రథ సప్తమి పండుగ రోజున ......

రథ సప్తమి also marks the సూర్యుని జన్మ దినము to sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday). A legend is narrated by the కామ్బోజ రాజ వంశములో Yashovarma, a noble king who had no heir to rule his kingdom. On his special prayers to God, he was blessed with a son. The king’s vows did not end with this, as his son was terminally ill. A saint who visited the king advised that his son should perform the Ratha Saptami pooja (worship) with reverence to rid of his past sins. Once the King’s son performed this, his health was restored and he ruled his kingdom well. ^[4] It is also said that sage Bhisma breathed his last breath a day after the Rathasaptahmi day.