Jayā (Saptamī)
Jayā Saptamī, “the victorious seventh tithi”
Grammar: feminine noun; jayā (victorious) with saptamī (the seventh tithi).
Meaning: a Saptamī of the śukla paksha, kept as a vrata of Bhagavān Sūrya.
In the scriptures: Brahmā names seven kinds of Saptamī: Jayā, Vijayā, Jayantī, Aparājitā, Mahājayā, Nandā and Bhadrā (Brahma Parva, Chapter 81). When Dindi asks about them, Brahmā tells that when a nakshatra of five stars falls on a śukla paksha Saptamī, it is the Saptamī called Jayā. Dāna, havana, japa, tarpaṇa, devatārcana and Sūrya’s pūjā done that day give a hundredfold fruit. It is dear to Bhāskara Deva and destroys pāpas (Brahma Parva, Chapter 96).
The vrata: one eats one meal on Pañcamī, keeps nakta on Shashṭhī, upavāsa on Saptamī and pāraṇa on Ashṭamī. One fasts on a Saptamī joined with Shashṭhī, not on one joined with Ashṭamī. There are three pāraṇas in the year.
- First pāraṇa: ganneru flowers, red sandal, guggulu dhūpa and kaṃsāra as naivedya. He feeds brāhmaṇas, then eats in silence. Saying Bhānur me prīyatām atra, he bathes and takes gomaya. He cleans his teeth with a stick of jilleḍu.
- Second pāraṇa: jāji flowers, śrīkhaṇḍa, the dhūpa called Vijaya and pāyasa. He feeds brāhmaṇas, then eats, remembering Sūrya with Ravir me prīyatām atra. He takes pañcagavya and uses a stick of caṇḍra.
- Third pāraṇa: agise flowers, śrīkhaṇḍa, yāvana dhūpa from the anduga tree, and śāli rice with sugar sprinkled on top or with mango juice. He feeds brāhmaṇas, then eats. He takes kuśodaka, uses a stick of rēgu, and repeats Vikartanaḥ prīyatāṃ me.
The close: in the rainy season Bhagavān Sūrya is worshipped with gandha, flowers and offerings, with dance, drama and music. Brāhmaṇas are satisfied with gifts of cows, land and the like, a Purāṇa pravacana is held before the deva, and the paurāṇika is honoured. Then one prays to Sūrya Deva as Devadeva, Jagannātha, Graharāja, giver of sight to the world.
The phala: all acts from the bath onward give a hundredfold fruit. A man keeping it gains fame, wealth, grain, gold, sons, long life and riches, goes after death to Sūryaloka, and returning to the earth becomes a cakravartī. Doing it, remembering it or hearing it gives attainment of Sūryaloka.
Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 81, 96
Related terms: Saptamī · Vijayā Saptamī · Jayantī · Pāraṇa
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 81, 96