Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Sun-worship Vratas (18) Citrabhanu-padadvaya’ of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.—This section belongs to the series “Rituals Related to the Sun-Worship in the Puranas”.
Sun-worship Vratas (18) Citrabhānu-padadvaya
This Ayanavrata lasts from the beginning to the end of the Uttarāyaṇa. On the day of its starting, the image of the Sun-god should be bathed with ghee and milk and after decorating with the vastra, anulepana, etc., to be worshipped. The Brāhmaṇas should be satisfied with food and gifts.
After the performance of all these, for the whole period, the deity Citrabhānu is worshipped with the prayer, japa, and with the utterance of the words,
paramātmamayaṃ brahma citrabhānumayaṃ param/
yamante saṃsmariṣyāmi sa me bhānuḥ parā gatiḥ//[1]
At the ending of the vrata, the Brāhmaṇas are to be fed. The worshipper becomes free from all the sins by grace of this vrata.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Bhaviṣyapurāṇa, 1.107.17