The Vow of Saptami in Houour of the Sun

Vaishampayana said: 1-3a. Olord, O best of brahmanas, who is the one that daily appears in the sky? Who is he? What is his power? Where is the lord of heat (i e. the Sun) born? What function does he do, as he is very much full of rays? He is fit to be always worshipped by all gods, best sages, Siddhas, Caranas, demons and evil spirits, as well as by human beings like brahmanas and others. Vyasa said'.

3b-4a. (He) is a great lustre of Brahman, and has come out from Brahman's body. Know him to be actually full of Brahman and the giver of (the fruits of the four goals of human life viz.) righteousness, enjoyment, worldly prosperity and salvation.

4b-5a. He is a heap made of spotless rays, is very hot and extremely unbearable. Seeing him, people, tormented by his hot rays, fled away.

5b-6a. Then the oceans, the best small and big rivers etc. became dry; creatures and sick people died.

6b-7. Then gods like Indra and others approached Brahma. They told him this thing and Brahma said to the gods: " O gods, he, the lord, is the first creator of the rays of light (giving) vitality (and is born) from Brahman's body.

8-10. He is actually full of great activity and has the Moon in his body. In the three worlds all the human race, along with the mobile and the immobile, and the gods effecting divine (things), all the viviparous, oviparous beings, insects and plants are protected by these two. We (i.e. I) cannot at all describe the power of this Sun. He has protected, created and nourished the worlds.

11. No one resembles him on account of his protecting all. Seeing whom (i.e. him) at the dawn, heap of sins is destroyed.

12-14a. The men of the brahmana caste and others obtain salvation after (i.e. by) propitaiating him. It is said that the brahmanas, who, knowing the Vedas, have their arms raised at the time of offering the three daily prayers, are very much honoured by gods. All brahmanas, after having worshipped the goddess of the form of Sandhy a, remaining in his disc, obtain heaven and salvation.

14b-16. (Even) the leavings of food fallen on the ground are purified by his rays. One would obtain purity from sin by merely offering the three daily prayers. Those men, who, after seeing a candala, or a killer of cows, or a fallen person, or one suffering from leprosy or full of great sins or covered with (i.e. who has committed) minor sins, see the Sun, are purified (i.e. free) from a great sin1.

17-19a. Merely by worshipping him one is free from all diseases. A man by worshipping the Sun never has blindness, poverty, misery or grief, here or in the next world. Gods like Vishnu, Shiva being invisible, are never seen in the world; they can be seen through meditation. This god is said to be one who is (always) seen." The gods said:

19b-20. He may be pleased by propitiation; let there be waiting upon and worshippig him. (But) O Brahman, his very sight is like the fire at the time of the end of the world. All beings like men and others have been reduced to the state of death (i.e. are dead) on the earth.

21. Due to the power of his lustre, oceans and others have perished. (Even) we are unable to bear his (lustre), (then) how can other ordinary people bear it?

22. Therefore, through your favour (i.e. do favour to us and) tell us the means by which people would devotedly worship the Sun.

23. Hearing (these) words of the gods, Brahma went to the Sun. Having gone to him, he started praising him for the good of all the worlds.

1. Mahapataka — The five great sins are: murder of a brahmana, drinking wine, stealing, having illicit relation with one's teacher's wife, and contact with those who eommit these sins.

24. " O god, you are the untainted eye of all the world. You are actually of the form of Brahman. You are like the fire at the end of the world, who cannot be easily looked at.

25. You always remain in all gods; Vayu is your friend; food etc. in the body is disgested due to you; and also one's life would be (i.e. is) certainly due to you.

26. The creation and destruction (of the world) are due to you, O god; you alone are the lord of the world. Without you all the people would not live (even) for a day.

27. You are the lord, the saviour, the protector, the father and the mother of all the worlds including the mobile and the immobile. The world is sustained due to your favour.

28. O lord, among all gods, there is none like you. Everywhere you are present, the world is sustained by you alone.

29. You create form and smell; the sweetness in liquids is due to you. Thus the Sun, the lord of the universe, is the cause of the stability of everything.

