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Lord Surya – Hindu Gods and Deities
Lord Surya is the chief of the Navagraha, the nine Indian Classical planets and important elements of Hindu astrology. He is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by seven horses which might represent the seven colors of the rainbow or the seven chakras in the human body. He is also the presiding deity of Sunday. Surya is regarded as the Supreme Deity by Saura sect and Smartas worship him as one of the five primary forms of God.
Surya or the sun, often identified with Aditya, Savitr and Pusan, is another important Vedic deity. He is compared to a bird that flies in the sky and is described as the jewel of the sky. He gives light, produces day and night, gives power and strength to the living beings, makes them active and destroys their laziness and disease.
Surya had three wives, namely, Sharanya (also called Saraniya, Saranyu, Sanjana or Sangya), Ragyi and Prabha. Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu (the seventh, i.e., present Manu) and the twins Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami. She also bore him the twins known as the Ashvins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas. Saranyu, being unable to bear the extreme radiance of Surya, created a superficial entity from her shadow called Chhaya and instructed her to act as Surya’s wife in her absence. Chhaya mothered two sons Savarni Manu (the eighth, i.e., next Manu) and Shani (the planet Saturn), and two daughters, Tapti and Vishti. He has two more sons, Revanta or Raivata with Ragyi, and Prabhata with Prabha. Surya is the father of the famous tragic hero Karna, described in the Indian epic Mahabharata, by a human princess named Kunti.
Surya’s sons, Shani and Yama, are responsible for the judgment of human life. Shani provides the results of one’s deeds during one’s life through appropriate punishments and rewards while Yama grants the results of one’s deeds after death.
Karna from the Mahabharata is also believed to be a son of Lord Surya.
DIFFERENT NAMES OF LORD SURYA
Lord Surya is hailed by 108 names – Surya Ashtottara Shatnamavali. The commonest among them are Aditya, Adideva, Angaraka, Arka, Bhaga, Brahma, Dhanwantari, Dharmadhwaja, Dhatri, Dhumaketu, Indra, Jaya, Maitreya, Prabhakara, Ravi, Rudra, Savitri, Soma, Teja, Vaisravana, Vanhi, Varun and Vishnu.
Lord Surya in Hindu Scriptures
In the Ramayana, Surya is described as father of the King Sugriva, who helped Rama and Lakshmana in defeating the demon king Ravana. He also trains Hanuman. The Suryavanshi dynasty of kings, Rama being one of them, also claims descent from Surya.
In the Mahabharata, Princess Kunti receives instruction for a mantra from the sage Durvasa; by reciting which, she would be able to summon any god and bear a child by him. Incredulous of the power of this mantra, Kunti unwittingly tests it on Surya, but when Surya appears, she gets scared and requests him to go back. However, Surya has an obligation to fulfill the mantra before returning. Surya miraculously causes Kunti to bear the child immediately whilst retaining her virginity so that she, as an unmarried princess, need not face any embarrassment or be subjected to questions from society. Kunti feels compelled to abandon the child, Karna, who grows up to become one of the central characters in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
In astrology
In Vedic astrology Surya is considered a mild malefic on account of his hot, dry nature. Surya represents soul, will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority. He is exalted in the sign Mesha, is in mulatrikona in the sign Simha and is in debilitation in the sign Tula. Surya is lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. Surya has the following associations: the colors – copper or red, the metals – gold or brass, the gemstone – ruby, the direction – east and the season of summer. The food grain associated with him is wheat.
Lord Surya Iconography
In Hindu mythology, Surya represents the Sun god. Surya is depicted as a red man with three eyes and four arms, riding in a chariot drawn by seven mares. Surya holds water lilies with two of his hands. With his third hand he encourages his worshipers whom he blesses with his fourth hand.
Festivals of Lord Surya
Below are the festivals dedicated to Sun God Surya in India:
Pongal (Makara Sankaranti)
It is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated as Makar Sankranti in many parts of India and as the festival of Pongal by Tamils all over the world. People thank the Sun God for ensuring a good harvest and dedicate the first grain to him.
Chhath
Chhath is another Hindu festival dedicated to Surya. It is believed to start by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. Chhath is unique to Bihar, Jharkhand, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.
