protector of those who are drowning in the ocean of saṃsāra.”

Perform this pūjā on the Saptamīs of Caitra, Vaiśākha, Jyeshṭha, Āshāḍha, Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada. The phala is a śreshṭha-gati (excellent destination) in this world and Sūrya-loka afterwards.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 104.

Kāmadā and Pāpanāśinī Saptamī

• On Phālguṇa Śukla Saptamī, keep upavāsa.
• On Ashṭamī, rise early, bathe, and perform Sūrya pūjā again, with dakshinā.
• Offer āhutis (offerings into the fire) to Bhagavān Bhāskara.
• Then recite this prayer:

Yam ārādhya purā devī Sāvitrī kāmanāya vai | same dadātu Deveśaḥ sarvān kāmān Vibhāvasuḥ ||

It means: “As Sāvitrī Devī once pleased you for her desire, O Vibhāvasu, be pleased and grant all my desires.”

Continue for four months (Phālguṇa, Caitra, Vaiśākha and Jyeshṭha), worshipping with karavīra flowers throughout. The naivedya is cooked rice in water rinsed through a cow’s horn, with raw sugar. Feed brāhmaṇas.

The phala of this vrata comes from the grace Bhagavān Sūrya gave to Sāvitrī, Aditi and Indra in their times of need. He gives the same grace to the devotee.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 105–106.

Ananta Saptamī and Avyaṅga Saptamī

Ananta Saptamī

It is kept on Bhādrapada Śukla Saptamī.

• The worshipper, with the senses under control, bows to Bhagavān Sūrya, the one who rides the chariot of seven horses (Saptāśvavāhana), and worships with pushpa, dhūpa and all the upacāras.
• Contact with cruel persons and with those who do not follow dharma is avoided all day.
• The brāhmaṇas receive dakshinā. The day ends with eating in silence at night.
• This goes on for twelve months in a row, every Saptamī, without fail.
• On the pāraṇa days, the Purāṇa is read aloud (Purāṇa-pāṭha).

Bhagavān Sūrya gives ananta (endless) phala to the one who keeps the vrata and to those who hear the Purāṇa read. For this reason it is called Ananta Saptamī.

Avyaṅga Saptamī

It is kept on Śrāvaṇa Śukla Saptamī. The word avyaṅga means a sacred thread or cord.

• After pūjā with pushpa, dhūpa and all the upacāras, a cord (sūtra) is tied at the waist of a brāhmaṇa, who is then fed.
• This is done every year.
• Musical instruments and recitation of Veda mantras go with the offering of the cord.

Śrāvaṇa is the month when the purity-thread is given to all devas. For devotees of Sūrya, Avyaṅga Saptamī is the same observance.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 110.

Triprāpti Saptamī

Triprāpti Saptamī is Māgha Kṛshṇa Saptamī when Hasta nakshatra is also present. Its three prāptis (attainments) are:

• noble birth (śreshṭha-varṇa janma);
• health (ārogya);
• prosperity (dhana-vṛddhi).

A person of any varṇa may keep this vrata. Worship Bhagavān Sūrya with sugandhi (fragrant substances), dhūpa, naivedya and upahāra (gifts). Continue the pūjā with flowers for one full year.

Phala. All three prāptis are gained in this life, and Sūrya-loka afterwards.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 112.

Ubhaya Saptamī Vrata

In the month of Pushya (Pausha), both the Śukla Saptamī and the Kṛshṇa Saptamī are kept.

The vidhi

• On both days, rice and wheat are ground into flour, kneaded and cooked, mixed into sāla (a preparation), and eaten only at night.
• Complete upavāsa is kept all day, with the three sandhyā upāsanās (dawn, noon and evening worship) of Bhagavān Sūrya and Bhagavān Agni.
• All bhoga (enjoyment) is given up, and the devotee sleeps on the ground.
• At the close of the month, on the next Saptamī, Sūrya is bathed in ghee and worshipped. Modaka, boiled milk or anna (cooked rice) is offered as naivedya.
• Eight brāhmaṇas are fed.
• A kapilā cow is given to Sūrya.

Phala. The devotee rides a vimāna as bright as Sūrya and reaches the supreme abode of Bhagavān Aṃśumālī. The number of hairs on the cow, multiplied by thousands, is the number of years he stays in Sūrya-loka.

The text also says:

“In all Sūrya vratas, the common niyamas must always be observed: ahiṃsā, satya-vacana, asteya, śānti, kshamā, ṛjutā, trikāla-snāna and havana, pṛthvī-śayana, and rātri-bhojana.”

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 165.