30. O lord, you alone are the pious cause of all the auspicious sacred places and of sacrifices; you are the witness of all, and the mine of virtues.

31. You are omniscient; you are the cause of everything; you take away (everything); you are the protector (of everything); you are always striving. You destroy darkness, sins and diseases; and you remove poverty and misery.

32. You are a great relative in the next and this world; you are omniscient and see everything. Except you there is none who helps all the worlds." The Sun said:

33. O grandsire, O highly intelligent one, the lord of the universe, the cause of everything, O Brahman, quickly speak what best I can do for you.., „ (-;, Brahma said:

34. You are a very hot lustre, very difficult to be borne by people. O lord of gods, act in such a way that it (i.e. your lustre) becomes mild.

The Sun said:

35. O lord, I havecrores and crores of strong rays, which (would) destroy the worlds; they do not do anything liked by people. So using (some) instrument, cut them off.

36-37. Then at the words of the Sun, Brahma quickly called Visvakarman, and (he), having fashioned a lathe of diamond, cut off the Sun's rays resembling the fire at the time of universal destruction. With them only he fashioned Vishnu's disc (called) Sudarsana.

38-39. (He also fashioner) the infallible staff of Yama, and the trident of Shiva, and the excellent sword of Kala and the (missile called) sakti causing great delight, and also the excellent weapon of Candika, and a lovely lance. That Visvakarman himself quickly fashioned these at the order of Brahma.

40-41. He also sharpened the other remaining (portion of) the Sun. Then due to the absence of any other means of his birth he was born from Aditi's womb (as the son) of the sage Kasyapa, and so was known as Aditya. He moves on the border of the universe and goes round Meru's peak.

42. So also high up (in the sky), away from the earth at a distance of a lakh yojanas, the planets like the Moon etc. being ordained by Brahma, move there.

43. The Sun, of twelve forms, moves for twelve months. All know that the Samkranti1 is due to his transition.

44. We (i.e. I) shall, O sage, (now) tell (you) all the fruit that is (obtained by one) on these (Samkranti days). (The Samkranti days) on which the Sun enters the Dhanu, Mithuna, Mina and Kanya (signs of the zodiac) are (called) Sadaslti.

45. (That Samkranti day on which he enters) the Vrsabha, Vrscika, Kumbha and Simha (signs) is known as Vishnupadi. Know that the offerings to manes, gifts and worship of deities (performed on) these (days) are eternal (i.e. give an eternal fruit).

1. Samkranti — The passage of the Sun from one zodiacal sign to another. When the Sun passes through Karka or Makara, it is Ayana-Sankranti, and when it passes through Mesa and Tula, it is Visva-Sankranti.

46. The fruit of (such offeringsetc. given) on a Sadasiti is thousands of times greater. The fruit (of such offerings given) on a Vishnupadi has a lakh-fold fruit and of that (given on) an ayana is a crore-fold.

47. That gift given on a VishnupadJ is said to be inexhaustible. I say that it remains with the giver birth after birth.

48. The body does not suffer from cold by giving a piece of cloth in the cold (season). The fruit of giving gold equal to one's own weight and of giving a bed is inexhaustible.

49. He, who, humbly gives a fully furnished bed to a brahmana, the chief of all castes, would get the position of a king.

50. Similarly by giving gold, water on the bank of a river and by giving oil and tambula one would be a king on the earth.

51. By solemnly saluting a brahmana, the wealthy person would get eternally (the fruit of the salutation).

52-53. By gratifying the manes at the dawn of the fifteenth day of the dark half of Magha, one (lives) eternally (in heaven). One (should) also give a cow having golden horns, shining with jewels, having silver hoofs and having big udders made of bell-metal. By giving this (cow) to the best of brahmanas (a man) would become a sovereign king.

54-55. By giving food and ornaments one would become a king — the lord of a province. He, who would give a spotted cow with all the (necessary) articles, becomes free from the sin earned (i.e. committed) during (the past) seven births and would remain eternally in heaven. By giving dainty food to a brahmana he obtains heaven eternally.

