Sun-worship Vratas (53) Sūryavrata

The Sun-god is worshipped with the observance of the Sūryavrata. The worshipper, on a Sunday in the month of Caitra, worships the Sun-god with cakes, mixed with jaggery and salt, after shaving his head. He observes nakta on the particular day and observes fast in devotion of the Sun on the sixth day of bright fortnight of the month. On the seventh day, the worshipper worships the Sun-god, making an altar with whitish clay and drawing there an eight-petalled Lotus with coloured powders. The image of the deity is placed on the pericarp, and drawn there in the eight quarters, from the eastern petal, certain demi-gods, goddesses and sages. After that, homa is performed with one hundred and eight āhutis of ghee to the Sun, and eight āhutis to each of them. This vrata lasts for a year. At the end of the vrata gift of a cow and gold is to be offered. The worshipper achieves the region of the Sun-god by observing this vrata.