Sun-worship Vratas (46) Śarkarā-saptamī

On the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the month of the Caitra, the worshipper bathes in the morning, with water, mixed with white Sesame. After that, he draws a Lotus and pericarp with saffron on an altar and offers on it dhūpa and flowers with the utterance of the words namḥ savitre, etc.^[1] After that, he places a jar containing a gold piece, covers it with a plate containing sugar, and offers worship with the utterance of paurāṇikamantra. After that he drinks pañcagavya and lies on the ground near the jar and recites inaudibly saura hymns.^[2] On the eighth day, he donates all the above materials and feed Brāhmaṇas with sugar, ghee and pāyasa and himself partakes of food without salt and oil. The vrata lasts for a year and every month, the worshipper follows the same procedure. At the ending of the year, he donates a furnished bedstead with sugar and the gold, a cow and a house according to his capacity, and a golden Lotus made with, one to thousand niṣkas. It is believed that this vrata removes the sorrow and confers sons, long life, health, etc., to its observer.^[3]