56.. Prosperity does not abandon him, who gives grains, cloth, servants, an abode, a seat to the best brahmana.

57. Whatever small or large gift is given (on these) and the day of the anniversary of a yuga1 etc. is inexhaustible in the next world.

58. The worship of a deity, a hymn of praise, listening to a religious discourse purifies a person from all sins and he is honoured in the heaven.

1. Yugadya — The anniversary of the first day of a Yuga.

59-60. The third day of the bright half of Magha is known as Manvantari. All the gifts given on that day arc said to be inexhaustible, (and bring to him) wealth, pleasures, kingdom, and residence in heaven for (even in) the next kalpa. Therefore gifts, worship of the good gives an endless fruit in the next world.

61. The Manvantara occurs in Magha. (Similarly) the seventh day of the bright half of Magha is said to be the most auspicious day. It is preserved by the Puranas (i.e. declared to be auspicious).

62 (This) seventh day of the bright half of Magha is (called) Kotibhaskara. Having fasted on this (auspicious day) a man is liberated; there is no doubt about it.

63. This seventh day of the bright half of Magha is comparable to the solar-eclipse (day). Bathing at dawn on that day gives a great fruit.

64-65. (One should recite the following hymn: ) 'The seventh day (of Magha) should destroy my sin committed in the (previous) seven births and also my disease and misery. (This) seventh day is the mother of all beings. O you (Saptami) belonging to the Sun1, you have come up on the seventh day, my salutation to you, O goddess (living) in the disc of the Sun.'

66-67. By offering an arka-leaf, a fragrant flower, a badarifruit, keeping all these in a copper vessel with rice, and also a sacred thread with red lead, and offering a very auspicious respectful offering, all the sin committed during the (previous) seven births, perishes.

68. Till (then) he is troubled by (residence in) hells and sinful and painful diseases. He should eat pure food2 made with rice exposed to the Sun.

69. And he should avoid flour, ginger and fruits or roots used as vegetables, a bud, spoilt leaves, plantains, and ghee (prepared from the milk) of a she-goat.

70. It should be free from lice, perfumes. He should avoid bath with hot water. At the time of the vow (in honour) of the Sun he should avoid all (fruits) having few seeds.

1. Saptasapti — An epithet of the Sun.

2. Havisyanna — Food fit to be eaten during days of fast.

71. He, who is observing the vow, should not think of anything else except about righteousness. The vow (in honour) of the Sun is greatly meritorious, and is commended by the Puranas.

72 (A man who practises it) obtains eternally enjoyments like those of the Sun in the heaven for thousands and hundreds of crores of years.

73. (Enjoying in heaven) like this, and after the end of (his residence) in heaven he becomes a very prosperous king on the earth; (and) in the mortal world he again practises the vow (in honour) of the Sun due to his repeated practice (in) the former (births).

74. Then he himself obtains eternal happiness and enjoyments in the heaven; and he obtains (good) health and wealth due to the favour of the Sun.

75. That seventh day of the bright half of Magha which falls on a Sunday is well known as Mahajaya; (the one falling on) any other (day) is known as Vijaya.

76. (The fruit of) Vijaya is a lakh crores, while that of a Mahajaya is endless. Even by (practising) one of these vows he is free from the bondage of birth (and death).

77. He who gives the best horse, gold, red cloth, grains out of love for the Sun, becomes the lord of heaven and earth in succession.

78-79. I shall tell you the difference among these. O brahmana, listen properly. He who gives an excellent horse adorned with best ornaments goes to (i.e. becomes the king of) the earth with (i.e. surrounded by) the seven seas and free from enemies.

80-81. The wise have laid down, as the present to a brahmana, sandal without a horse, but with a masa or two of gold adorned with (i.e. accompanied by) bulls; so also a pot decked with jewels and made of gold. Or by giving only gold he becomes a rich lord of the heaven.

82. He who gives red cloth and grains according to his capacity, becomes the lord of heaven and earth, and prosperity never forsakes him.

