Chhath Parba - छठ

Chhath Matra (छठ )

एष च च : : ज :।
: य : : ।।
ए ष ष यष च ।
य ष: च ।।।
।
य ।।

Chhath parva is celebrated by natives of Mithila region of Nepal and India. This festival is dedicated to
god Sun. Sun is called Surya in Sanscrit, Chhat parba is thanks giving to lord Surya for sustaining life on
earth and to worship him to provide his continuous blessings to mankind.

The Sun, source power of nature, considered the god of energy and lord of the life-force, is worshiped in
Chhath to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. Hindu people believe sun helps to cure many
illness and diseases. Sun is considered as source of healing too. Sun is also considered as token of
stability and prosperity. Therefore, people worship sun to ensure the longevity and prosperity of family
members, friends and beloved ones.

Chhath parba is also called Dala Chhath.

When is Chhath Puja

Chhath parba is observed for 4 days from Kartik Shukala chaturthi to Kartik Shukala Saptami. This
festival falls in October or November in the English Calendar.

Chhath is also celebrated in on Chaitra Shashti, the early summer about March or April, and is called
Chaiti Chhath. The Kartik Sukla Shasti Chhat is more popular.

How do we celebrate Chhat Parba

Chhat festival is celebrated for four days. The ritual of Chhat Parba includes taking holy bath, fasting,
standing and worshiping sun for a long time and offering Prasad and Argha to ‘Rising and setting Lord
Surya”. Some worshipers observe fasting even without water for 36 hours continuously.

Days in Chhath Parva (total 4 days)

Day 1: Naha Kha

Naha Kha means bath and eat. This is the first day of Chhath Puja. People take a dip, preferably in the
holy river near to their residence and bring home Holy water of the river to prepare the offerings. The
house and surroundings are fully cleaned. The devotees eat only one meal on this day.

Day 2: Kharna/ Lohanda

This is a day before Chhat on Panchami day. This day people observe fasting ending in the evening after
the sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of Kheer (rice pudding), Bananas and Puris are
distributed. There is a tradition to observe fasting for next 36 hours even without water.

Day 3: Chhath

This is the 3rd day. It is on Kartik Shukala Shashti.This day Sanjhiya Arghya (evening offerings) is done.
Whole day people prepare prasad at their home. In the evening whole family accompanies the devotee to
a riverbank, lake or a common large water body to make the offerings (Aragh) to the setting sun. In
Kathmandu, Rani Pokhari is opened for Argha that day. In Janakpur, Argha is offered in Ganga Sagar.

The devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. This is very important part of Chat Puja. In the evening
people gather together and perform cultural programs with music and dances. The folk songs sung on the
evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Mithila Pradesh and its
vicinity. People sing songs in Maithili, Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, the three main languages spoken in
Terai and Madhesh region of Nepal. There are minor distinctions in celebration and pooja performance
among the regions and across families, but basically all celebrate the same festival with same
enthusiasm and charm.

Kosi: The third day night, Kosi is held after the sun set. The lights are lit late in the evening after making
offering (Argha) to sun. The lamps are kept under a canopy of five sugarcane ticks. The five sticks signify
the human body made of Pancha tatwa described by Ayurveda. (Earth, water, fire, air and ether or sky).
This is a symbolic ritual in Chhath Puja, performed especially in those families where marriage or
childbirth has taken place recently. The lighted lamps signify the solar energy sustaining the human
being.

Day 4: Paran

Bihaniya Aragh is fourth and final day of Chhatt Pooja. Bihaniya Argha means Morning Offering. On
Saptami, the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with their family and friends, go to the
riverbank again before sunrise. They make the offerings (Aragh) to the rising sun. The festival ends with
the breaking of the fast by the devotee of chhatt parba. Prasad is distributed and gatherings of family and
friends ends the celebration.

Story behind Chhath Pooja

Draupadi and Chhath

Chhath pooja can be traced back to period of Mahabharat. Mahabharat has the reference of Chhat pooja.
Draupadi, wife of the 5 Pandavas, has a great power to cure any type of disease including leprosy. The
main reason of her power is her worship and devotion to Lord Sun (Surya Devata). Hindu believe sun has
unlimited power to cure several diseases. The holy and divine energy of Surya made Draupati most
powerful woman in the world to cure many diseases. As a commemoration of Draupadi and Lord Surya,
Chhath Parva is celebrated worshiping Surya Devata.

Chhat Pooja and Karna

Chhat Pooja or Surya Sashti vrat is observed by Warrior Karna, the son of Surya, who was renowned
warrior and well-known for his nature of charity. Since Karna became a popular and powerful by
observing Surya Puja, Hindus also worship Surya devata for courage, fame, health, wealth and prosperity

The Yogic Philosophy of Chhath

from Wikipedia

According to yogic philosophy, the physical bodies of all the living organisms are highly sophisticated
energy conducting channels. The solar bio-electricity starts flowing in the human body when it is exposed
to solar radiations of specific wavelengths. Under particular physical and mental conditions, the
absorption and conduction of this solar-bio-electricity increases.

The processes and the rituals of the Chhath puja aim at preparing the body and the mind of the Vratti
(devotee) for the process of cosmic solar energy infusion.

