EDITORIAL

The sun is the source of all splendour. According to the vedic sages, He stands for truth, order, reality, goodness, beauty, intelligence, wisdom and immortality'. He not only dispels darkness but also destroys falsehood, unreality. The sun is the inner Principle of light and life - 'The Atman within what moves and what stands still'. He is the witness, the eye of the world. The vedic seer states thus :

The Sun is the most exalted among all celestial objects. He is the transcendent light, symbolising spiritual glory. The Sun is responsible for the well-being of all beings on this earth. His absence creates chaos and confusion. He generates energy for the sustenance of life and establishes order (rita). The 'Aditya Hridaya' extols him as the lustrous God who annihilates all that exists and conducts and controls all activities in the world.

The sun God has been worshipped from time immemorial throughout the world and especially in our country in the form of 'jyoti' or light. Many puranas like Bhavishyottara Purana, Brahma Purana, Skanda Purana, Varaha Purana, Garuda Purana and Markandeya Purana expatiate on the efficacy of the sun worship. The Sun God who is said to ride in a chariot with a single wheel drawn by seven horses is associated with Lord Narayana. The single wheel symbolises the supreme uniqueness of the Sun. The horses are green because, by his light and heat, he causes the rains to fall and makes the earth green with food crops'.

The Rathasaptami observed in the month of Magha is specially, sacred as it is on this day the Sun's chariot turns round towards the north. According to a legend God created the Sun to shed lustre on the planets and the solar system. After a time the Sun's light and heat had got diminished in intensity. Then it was ordained to turn him on a lathe by the celestials on the auspicious saptami day and he regained all his lustre and glory. Hence the day assumes importance in the worship of the sun god.

Let us offer our worship to Surya, the bestower of light and life:

'Salutations to the Sun God who is lustrous like molten gold, fiery, creator of the universe, who dispels the inner darkness of ignorance, who is lovable and pleasing to all and who watches and witnesses all that is done in the world.