Samba Dashami
Samba Dashami is celebrated in the eastern coastal state of Orissa in the honour of Samba, the son of Krishna who was cured of leprosy by praying to Surya.
Ratha Saptami
Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Saptami) of the bright half of the Hindu month Maagha. This day is also known as Surya Jayanti because it celebrates the power of the Sun God.
Aytar Puja
Women in Goa observe Aytar Puja (Aytar is a Konkani word for Sunday, from Sanskrit Adityavasara) on Sundays of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana. Known as Aditya Vrata in Sanskrit, this observance is known as Aditya Ranubai in Maharashtra. Aditya and his consort Rajni are invoked on these days.
TEMPLES OF LORD SURYA
Below are several temples enshrining the Sun God as the principal deity:
The Dakshinaarka temple, Gaya (Bihar)
The Bhramanya Dev Temple, Unao (Madhya Pradesh)
Sun Temple, Deo, Bihar
Sun Temple, Surya Pahar (Assam)
Suryanaar Kovil, Thanjavur (Tamilnadu)
Suryanarayanaswamy Temple, Arasavilli (Andhra Pradesh)
The Sun Temple, Modhera (Gujarat)
The Sun Temple, Konarak (Orissa)
Surya – The Sun God in Hindu Mythology
“Om aa krishnen rajasa vartamaano niveshyannamritam matrayam cha.
Hiranyayena savita rathena devo yati bhuvnaani pashyann”
The above is the Vedic mantra or hymn, found in the Rig Veda. This is in praise of Surya, the Sun God in Hindu mythology. Surya Deva, also known as Suraya or Phra Athit, is the main solar deity in Hinduism. He is also commonly referred to as the Sun.
The main deity of the Navagrahas or the Nine Planets of Hindu Astrology as well, he is also considered as one of the Navagrahas. Surya is often portrayed as riding a chariot driven by 7 horses or alternatively, by 1 horse with 7 heads. These 7 horses represent the colors of the rainbow and the 7 chakras in the subtle human body as well. Surya is sometimes shown with 2 hands, holding one lotus in each and sometimes with 4 hands, holding a lotus, Sankha (conch), Chakra (discus) and Gada (mace).
Surya Devata in Hinduism is considered to be an eye of the Virata Purusha, or the Vishwarupa (Universal Form) of Lord Sri Krishna himself. Incidentally, Surya is worshipped by people, saints and even asuras or demons. Certain groups of Rakshasas, called the Yatudhanas, were staunch followers of the Sun God.
Surya Devata is regarded as the Supreme Being among the followers of the Saura sect, which has now become very small and is almost endangered. The Sauras worship him as one of the five major forms of God.
One can find many temples, all over India, dedicated to the worship of Surya. He is worshipped in the early hours of dawn, especially on Hindu festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, Chhath and Samba Dashami.
Most Common Forms of Surya
Surya is worshipped in many forms. But two of the most common forms of the deity are Arka and Mitra.
Surya in the form of Arka is worshipped mostly in North and Eastern India. The very grand and elaborate Konark Temple in Orissa, the Uttararka and Lolarka in Uttar Pradesh, the Balarka temple in Rajasthan and the Sun Temple at Modhera, Gujarat, are all dedicated to his form of Arka. Yet another temple, the Balarka Surya Mandir built in Uttar Pradesh in the 10th Century, was destroyed in the 14th Century, during the Turkish invasion.
The other most common form of Surya, namely, Mitra, is found mostly in Gujarat. “Mitra” literally means “friend”.
Different Names of Surya
Lord Surya is hailed by 108 names. The commonest among them are Aditya, Adideva, Angaraka, Arka, Bhaga, Brahma, Dhanwantari, Dharmadhwaja, Dhatri, Dhumaketu, Indra, Jaya, Maitreya, Prabhakara, Ravi, Rudra, Savitri, Soma, Teja, Vaisravana, Vanhi, Varun and Vishnu.
