On this day of Ratha Saptami, allow me remind you of the auspiciousness of the Sun God - SurnayaNarayana. Suryanamaskarams, the Sun salutations facing east towards the rising Sun enable us to receive immense benefits from Sunrise, including Vitamin D. Even better if you massage your body with Sesame oil before doing so these Salutations to the Sun. It is customary to offer worship at Sun temples to get rid of skin ailments. Lord of Sun is accessible to us every day, without whom we cannot exist, he who is super generous to consume the saltiest water from the ocean and transform it to sweet water for all of us to consume.
Let me elaborate on the scientific benefits of some of the fascinating rituals performed today!
Perform 12 rounds of Sun Salutations with the Surya Namaskar Mantra for each zodiac
Wash the hair by placing Arka Patra ( leaves of Calatropis) and Badara fruit (Ber fruit) on the crown of your head. Arka adds more warmth to the brahmarandra and Sahasrara.
Badara of Ber fruit is supposed to consume any negative energy and leave you revitalized. The water flowing through these two entities supposedly energizes you.
Chant Aditya Hridayam during Sun rise. When chanted with proper diction, this composition from the start of the Sunrise will end after the Sun ultimately rises. Aren't these Maharshis genius to predict these calculations with such precision?
A traditional belief says that the constellations appear in the form of the Sun's chariot.
On this day, Sun switches from a reindeer chariot to a Horse chariot, marking the seasonal change.
Offer Rice pudding with milk ( Kheer with Ghee) in a bean leaf. The leaves of beans hold immense 'Vata Kapha' soothing properties. So Kheer served in a bean leaf will balance any ailments that appear in late winter
As per hindu mythology, Lord Sun is considered the creator of the universe and the source of all life. He is the supreme soul who brings light and warmth to the world riding his chariot of horses. He is commonly known as Surya Narayana. Surya Narayana rides a chariot of horses similar to Helios, from Greek mythology. In medieval Hinduism, Surya is also an epithet for the major Hindu gods Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. Surya is also found as a deity in the arts and literature of Buddhism and Jainism.
Lord Surya is worshipped to cure any skin ailments, so Surya Namaskara is one of the easiest ways to approach Lord Sun and pray for a healthier skin using SunSalutations. The following mantras are chanted during each posture
Mantras to be chanted with each pose in Surya Namaskar
1. ॐ मित्राय नमः Om Mitraya namah
2. ॐ रवये नमःOṁ ravaye namaḥ
3. ॐ सूर्याय नमः Oṁ sūryāya namaḥ
4. ॐ भानवे नमः Oṁ bhānave namaḥ
5. ॐ खगाय नमःOṁ khagāya namaḥ
6. ॐ पूष्णे नमःOṁ pūṣṇe Namah
7. ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः Oṁ hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ
8. ॐ मरीचये नमः Oṁ marīcaye Namah
9. ॐ आदित्याय नमः Oṁ ādityāya Namah
10. ॐ सवित्रे नम :Oṁ savitre Namah
11. ॐ अर्काय नमः Oṁ arkāya namaḥ
12. ॐ भास्कराय नमः Oṁ bhāskarāya namah