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How To Worship Sun God In Hinduism - A Comprehensive Guide

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Comprehensive Guide to Worshipping the Sun God (Surya) in Hinduism

Worshipping the Sun God, also known as Surya, has been an integral part of Hindu rituals for centuries. Surya is considered the life-giver, offering light, energy, and sustenance to all beings. Worshiping the Sun God is believed to bring health, prosperity, and spiritual growth. This guide provides a detailed overview of performing Surya Puja with an emphasis on using eco-friendly, traditional items and practices.

Preparation: Cleanliness and Time

  1. Cleanliness:

    • Personal Hygiene: Bathe before performing the puja to cleanse yourself physically and spiritually. Clean clothes should be worn after the bath.
    • Space Cleanliness: Ensure the area where you perform the puja (usually facing east) is clean and free from clutter. Sweeping the space and sprinkling water to purify it is customary.

  2. Time:

    • The ideal time to worship the Sun God is during Brahma Muhurta (approximately 4:00 am to 6:00 am) or at sunrise.
    • Performing the puja at sunrise is most auspicious, as the first rays of the sun are believed to have the most positive and healing energy.

What to Wear: Colors and Attire

  • Traditionally, it is recommended to wear saffron, white, or red clothes while worshiping Surya. These colors symbolize purity, energy, and devotion.
  • Cotton or silk clothes are ideal. Ensure the attire is eco-friendly and in line with traditional Hindu clothing practices.

Puja Items Required: Eco-Friendly Traditional Products

When worshiping the Sun God, it’s essential to use natural, biodegradable items that align with environmental sustainability. Here is a list of eco-friendly items you can use:

  1. Copper Kalash (Pot) for offering water (as copper has sacred and medicinal properties).
  2. Fresh Flowers: Red or yellow flowers like marigolds or hibiscus are preferred.
  3. Sandalwood Paste (Chandan).
  4. Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) made from natural ingredients.
  5. Ghee Lamp: Use an earthen diya (lamp) with cotton wicks and ghee (clarified butter).
  6. Tulsi Leaves (Holy Basil): As per tradition, Tulsi is considered sacred.
  7. Pure Water from a clean, natural source.
  8. Organic Rice Grains (Akshata).
  9. Fruits such as bananas, coconuts, or seasonal fruits for prasad.
  10. Betel Leaves and Areca Nuts (optional).
  11. Kumkum (Red Vermilion) and Haldi (Turmeric).
  12. Fresh Coconut and Jaggery for offering.

Steps of Surya Puja

1. Facing the East:

  • Start the puja early in the morning, facing the direction of the rising sun. This symbolizes welcoming light into your life.

2. Offering Water (Surya Arghya):

  • Fill a copper kalash with water, add a few rice grains, red sandalwood powder, and flowers.
  • With devotion, raise the pot towards the sun and offer water while chanting the mantra "Om Suryaya Namaha".
  • Let the water flow down gently without spilling, aiming for it to fall on a plant or sacred ground.

3. Lighting the Lamp:

  • Light an earthen ghee lamp and place it in front of the Sun God’s image or in the direction of the sun.

4. Applying Sandalwood Paste:

  • Apply sandalwood paste to your forehead as well as the image or symbol of the Sun God (often a copper or brass idol).

5. Offering Flowers and Akshata (Rice Grains):

  • Offer fresh flowers and akshata while reciting Surya Ashtakam or any other Surya stotra.
  • Red and yellow flowers are considered auspicious for Surya Dev.

6. Chanting Mantras:

  • Chant the Gayatri Mantra or Aditya Hridayam, which are powerful prayers dedicated to the Sun God:

Gayatri Mantra:

Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ
Tat Savitur Vareṇyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi
Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Prachodayāt

Aditya Hridayam: A sacred text recited for strength and protection, usually from the Ramayana.

7. Offering Prasad:

  • Offer fruits, jaggery, and coconut as prasad, which you can later distribute among family members or eat yourself.

Prasad to Be Prepared

For prasad, use simple, eco-friendly, traditional food items:

  • Jaggery and Ghee Mixture: Offer this as a simple yet symbolic prasad.
  • Coconut and Banana: These fruits are commonly used in Surya puja and are easy to prepare.
  • Chana Dal or Moong Dal Prasad: Cooked lentils (without onion and garlic) can be offered as prasad for health and prosperity.

Mantras and Prayers

Chant the following mantras during the puja:

  1. Surya Beej Mantra:

    Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namaha

  2. Aditya Hridayam: Recite this prayer for strength, health, and prosperity. It's one of the most powerful hymns dedicated to the Sun God.

  3. Surya Ashtakam: This is a set of eight verses dedicated to Surya Dev that can be recited during the puja.

Concluding the Puja

  1. Aarti:

    • Perform an aarti using the ghee lamp in circular motions, offering it to the image or direction of the sun. Chant Surya Aarti or simply sing "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" in gratitude.

  2. Prayers and Gratitude:

    • After completing the rituals, sit quietly in prayer and thank Surya Dev for blessings, health, and prosperity.

  3. Distribute Prasad:

    • Distribute the prepared prasad among family members, neighbors, or anyone in need.

What to Do with Leftover Puja Items: Eco-Friendly Disposal

  1. Flowers and Leaves: Gather all the flowers, leaves, and other biodegradable items and compost them or immerse them in flowing water like a river, ensuring no plastic or synthetic materials are discarded.
  2. Water: The water used for arghya can be poured into a garden or at the roots of a sacred plant like Tulsi.
  3. Remaining Rice and Other Organic Offerings: These can either be offered to birds or animals, or used as compost.
  4. Earthen Lamps: Reuse the earthen lamps for future pujas or bury them in your garden after they are completely used.

Importance and Benefits of Worshiping the Sun God

  1. Health and Vitality: Worshiping the Sun God is believed to improve physical health, energizing the body and mind.
  2. Mental Clarity: Surya puja helps in sharpening the intellect and increasing focus.
  3. Spiritual Growth: It aids in the spiritual journey by encouraging discipline, positivity, and the removal of darkness or ignorance.
  4. Prosperity and Success: Regular worship of Surya Dev can bring success in personal and professional life, along with good fortune.
  5. Healing: The sunlight and connection with Surya Dev have healing effects on diseases, especially those related to eyesight and skin.

This traditional, eco-friendly worship of the Sun God will align you with nature’s rhythms while also helping to maintain an environmentally conscious lifestyle. By focusing on natural, biodegradable materials and simple rituals, you can enjoy a spiritually fulfilling and environmentally responsible puja.