Sun-worship Vratas (12) Kalyāna-saptamī

The Kalyānasaptamīvrata is observed on the seventh day in the conjunction of bright fortnight and Sunday:

yadā tu śuklasaptamyāmādityasya dinaṃ bhavet/
sātu kalyāṇinīnāmā vijayāca nigadyate//^[1]

This vrata is also known by the name Vijayā. The Kalyānaptamīvrata lasts for a year. On the particular day of its observance, the worshipper bathes with cow’s milk in the morning and after that, wearing white garments, i.e. śuklavastra, makes a circle or eight-petalled Lotus with akṣatacūrṇa. After that, moving towards the east, one by one, worships the Sun-god with different names, e.g. Tapana, Mārtaṇḍa, Divākara, Vidhātṛ, Varuṇa, Bhāskara, Vikartana, Ravi, in the direction of East, Agni, South, Naiṛta, West, Vāyu, North and Iṣāna, respectively. At the end tilapātra and gold are offered to the Brāhmaṇa. On the thirteenth month, thirteen cows are gifted decorating with clothes and ornaments.^[2]