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The Vedas describe the Sun as the primordial cause of the whole universe. The word Aditya is coined from the term Aditi, mother of Adityas. The Bhagavata Purana lists 12 Adityas as twelve Sun gods. So, there are 12 for each of the lunar months of the Tamil calendar. And in each year, it’s a different sun that shines. The names of the 12 Adityas are Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvashtha, Vishnu, Anshuman, Bhaga, Pusha, Parjanja, Dhata. And the months they rule respectively are from mid April-mid May to mid March-mid April taking the lunar months into consideration.
Makar Sankranti is the day when the Sun transits zodiac Capricorn thereby marking the onset of spring season. This has great significance and holds a religious fervour.
Makara Sankranti also marks the end of winter solstice and it’s a time when the sun transits from Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn i.e. from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, thereby signifying the onset of harvest season.
Vedifolks will perform Goddess Chaya and Goddess Sanjana Sametha Dwadasa Aditya Maha Homam, Aditya Hridayam and Aruna Prashnam Parayanam (chanting) with Bhaskara Gayatri Maha Mantra Homam on the auspicious festival of Makara Shankranti/Pongal to invoke the 12 forms of Sun or Aditya for a plethora of blessings.
The Vedas describe the Sun as the primordial cause of the whole universe. The word Aditya is coined from the term Aditi, mother of Adityas. The Bhagavata Purana lists 12 Adityas as twelve sun gods. So, there are 12 for each of the lunar months of the Tamil calendar. And in each year, a different sun shines. The names of the 12 Adityas are Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvashtha, Vishnu, Amshuman, Bhaga, Pusha, Parjanja, Dhata. The months they rule respectively are from mid-April-mid-May to mid-March-mid-April, taking the lunar months into account.
Aditya or the Sun God’s consort is Goddess Sanjana. She abandoned her husband unable to bear the terrible heat, but she left her shadow self – Goddess Chaya behind. They are the mothers to Lord Saturn, Lord Yama, and Goddess Yamuna /Yami.
Goddess Chaya and Goddess Sanjana Sametha Dwadasa Aditya Maha Homam rescue you from financial snags and downslides of life due to the bad effects of karma. The sun is the benefactor of life and he is visible to the naked eye. Worshipping Dwadasha Aditya along with their consorts provides you with all-round success, power, and authority just like the sun. You can also lead and climb the ladder of success. If you are constantly stalked by enemies and diseases, the sun contains everything for you. If the sun is exalted in your birth chart, then you are sure to be ruler. So become a leader of leaders by invoking Lord Surya. The Homam dedicated to Lord Aditya and his consorts, ensure your happiness and drive away weakness. He pervades your intellect and instills power and energy. The Homam dedicated to the Lord of Destiny and his consorts make sure you lead a prosperous life and materialise your dreams.
Bhaskara Gayatri Mantra first emerged in the Vedas—the Rig Veda. The supreme mantra is devoted to the sun and is considered the most powerful and ancient mantras. It invokes the Sun God to grant illumination with the light of knowledge, wisdom and remove darkeness from the mind.
Om Bhaskraya Vidmahe Mahadutyathikarya Dheemahi
Tanah Suryau Prachodayat
Performing the Bhaskara Gayatri Mantra Homam gets rid of Pitru dosha, Navagraha dosha, and cures serious diseases. The ritual strengthens the body and mind. It also ensures purity of thoughts and attitude that are necessary to achieve goals in life. It also grants fame and success. The Homa bestows leadership qualities, ensures happiness, wealth and power, and bestows your life with divine grace of Lord Surya.
Meditating on the sun mantra, a devotee is assured good health, vitality, wealth, success, happiness, strength, and powerfully aids in warding off destructive spirits. The prayer also help to receive protection against evil entities, and removes negativity to a large extent. The mantra praises the sun, produces positive vibrations, and works on the mind, body and spirit. It strengthens the body, purifies the mind and boosts spirituality within a person.
Aditya Hridayam Stotram is the ultimate prayer to Lord Surya also known as Aditya, one of the main deities of the Navagraha. It’s found in the 107th chapter of the Yuddha Kanda of Ramayana and consists of 31 verses.
According to the sacred text, Sage Agastya wrote the Stotra for Lord Rama to revitalise the exhausted Lord, to help him defeat Ravana. The sage advised the lord to recite the verses and experience extreme bliss.
Aruna Prashna, also known as Surya Namaskaram Prasnam is an important mantra to invoke Lord Surya/Aditya and Aruna (Lord Indra), the charioteer of Sun God. The powerful mantras are found in the first prasna of Taittiriya Aranyakam of Krishna Yajur Veda. There are 32 chapters and 130 paragraphs. The chanting of the mantra shelters you from intense heat of the sun, confers good health, healing, growth and success. The chanting blesses devotees with charisma and radiance like that of the sun.
Located between the temple town of Kumbakkonam and Tirumangalakkudi, the Suryanar Energy Centre is dedicated to the Sun God. There are temples for the other eight planets too, but Lord Surya or Sun holds great prominence in this temple.
The presiding deity is Lord Surya Narayana and one can witness Brihaspati or Guru performing puja to the deity. Also seen are the temples of Kasi Vishwanath, Visalakshi, and Brihaspati. Surya Pushkarni tank is a sacred bathing ghat which lies to the north of the Rajagopuram.
People with Sun afflictions can perform puja here to get relief from suffering. The pooja removes obstacles and suffering due to seven-and-a-half-years Saturn, Ashtama Shani, and Janma Shani. The worship also eliminates diseases of the skin, psychological disorders, etc. The ritual also promises a child boon, success, and prosperity.
Surya yantra is a sacred instrument that has simple geometric forms arranged in a symmetric design that resounds the powers and positive vibrations of Lord Surya. It has the power to attract the blessings of the lord who is visible to the naked eye every day. The energised yantra blesses the worshipper with brilliance, leadership, and vigour. As a meditation tool, the yantra can offer focus and mental stability and help one to align with divine energy.
Surya yantra, when worshipped, gives relief to struggles, stress, and health ailments. The divine instrument attracts fame, name, and success in business and career and promotes bravery, power, and authority. It helps to purify your body and environment and surrender yourself completely to god.
You can light an incense stick or lamp and offer flowers and fruits. Focus on the centre of the yantra and pray sincerely for the fulfillment of your wishes. The mantra for worship is, ‘Om Suryaya Namaha’
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