Ganga Saptami Vrata/Ravi Saptami Vrata/World Redcross Day | गङ्गा सप्तमी व्रत/रवी सप्तमी व्रत/विश्व रेडक्रस दिवस | 2079 Baishakh 25 | Hamro Patro

Ganga Saptami Vrata, Ravi Saptami

Importance of River Ganga
The river Ganga is considered to be the center of faith of Hindus. The importance of the Ganges is described in many scriptures, Mahabharata epic cites mother Ganga as a vital character of the sequence. Lord Shiva carries this holy river in his head and a Hindu circle of spiritual life is largely incomplete without visiting, worshiping, and taking a dip in this river.

Ganga Saptami and relevance
The existence of holiness has been an emotional belief of all Hindus in Mother Ganga. Ganga Saptami is also celebrated as Ganga Jayanti in many places. Various statements about the origin of the Ganges are found in the Vedic Sanatan rites.

Today, the day of Baisakh Shukla Saptami is considered to be the date of the rebirth of Ganga. Today, it has been believed that all the sins of the people who take a dip in the Ganges will be removed and they will be saved. Today, if one is unable to bathe in the Ganges, it is believed that one can attain virtue by bathing in the water of the Ganges at home. Let me add a fact here, every Sanatana Hindu philosophy followers (No matter wherever they are on the planet) keep some Ganga water at their home in a bottle to use during holy and auspicious occasions. Birth, death, mourn and all sort of rituals are incomplete without the Avisekh of Ganga Jal in Sanatan philosophy. Today, special Ganga temples are worshiped with reverence. People observe holy fast on this day.

There is life in Ganga and there is Ganga in life. Today is a meaningful day, utmost wishes of Gangasaptami.

Ravi Saptami

Do you know, if the Sunday falls on the Saptami tithi, this day is considered as Ravi Saptami, today is Sunday and the tithi is seventh day or Saptami. On the day of such a coincidence, worship of Lord Surya Narayan, fasting, etc. are performed. Worshiping the Sun God, the revered deity of the Navagrahas and the gods, by enlightening the whole world with the radiance of His nature. Worshiping the inspiring Sun God on this day to attain the position, prestige, prosperity, child happiness, and the desired outcome. The Sun God is considered to be the Sattvic form of Brahma in the dawn, the Sun God who gives Tamo guna at noon is considered to be the form of Devadi Dev Mahadev during the afternoon, and the Sun which exists in the majestic form in the evening art is considered to be the Vishnu form. Sun, in itself, is a mixture of several forms and features of god and godly power, a reference point of this creation and the lord of all planets.

Surya is depicted with chakra, which is called Dharma Chakra and depicted as an epithet for major Sanatan gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar.

उदय ब्रह्मणोरुपं मध्यान्हेतु महेश्वर: ।
अस्तकाले स्वयं विष्णु त्रिमूर्तिश्च दिवाकर: ।।

In the process of worshiping and adoring Bhagavan Surya with twelve characteristics, Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvanta, Pukha, Parjanya, Anshavan, Bhaga, Tvashta, Vishnu, etc. 12 forms are worshiped.

Vedas declares the Surya to be the creator of this universe and more parallel universes. Darwin also brings the same logic in his theory of evolution, the unicellular creator evolves to a human being in this universe because of the favorable environment contributed by the Sun. Vedas states that wisdom, vision, self-determination, realization, power, light, and life are the output of the sun and its rays. Ravi Saptami is a simple acknowledgment of Satan ritual towards the Sun, as Suryanarayanan.

How is Ravi Saptami observed?
Generally, fasting is done on Sunday to make the sun happy and bring good results. There is a scriptural statement that the fast of Sunday should start from the auspicious coincidence of Ravisaptami or the first Sunday of the Shukla Paksha. On the occasion of such auspicious coincidence, Surya Narayan should be worshiped by wearing red attires. If it is possible to fast for twelve months that’s perfect, but for them who can't make twelve months can fast for twelve Sundays. On the day of fasting, one can fast by worshiping Surya Narayan and requesting Argha. Argha means offering water to the Lord Surya with folded hands.

By doing such fasting etc., the knowledge and intellect will be as bright as the sun and according to astrology, if there is a solar defect and planetary pain in the birth horoscope of the person born, the worship done on such an auspicious day will reduce the planetary pain and get auspicious blessings of Suryanarayana.

Mantra of Surya Argha
एहि सूर्य सहस्रांशो तेजोराशे जगत्पते ।
अनुकम्पय मां भक्त्या गृहाणार्घं दिवाकरः ।।
ॐ भूर्ब्भुवः स्वः जगतसाक्षिणे श्रीसूर्यनारायणाय नामः ।।

Meaning, Lord Surya shall take care of wisdom, position, success, health, popularity, and all my desires.

May light and life always favor.

Suyog Dhakal