It is said that Sun God incarnated on this day of Magha Shukla Saptami also known as Ratha Saptami. It is also addressed as Surya Jayanti. On His golden chariot which is driven by 7 horses he began his journey and on this day for the first time he became visible to earth . This is stated in Matsya Purana.

The person who prays to Him for good health is blessed with good health. He sets right even long standing diseases. As this Lord incarnated for the well-being of the world, we should spend this auspicious day on which He incarnated, in total devotion and dedication to Him.

This day is at par with the solar eclipse. The merit (punya) obtained by performing japa, charity and other meritorious activities during eclipse is obtained today as well. Hence on this day one should bathe in the early hours of the morning, complete the japa, tapa, arghya pradāna, tarpana and other rituals.

Maharishi Garga has stated that one this day, the person who keeps 7 arka (jilledu) leaves on his head and takes head bath will be absolved from the sins of 7 births. These 7 leaves also dispel 7 forms of diseases.

Janani twam hi lōkānām saptami sapta saptike

Sapta vyādhihrdike devi Namaste surya mātrake

O Saptami! You are the mother for all the lokas! I offer my obeisance to you, the mother of Lord Suryanarayana. With this matra arghya should be offered to the Sun God.

On this day, we should wake up in the early hours and take head bathe. Broad beans (Chikkudu) should be considered as a chariot of sun god and should be offered to Him. After offering him due worship, Paramānna (milk pudding with rice) or pongal should be cooked on dried cowdung cakes. There is a great scientific reason behind using broad beans, regi, arka (calotropy) leaves today.

The days when Sunday and saptami combine turns even more auspicious.

When Pandavas were ruling, seeing the devotion towards Sun god in Dharmaraja, Krishna narrated Ratha saptami story as follows:

Previously Kambhoja kingdom was ruled by Yashovartaka. Even after a long time he was childless. Thereafter a son was born to him however the king could not be happy on account of this. The boy was inflicted with diseases throughout the body. Many doctors were called but none of them could heal him. The king called the pundits and giving them the boy’s horoscope asked them to analyse the reason for his poor health. He also asked them to prescribe the remedy.

Understanding the king’s agony, they scrutinized his horoscope thoroughly and concluded, “O King, in his previous birth your son was extremely wealthy. However he was never inclined towards charities or meritorious deeds of any kind. At the fag end of his life he witnessed the Ratha saptami puja being performed by someone. As a result of this he was born a prince. If he is to be cured, Sun should be worshipped on Ratha saptami day. His health will be resotred.” The king of Kambhoja sincerely abided by the words of these scholars. His son’s health was restored.

(Source: Ratha Saptami speeches 2016, 2017)