https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=MitrotsavamMitrotsavam - Revision history2026-09-05T19:25:26ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mitrotsavam&diff=55967&oldid=prev>Invokingvajras: {{reli-festival-stub}}2019-10-26T15:28:21Z<p>{{reli-festival-stub}}</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div><br />
'''Mitrotsavam''' (Mitrolsavam, Mitra Ulsavam) is a Hindu festival worshipping the Sun god [[Surya]], whose orderly traversal of the sky is ensured by [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]-[[Varuna]], the guardians of cosmic order ({{IAST|[[ṛtá]]}}) in [[Rig Veda]] 8.25.8 and elsewhere.<ref>THE CALL OF THE VEDAS by A C Bose, Bombay, Bhavan's Book University, 1970. 3rd edition.</ref> <br />
<br />
On Mitrotsavam, devotees worship the Sun for prosperity, health and courage. [[Surya]] is glorified in Vedic mantras as the expeller of darkness and evil. The most sacred [[Gayatri]] mantra, composed by Sage [[Vishvamitra]], worships the Sun as Savita. Additionally, the Sun is honored by recitation of the [[Aditya Hridayam]]&mdash; according to a legend in the [[Ramayana]], Lord [[Rama]] was initiated into the worship of Surya with that hymn, which then gave him strength and the power to vanquish evil. Devotees also perform the [[Surya Namaskara]], recite 108 names of Surya, and pray for help to ward off evil, infirmity and disease. At the same time, devotees extoll Mitra (Vedic Mitra-Varuna) as the ''[[Pratyaksha]] devata'', the ''{{IAST|māyā́}}''-minded, far-sighted, thousand-eyed light and fire of the Sun, worship of whom is considered especially beneficial for ailments of the eye and mind.<br />
<br />
In 2008 Mitrotsavam fell on Thursday, December 25.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]<br />
[[Category:Vedic period]]<br />
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{hindu-stub}}<br />
{{reli-festival-stub}}</div>>Invokingvajras