The seven special Saptamīs and the Daṃtadhāvana Vidhi

Bhagavān Sūrya himself taught Aruṇa a group of seven special Saptamīs. He also taught the sacred tree-branch to be used for daṃtadhāvana (the tooth-cleaning rite) in each. The seven are:

1. Arka-saṃpuṭikā Saptamī
2. Marīci Saptamī
3. Nimba Saptamī
4. Phala Saptamī
5. Anodana Saptamī
6. Vijaya Saptamī
7. Kāmika Saptamī

The vrata begins on any Māgha or Mārgaśīrsha Śukla Saptamī (or on any Śukla Saptamī, for those who are qualified). Half a jāma before daybreak, clean the teeth with the tree-branch that suits the fruit desired. After the daṃtadhāvana, perform japa, homa and then the whole pūjā.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 193–197.

Arka-Saṃpuṭi Saptamī and the Saura Gāyatrī

Phālguṇa Śukla Saptamī is the Arka Saptamī, also called Arka-saṃpuṭi Saptamī.

• On Shashṭhī, keep upavāsa and bathe. Then perform pūjā to Bhagavān Divākara with gandha, pushpa, guggula, white karavīra flowers and candana.
• Offer jaggery-water (guḍa-jala) as naivedya.
• Spend the night awake, reciting Sūrya mantras.

Bhagavān Sūrya himself gave the Saura Gāyatrī for this vrata:

Oṃ Bhāskarāya vidmahe
Sahasraraśmim dhīmahi
tannaḥ Sūryaḥ pracodayāt

He said: “Even a single recitation of this Saura Gāyatrī purifies the person completely. There is no doubt in this.”

On the morning of Saptamī, recite the Saura Gāyatrī with full śraddhā (faith), perform the full pūjā, and feed the best brāhmaṇas, without giving thought to wealth.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 210–211.

Marīci, Nimba and Phala Saptamī vratas

Marīci Saptamī

• Begin on Caitra Śukla Shashṭhī with upavāsa.
• On Saptamī, worship according to Saura dharma with full bhakti.
• Recite the mantra “Oṃ vaṃ phaṭ”, which the text declares to be the direct form of Sūrya, thousands of times without a break.
• Perform aṅga-nyāsa and hṛdaya-nyāsa (placing the mantra on the limbs and the heart) with Saura mantras and mudrās.
• Offer arghya and flowers, and offer snāna and naivedya to Sūrya.

After one year of such recitation, Sūrya’s own darśana comes, all diseases are destroyed, and Sūrya-loka is reached.

The Sūrya mudrās are given in this order: kiṅkiṇī, vyoma, asra, padminī, arkiṇī, jvālinī, tejanī, gabhastinī, śaṅkhinī, Sūrya-vaktra, sahasra-kiraṇa, udaya, madhyama, astamana and mālā. The text calls them “the five Sūrya mudrās”.

Nimba Saptamī

It is kept with nimba (neem) leaves and is linked with purification and the removal of disease.

Phala Saptamī

It is kept with offerings of fruits (phala). Its main result is kāma-phala, the fulfilment of all worldly desires.

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 215.

General rules for all Saptamī vratas

The Bhavishya Purāṇa gives these rules in many chapters for all Sūrya Saptamī vratas:

• Ahiṃsā, satya-vacana and asteya (non-violence, truthful speech, not taking what is not given): the ethical base.
• Śānti and kshamā (peace and forgiveness): freedom from anger, and forgiveness.
• Trikāla snāna and havana: bathing and the fire offering at all three sandhyās.
• Pṛthvī-śayana: sleeping on the ground.
• Rātri-bhojana: eating only at night, on upavāsa days.
• Not wearing nīla (dark or blue) clothes on Saptamī.
• Not using oil on the day of the vrata.
• Avoiding harsh speech and cruel persons.

The text also tells what upavāsa really is:

“Not doing pāpa, cultivating sadguṇas, renouncing all bhoga — this is upavāsa. Even one who maintains naktavrata or nishkāma-vrata with words, mind, and action fixed on Sūrya Nārāyaṇa alone will attain Brahma-loka and then Sūrya-loka.”

Source for this section: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 47–215 (in many places).

Sources

• Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 47 (Saptamī-kalpa)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 58–60 (Ratha Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 64 (Phala Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 65 (Rahasya Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 68–70 (Siddhārtha Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 80–82 and 96–101 (Vijaya, Jaya, Jayantī, Aparājitā, Nandā, Bhadrā)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 104 (Trivarga Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 105–106 (Kāmadā and Pāpanāśinī Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 110 (Ananta and Avyaṅga Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 112 (Triprāpti Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 165 (Ubhaya Saptamī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 193–197 (the seven special Saptamīs and Daṃtadhāvana)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 210–211 (Arka-saṃpuṭi Saptamī and the Saura Gāyatrī)
• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 215 (Marīci, Nimba and Phala Saptamī)