Bhanu Saptami Vrat: The Most Efficacious Fasting To Attain Good Health
Bhanu Saptami 2018 dates
7 Jan 2018
Bhanu Saptami marks the day when Lord Surya or sun god ascended his chariot. A beautiful anecdote in the Chhandogya Upanishad describes the process of creation when the cosmic egg split into two halves, one gold, and the other silver. The silver part became the earth and the golden one became the sky. While the outer cover became the mountains and the inner cover the snow and clouds, the inside veins started flowing as the rivers with the core liquid turning as the ocean.
The arrival of sun god roused the earth into life and there was a big cry of bursting forth into life from millions of beings. Since those times, myriad joyful cries are heard both during sunrise and sunset.
Bhanu Saptami Puja Vidhi
Wake up early in the morning on the day of Bhanu Saptami. Take a holy dip in the Ganges or a holy river in your vicinity. If this is not possible, chant the mantras of Ma Ganga and invoke her in the waters in which you take bath. During the bath, place a few leaves of Akka (Ixora Calotropis) and turmeric rice on the head and later wash them off while pouring water on the head. After the bath, the devotees place the Surya Yantra at an altar and perform a holy bath after sunrise and also offer water, flowers, and Prasad to the sun god.
Bhanu Saptami Fasting rules
The fasting commences on the morning of Bhanu Saptami and extends the whole day long. In the evening the fasting is concluded after sunset. The devotees do not eat anything or drink anything on the day. A milder form of fasting allows partaking water, fruits, and milk.
