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The biggest festivals of Indian Sanatan culture, folk faith and sun worship Chhath Puja Its influence is scattered all over the country these days. In this difficult and discipline-filled ritual that lasts for four days, echoes of folk songs of Chhathi Maiya are heard everywhere. Regarding this great festival, it is generally believed that only the direct deity Lord Sun is worshiped in it. But do you know that the ritual of Chhath Puja is not limited to the worship of Sun God only, but it is also accompanied by the worship of two extremely powerful and divine goddesses of Lord Surya—‘Usha’ and ‘Pratyusha’ This festival is considered completely incomplete without the worship of? According to religious and mythological beliefs, both these powers have been said to be the wives of the Sun God and superpowers that control the cycles of nature. Let us know in detail what is the importance of these two goddesses in the festival of Chhath and what their mythology and glory says.
What is the real meaning and importance of these two divine powers of Sun God ‘Usha’ and ‘Pratyusha’?
During Chhath Mahaparva, when the fasting women stand on the ghat of the river or pond and offer Arghya to the Sun God, during that time they are not just offering water to the Sun, but they are worshiping the two most important and sandhi periods of the day. ancient Vedas and especially Rigveda There is a very beautiful and detailed description of these two powers.
According to Vedic beliefs, ‘Usha’ She is worshiped as the goddess of dawn, the first golden ray of the morning and the new dawn. Usha is associated with light, consciousness, new beginnings of life and energy. On the other hand, ‘Pratyusha’ It is considered a symbol of evening, the last ray of evening and the end of the day. Pratyusha teaches us that after every ending there is bound to be a new beginning. The role of these two forces is most important in maintaining this eternal cycle of day and night in nature. This is why on the first day of Chhath Puja, when water is offered to the setting sun, it is called Pratyusha Arghya, and when water is offered to the rising sun on the next day, it is called Usha Arghya.
According to Markandeya Purana: Surya worship with Usha and Pratyusha gives many times more results.
Ancient texts of Sanatan Dharma and especially Markandeya Purana It is clearly mentioned in the scriptures that the eternal results of worshiping Lord Surya are achieved only when his two divine powers – Usha and Pratyusha – are also worshiped along with him. According to the Puranas, the main source of Sun God’s energy and his radiance are his two wives (shaktis).
This is the reason why during Chhath Mahaparva, when we offer Sandhya Arghya, we invoke Mother Pratyusha at sunset, who reminds us that today’s day is waning but tomorrow morning there will be a new dawn again. On the contrary, when we offer Arghya to the rising Sun in the morning on Saptami Tithi, we welcome Mother Usha, who brings new light, positivity and health in our lives. Without these two, the worship of Sun is considered incomplete, and the devotee who worships them together gets happiness, peace, glory and health in life.
The glorious history of this great festival is connected from Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita to Draupadi.
This tradition of Chhath Puja is as ancient as Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga. According to the mythology, when Maryada Purushottam Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita took over the kingdom in Ayodhya after completing fourteen years of exile, they worshiped the Sun God and his powers by observing a fast with full rituals on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. It is believed that due to the effect of this holy fast, he was blessed with famous sons like Lord Luv and Kush.
Apart from this, the story related to the Mahabharata period also tells the greatness of this festival. When the Pandavas had lost their entire kingdom in gambling and were wandering from forest to forest, Draupadi observed this difficult Chhath fast with full devotion as advised by Maharishi Dwaipayan Vyas. Due to the effect of this fast, Pandavas got back their lost kingdom and glory. According to mythological stories, between the sandhi period of this Kartik Shukla Shashti and Saptami, the mother of the world Vedmata Gayatri Was revealed, after which this great festival got a special and supreme place in Sanatan Dharma.
Chhath is the most unique and scientific medium of expressing gratitude towards nature.
If considered deeply, Chhath Mahaparva is not just a religious ritual, but it is the biggest festival to express man’s immense love and gratitude towards nature. Through Sandhya Arghya (Pratyusha) the fasting women thank the Sun God for the energy and life that he has provided us throughout the day, and the next day through Usha Arghya they wish for new hope, positive energy and longevity for tomorrow. This festival teaches us that no matter how deep the darkness is in life, a new ‘Usha’ (dawn) is sure to come.