The scientific process similar to Chhath was used by the Rishis of yore for carrying out their austerities
without any intake of solid or liquid diet. Using a process similar to the Chhath puja, they were able to
absorb the energy needed for sustenance directly from the sun, instead of taking it indirectly through food
and water.

The retina is a kind of photoelectric material, which emits subtle energy when exposed to light. Hence,
very subtle electric energy starts flowing from the retina. This energy (photo-bio-electricity) is transmitted
from the retina to the pineal gland by the optic nerves connecting the retina to the pineal gland, leading to
its activation.

The pineal gland is in close proximity with the pituitary and hypothalamus glands (together, three glands
are called Triveni) due to which, the energy generated in this process starts impacting these glands.
Consequently, the pranic activity becomes uniform, giving the Vratti good health and a calm mind.

Stages of Chhath (Conscious Photoenergization Process)

According to Yoga philosophy, the process of Chhath is divided into six stages of the Conscious Cosmic
Solar Energy Infusion Technique (Conscious Photoenergization Process).

Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage
prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.

Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of
energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).

Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni
complex) through the retina and optic nerves.

Stage 4: Activation of Triveni tri-glandular complex (pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus).

Stage 5: A kind of polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle
bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent
psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.

Stage 6: The body of the Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel which conducts, recycles and transmits the
energy into the entire universe.

Benefits of Chhath process

The Chhath process results in detoxification

The Chhath process stresses mental discipline. The discipline of mental purity is a result of this work. By
employing a number of rituals, the vrattis focus on maintaining the cleanliness of the offerings and
environment. Cleanliness is the most dominant thought that prevails in the minds of the devotees during
Chhath.

This has a great detoxification effect on the body and the mind as mental moods can result in biochemical
changes. Now comes the physical detoxification. The fasting paves the way for detoxification at a material
level.
Detoxification helps in regularizing the flow of prana and makes the person more energetic. The natural
immune system of the body spends much of its energy in fighting the toxins present in the body. By using
the detoxification methods such as pranayam, meditation, yoga and Chhath practices, the amount of
toxins present in the body can be reduced to a great extent. Thus, with reduction in the amount of toxins,
the expenditure of energy also reduces and you feel more energetic. It improves the appearance of the
skin. The eyesight can improve and the ageing process of the body slows down.

Benefits of Chhath Puja

Photo-electro-chemical effect: physical benefits

The Chhath practice improves the immunity of the Vratti’s body.

Antiseptic effect: Safe radiation of sunlight can help cure fungal and bacterial infections of the skin.

Raktavardhak (increase in fighting power of blood): As a consequence of the practice of Chhath, the
energy infused in the blood stream improves the performance of white blood cells.

The solar energy has a great influence on the glands, which results in balanced secretion of hormones.
Energy requirements are met by the solar energy directly. This will further detoxify the body.

Photo-electro-psychic effects: mental benefits

A state of creative calmness will prevails in the mind.

To a great extent, all negative responses have their origin in the disturbed flow of prana. With the pranic
flow regularized, the duration and frequency of occurrences of anger, jealousy, and other negative
emotions will be reduced.

With patient and sincere practice, the psychic powers like intuition, healing, and telepathy awaken. This
depends on the concentration with which the practice is undertaken.

Daily sun meditation (Chhath process)

In the fast lifestyle of the present times, it may not be possible to follow the Chhath process very often.
The detoxification can be undertaken through pranayam, yoga, meditation and Conscious
Photoenergization Process known as Chhath Dhyan Sadhana (CDS).

Chhath Dhyan Sadhana (CDS): Conscious Photoenergization Process

Assume a comfortable position (standing or sitting) with back and spine straight. With eyes closed, face
the Sun. Inhale completely, as slowly as possible. Do not strain in making the breathing slow. Maintain
your comfort level. As you breath in, visualize (feelingly experience) the cosmic solar energy entering
through your eyes and moving to the pineal gland through optic nerves and charging the pineal–pituitary–
hypothalamus complex. Now, as you exhale, visualize the cosmic solar energy flowing down the pineal
gland and spreading throughout your body with a revitalizing effect.

Thus, the process starts with inhalation and ends in exhalation. This constitutes one round. It is
suggested to start with five rounds (two minutes), and increase if time permits. On completion of the
practice, thank the Sun for bestowing upon you the life giving solar energy. Thereafter, sit quietly for a
minute, observing the good things in the environment around.

CDS should be practiced within one-hour window after sunrise or within one-hour window before sunset.
Any person of any age can practice CDS. If you wish to practice CDS at any time other than sunrise or
sunset, do not practice it in front of Sun. You can however, practice CDS in a room. Even a bed-ridden
person can try and consciously draw in the solar energy while lying on the bed. With regular practice,
he/she will notice an improvement in physical and mental health. For those who are not comfortable
facing the sun, they can practice the technique in any room having proper ventilation. If you have time,
you can also practice twice a day. Do not hurry in increasing the number of rounds, as there is no
shortcut to success in this method. The nervous system of the body takes its own time in adapting and to
be able to receive the energy.

Significance of emphasis on sunrise and Sunset periods

Only sunrise and sunset are the periods during which the majority of humans can safely obtain the solar
energy directly from the Sun. However, there may be some exceptions. That is why, in Chhath puja, there
is a tradition of offering Arghya to the Sun in late evening and in early morning. During these phases (one
hour window after sunrise and before sunset), the ultraviolet radiation levels remain in safe limits.