Why do We Offer Water to the Sun ?

Hindus consider worshipping the Sun as an important tradition or custom. One important ritual in this custom is the Surya Arghya. The origin of this ritual dates back to age-old Vedic traditions and it delivers several spiritual, health, and scientific benefits.

When a person offers water to the Sun with a devout mindset, it promotes a perfect balance between his/her mind, body, and soul. While he/she engages in this ritual, he/she must thank the Almighty wholeheartedly and express his/her gratitude for being blessed with life, light, and energy.

The ritual must be performed barefoot by standing on the balls of your feet and after taking a bath. The best time to offer water to the Sun is at dawn or just as the Sun starts rising, up to an hour after sunrise. Avoid carrying out Surya Arghya in the afternoon after 12:00 PM.

Offering water to the Sun is important for many reasons. Read on to know some of them.

Enlightenment from Within

When an individual offers water to the Sun, the sun's rays are believed to expel the bad energy inside him/her. This will help to purify his/her soul and mind and develop good inner clarity to focus on his/her goals.

Convey One’s Gratitude

The Sun is the sole reason for life on earth as it delivers abundant energy, light, and nourishment. Offering water is a token of appreciation for the Sun’s ability to sustain life on the planet.

Eradicate Bad Karma

When water is offered at the time of sunrise, the water is said to wash away a person’s bad karma in the past. This will help him/her to start the day with a pleasant mind.

Divine Energy Connection

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Surya symbolises vigour and health. He also dispels darkness with His bright rays. A person offering water strengthens his relationship with the deity and is blessed with good health and prosperity.

Develop Confidence

Vedic astrology declares that the Sun controls the life, confidence, and authority of an individual. Hence, if these attributes are weak in an individual, offering Surya Arghya can improve and strengthen these attributes.

Improves Focus and Concentration

Performing Surya Arghya at dawn increases a person’s focusing skills and concentration power. If water is offered regularly, he/she will find a steady improvement in his/her ability to focus and concentrate over time.

Chakra Alignment

Offering water to the Sun helps in aligning the chakras of the body. There are seven chakras, each of them associated with a specific energy. When the chakras are aligned, it promotes overall good health as well.

Increase Happiness

Lord Surya casts His divine energies on an individual who performs Surya Arghya and chants mantras in honour of the god at the same time. You can also chant the famous Gayatri mantra. These energies improve his/her emotional and mental health and thereby increase the individual’s state of happiness.

Blessings of All Planets

The Sun god is considered to be the ruler of all planets. So, it is said that when He is worshipped and offered water regularly, all the planets will shower their blessings on the person. He/she will thus get relief from the ill effects of one or more planets in his/her horoscope.

Happy Family Life

According to astrology, the Sun has a great impact on an individual’s family life. When Surya Arghya is done regularly, his/her family bonds grow and he/she develops harmonious relationships with the family. This will keep family disputes at bay, especially related to property matters.

Surya Arghya has its references in the two great Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama paid His obeisance to Surya and offered water to the Sun. In the Mahabharata, Kunti was a devotee of Surya and offered Him Arghya regularly. The lord blessed her with a progeny, Karna, who was also an ardent devotee of Lord Surya and engaged in Surya Arghya.

How to Perform Surya Arghya at Home

There are some points to be kept in mind when offering water to the Sun to get maximum benefits. However, there is no need to worry as they can be easily followed.

Take some clean water in a clean copper or brass vessel. Vedic science advocates the use of copper because of its conductivity and purity. Remember to fill at least three-fourths of the container with water.

Put a flower or two in the water. You can opt for a hibiscus or a rose, but make sure that you choose a red flower. You can also add some turmeric powder to the water as it is considered to be auspicious.

Stand facing the Sun and place the vessel close to your chest using both hands. Slowly, raise the vessel above your head. If it is a cloudy day, just make sure that you are facing the east.

Tilt the vessel forward a little and start pouring the water slowly to the ground while chanting the Gayatri mantra or any Surya mantra of your choice seven or eleven times.

Make sure that it does not make contact with your feet. It is considered inauspicious if the water touches your feet. Also, take care not to drop the flower from the vessel.

Observe the rays of the sun through the water as you guide the water stream to the ground. This is also considered to be good for the eyes.

After pouring all the water, take a drop or two of the water remaining at the bottom of the vessel and smear it on your forehead as a mark of your respect to the lord.

Finally, fold your hands with utmost dedication and express your heartfelt gratitude to the lord and seek His blessings for the coming day.

You can also offer water to the Sun near a water body. In this case, you can scoop water with both your hands instead of using a container.