| Soorya,
as one among the navgrahaas (nine planets), is literally at the
center of the cosmos and is worshipped first when navagraha
aaraadhana is performed. Reference to Soorya is made in the Rigveda
where he is considered as Brahma (creator) upon rising in the
morning, as Vishnu (preserver) during mid-day and Rudra during
setting (dissolution).
Thus worship of Soorya in the
Navagraha pujas is built into many a rituals in Hindu theology.
Makara Sankranti is even more special
because it was on this day, January 12, 1863 just a few minutes
after sunrise, that the great rejuvenator of our faith, our
spiritual hero the future Vivekananda first drew breath when
"the air above the sacred river not far from the house was
reverberating with the prayers, worship and religious music of
thousands of Hindu men and women." (See Swami Nikhilananda,
Vivekananda: The Yoga Vand Other Works, New York:
Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, 1953.) |
