Mãgha (Jan-Feb) šukla saptami (seventh day of the bright fortnight) is celebrated as Ratha Saptami or Soorya Jayanti, the annual birthday for Soorya, the sun god. Lord Vishnu as Soorya Nãrãyana is taken out on a ratha (chariot) on this most important Mahã Saptami of the year. Two days are set aside for worshipping the sun - Makara Sankrãnti (mid-Jan), when the sun changes its trajectory Northward, and Ratha Saptami when the sun, believed to be on a ratha, is directly facing north.

The worship of Ravi (the sun), comes under sauram, one of the six sects of Hinduism. The ancient rishis realized its central role in our solar system. “Soorya is the god of light”, say the Vedas. He is thus both Bhãnu (light), and Bhãskar (maker of Light). He is Divãkar (day maker), and the first day of the week (Sunday) is designated to Bhãnu. Several Vedic verses on the sun are incorporated into the Nitya Vidhi (daily mandatory routine). Lord Rãma had recited the Ãditya Hridayam, (taught by sage Agastya) and regained his strength and stamina to vanquish Rãvana.

In the Mahãbhãrata, Soorya blessed Kunti with her first son Karna; Yudhishtra with the Akshaya Pãtra for abundant food during the Pãndavas' exile; and Šatrajit (father of Satyabhãmã) with the Syamantaka jewel which gave him a bag of gold every day. In the Soorya Purãna, Ãditya (Soorya, the son of Aditi and sage Kašyapa) has been described as red and gold in complexion riding a chariot drawn by seven horses representing the seven colors of the rainbow, with Aruna as the charioteer. He has four wives Sanjna, her shadow Cchãya, Rajni and Usha/Prabha. Yama, Vaivasvata, Šani, and the Ašwini twins are his sons with Yami/Yamuna as Yama’s twin sister.

The sun continues to play a central role in our religion and culture. The (Soorya) Gãyatri is the first mantra taught to a spiritual aspirant on his upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony), after which he performs his daily sandhyã vandanam (oblations to the sun) to “illumine his intellect.” Soorya namaskãr (sun salutation), preferably performed at dawn, is a sequence of Yogãsanas to develop our košas, or temporal sheaths of the subtle body, emphasized for physical, mental and spiritual well being.

Ratha Saptami is an important festive day in many traditional Vaishnavite Temples. In Tirupati, where a one-day Brahmotsavam takes place, Lord Venkatešwara is taken out on a procession on seven vãhanãs in just one day from dawn to dusk. At the Pãrthasãrathy temple in Chennai, it is said that at noon the sun's rays travel through several mantapas and fall directly on the garbha griha. The Lord gives daršan on the “Soorya Prabha” vãhanã - a chariot drawn by seven horses and driven by Soorya.

On this day, devotees customarily bathe before Arunodaya (sunrise), sometimes holding a lamp or erukku leaves on their head. A picture of a chariot and the seven horses is drawn on the ground to represent the onset of the sun’s journey. Milk is boiled facing the sun as an offering. Twelve heaps of grains, for the twelve constellations (rãšis) the sun goes through to complete one full cycle (year), are also offered to the sun. Soorya namaskãr is sometimes performed chanting his twelve names. Soorya Nãrãyana is then bid farewell as the sun starts its northward journey from the tropic of Cancer to the tropic of Capricorn. Spiritual aspirants fast while meditating on the illuming powers of Savita (he who illumines).