Ratha Saptami is a festival that is celebrated on the seventh day (saptami) of the bright lunar fortnight of the month of Magha (Tamil Masi), which occurs in January to February. Ratha Saptami is also known as Surya Jayanti, the appearance day of the Surya, the sun god. On this day, Surya (Sun) switches over from the zodiac sign Simha Rasi to Makara Rasi, thereby making a change in the trajectory of the Sun’s path. It is believed that the Sun pays obeisance to Sri Maha Vishnu before embarking upon this journey on a new path. Traditionally, the utsava murti of Sri Maha Vishnu is taken out in a grand procession (utsavam) in the streets on a chariot (ratha) decorated like the solar disk (Suryaprabha). Hence the function Ratha Saptami derives its name from the Saptami (seventh) day in Magha Masa, during which the utsava murti is taken on a ratha (chariot) for a procession.

          As documented in the Yuddha Khanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana, Surya has the power to grant one’s wish for good health. When Sri Rama was exhausted from his battle against Ravana, the sage Agastya taught Sri Rama the popular prayer called Aditya Hridaya Stotra, which is addressed to Surya. Sri Rama recited the prayer three times and regained his strength to vanquish Ravana.

          We celebrate Ratha Saptami in our Temple by starting early in the morning with the ritual bathing (abhishekam) of the utsava murti of Sri Venkateswara Swami. This is followed by worshipping the Surya Yantra, a pictorial icon into which Surya is invoked for this festival. All the devotees participate in doing prostrations to Surya (Surya Namaskara) as the priests and Parayana Goshti chant the Vedic hymn “Aruna Prashna” from the Krishna Yajurveda Aranyaka Upanishad. Our Temple added the Surya Namaskaram to the traditional celebration of Ratha Saptami. After doing the Surya Namaskaram, all devotees pray to Surya by jointly reciting the Aditya Hridaya Stotram. The Temple performs Surya Namaskaram in order to bring good health to the community. The religious program concludes with a procession of the utsava murti of Sri Venkateswara Swami on a chariot around the Temple premises.