Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Sun-worship Vratas (37) Rakta-saptami’ 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 (37) Rakta-saptamī
The Raktasaptamīvrata falls on the seventh day of the dark fortnight in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. Fast is observed on the particular day and the Sun-god is worshipped with red Lotuses, or in an image of the Sun-god with white flowers and red Sandalwood paste, and with the round cake of pulse and kṛsara, i.e. dish of rice, peas and spices:
…sopavāsastu saptamyāṃ kamale pūjayedravim//
ārcāyāṃ vā sthale vāpi śuklaiḥ puṣpairyathāvidhi/ candanena tu raktena vaṭakaiḥ kṛsareṇa ca//[1]
At the end of the vrata, a pair of red garments are to be donated.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, 3.170.2