History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.1897

v6.c81.1897

*Rathasaptamī*—on M. śu. 7; tithi; Sun is deity; on night of 6th *saṅkalpa* and submitting to *niyamas*, on 7th fast; performer to prepare a golden or silver car with horses and charioteer; to recite a hymn to the Sun, and at midday he should place that car in a *maṇḍapa* surrounded by (or made of) cloth, worship the car with saffron, flowers &c. and place in the car an image (golden or otherwise) of the Sun; worship the Sun together with the car and charioteer and address mantras to the Sun and in his prayer state the desired object; jāgara at night with songs and music, and performer should not close his eyes that night; after bath the next morning he should make gifts, donate the car to the *guru*; *HV* I. 652-658 (quoting Bhav. U.) Here Kṛṣṇa tells Yudhiṣṭhira the story of king Yaśodharma of Kāmbhoja country that had in his old age a son suffering from all diseases who became free from all diseases and a *cakravartin* (emperor) by performing this vrata. KV 101 and HK 624 quote Mat to the effect that as on this tithi in the beginning of Manvantara Sun secured a chariot this tithi is called Rathasaptamī. The same quotation from Mat. in HK 624 shows that it was also called Mahāsaptamī Vide TT 39, PC 104-105, VR 249-253. Vide I. A. vol XI. at p 112 the Sāmangad plate of Rāstrakūta king Dantidurga dated śake 675 (753-54 A. D.) where the phrase 'Māghamāsa-rathasaptamīm' occurs. For Rathasaptamī-māhātmya, vide Bhav. I. 50