83. He becomes healthy, his mind is pleased, he conquers the evil beings and is valorous. As long as the Sun shines (i.e. eternally) he is honoured most.

84. He who practises the vow of the Mayasaptaml as the twelfih in Magha etc., enjoys desired fruit in this world, and is honoured by gods also.

85. A wise man, having duly practised the vow of Arkangasaptaml (falling on a Sunday), becomes purified from sin, and having obtained the desired things in this world, would obtain salvation. < > 5. I shall tell (you) the distinctive mark (of this vow) and also the right (to be performed) in every month. Due to the propitiousness of this vow he is honoured by gods in heaven.

87. When the Uttarayana sets in, on a Sunday and on the male asterism in the bright half, one should receive the vow of Saptami.

88 The wise say that Hasta, Maitra (i.e. Anuradha), Pusya, Sravas (i.e. Sravana), Mrga and Punarvasu are male asterisms.

89. It is said that one should eat only once on the fifth day, should eat only at night on the sixth day, should fast on the seventh day, and the fast would be broken on the eighth day.

90. He eats the tip of the Arka tree, pure covvdung, good black pepper, water, fruit and root. At night he should eat, or should eat once a day according to the rules; or (should drink) milk or eat food anointed with ghee. These are told in order (to be the things which he should partake of). Doing (i.e. taking) them in this order and thus observing the vow of the Sun on the seventh day, he obtains the desired fruit.

91. Without touching them with his teeth, he should drink, with water, the tip of the Arka tree, a particular pair of small leaves from the branch of the Arka tree on the north-east of the village. He should also drink with water in a small quantity, without touching with his teeth, pure cowdung not fallen on the ground, holding it with the middle finger and the thumb. He should also diink with water and without touching it with his teeth, an unbruised, old, big, dry, good black pepper. He should also drink water sacred to Vishnu, flowing from the roots of his fingers. Without touching it with his teeth, he should drink with water one of the fruits from among dates and coconuts. The food should be anointed with ghee and should be of the measure of a peacock's egg. The quantity of the ghee should be like that only.

92. When the Sun doubles his shadow, he should know it to be nakta. Nakta is eating at night.

93. He should first worship the deity with fruits, flowers etc. and sacred hymns. Then he should give gift of food according to the rules and proportion.

94. Then (follow) the meditation: He should meditate upon the Sun, especially at the time of worshipping him — the god — who is full of all (good) marks, who is adorned with all ornaments, who has two arms, whose complexion is red, who has held in his hand a red lotus, whose disc is lustrous, who remains in a large (quantity of) water, who is with his attendants, who is seated on a lotus, who is anointed with red sandal.

95-96. Then (he should recite) this sacred hymn: 'We make an offering to Bhaskara, possessing a thousand rays. We think of him. Let that Sun urge us on.'

97. This hymn is said to be very great (i.e. effective) and (when recited) on the seventh day brings victory. (He should worship the Sun) with Karavira and Karanja flowers resembling the red saffron.

98-99. Then, particularly on the eighth day, the fast should be broken. The fast should be broken on the eighth day only and never on the ninth; (for) if the fast is broken on the ninth day he does not get the fruit of the vow. The fast should be broken in the afternoon, and (the food should be) without bitter, pungent or sour articles (of food).

100. He should carefully cleanse the rice, and avoid (blades of) grass or seeds etc. He should also avoid kidney-beans, beans, Sheshamum and ghee.

101. With devotion and according to his capacity he should feed the brahmanas by giving them food with vegetarian sauces and drinks.

102-104. He should suitably distribute presents among the brahmanas. He who observes this vow of Saptami which gives unending fruit, which destroys all sins and increases wealth and (the number of) sons, and he, O best of brahmanas, who, having observed it every month to please the Sun, devoutly breaks the fast, goes to the Sun's heaven. He would live in heaven for a crore of kalpas and then obtain the best position.

105. This alone, is the great secret told formerly by Shiva. By constantly listening to it, and by observing the vow, or by narrating it to the people, the fruit (that one gets) is the same.

 

CHAPTER SEVENTYEIGHT

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