Surya: Family and Relationships
Surya, or Vivasvata, had 3 queens, namely, Sharanya (also called Saraniya, Saranyu, Sanjana or Sangya), Ragyi and Prabha. Sharanya was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu (or Satyavrata, the present Manu) and the twins Yama (the God of Death) and his sister Yami. Later, she also gave birth to the Ashvin twins, who were the divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas.
Being unable to bear the extreme radiance emitted by Surya, Sharanya created a superficial shadow of herself, called Chhaya. She asked her to act as Surya’s wife. In due course of time, Chhaya gave birth to 2 sons, namely, Savarni Manu and Shani (Planet Saturn) and 2 daughters, namely, Tapti and Vishti. Surya’s other wife, Ragyi, gave birth to their son, Revanta or Raivata.
Incidentally, Surya Deva’s sons, Shani and Yama, are the judges of human life and karma. While Shani Deva bestows positive or negative results for one’s deeds committed during one’s lifetime, Yama Deva grants these results after one’s death.
In the Ramayana and the Mahabharata
In the Ramayana, Surya is said to be the father of King Sugriva. Sugriva was the one who helped Rama defeat the terrible demon king, Ravana. He imparts training to Hanuman to help him lead the Vanara Sena or the Army of Monkeys. Interestingly, Lord Rama himself is a descendant of Surya – he is a Suryavanshi, that is, hailing from the dynasty of the Suryavanshas.
Surya bears great significance in the Mahabharata as well. According to this epic, Kunti receives the diksha for a mantra from the short-tempered sage, Durvasa. She was given the boon that whenever she chanted this mantra, she would be able to summon a Deva and also bear a child by him. Without realizing its seriousness, Kunti tested the mantra, summoning Surya. As Surya was forced to fulfill the obligation of the mantra, she miraculously begot a child from him, while actually retaining her virginity. Not able to bear the thought of becoming an unwed mother, princess Kunti was compelled to abandon her son, Karna, who later grew up to be one of the greatest ever warriors and a central character in the battle of Kurukshetra.
Incidentally, the first book of the Mahabharata does not mention Surya as one of the Adityas. However, he may be regarded as the joint strength of all the 12 solar deities, namely, Dhatri, Mitra, Aryaman, Sakra, Varuna, Amsa, Vaga, Vivaswat, Usha, Savitri, Tvashtri, Vishnu.
In Other Cultures
The Sun God enjoys great importance in Greek and Egyptian mythology. Surya’s Greek counterpart is Helios and the Egyptian Sun God is Ra.
In Zoroastrianism, which is based on the worship of Fire, the Sun is described as the “Eye of Ahura Mazda”. This bears resemblance to Hinduism, which considers Surya to be one eye of Sri Maha Vishnu.
In Vedic Astrology
In Vedic astrology, Surya is regarded as slightly volatile, due to his nature of being too radiant and emitting too much heat. The Sun thus represents the soul, vitality, courage, willpower, authority, royalty and so on. His position is exalted in Mesha or Aries and takes a backward position in Tula or Libra. In Hindu horoscopes, the best location for Surya is considered to be right overhead, on the 10th house and on the 1st, 5th and 9th houses.
Surya is the Lord of Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. He is often associated with reds, coppers and metallic colors and his gemstone is ruby.
Surya Blesses Bala Hanuman
Surya Deva is known to be strong, powerful and invincible. However, he too was once subdued by Hanuman, the greatest devotee and also the humble sevak (servant) of Lord Rama. He had an interesting episode with Surya during his childhood. A rather playful and mischievous monkey in his baalyaavastha (childhood), Hanuman leapt up to the skies and started chasing Surya, mistaking him to be a ripe mango! He kept pursuing the Sun, wanting to eat what he thought was the delicious fruit.
Later, when he realized that Surya was the all-knowing teacher, Hanuman raised his body and positioned himself to orbit around the Sun, also requesting him to accept him as a disciple. Surya refused, saying that he could never be in one place, as he had to constantly traverse around the world. An undeterred Hanuman continued to pursue Surya and kept pleading persistently. Surya then agreed and passed on his knowledge to Hanuman.
In this way, Surya emerged as a Karma Saakshi, the Eternal Witness of all deeds. The former also gave Hanuman 2 siddhis, namely, laghima and garima, which enabled him to take the smallest form and the largest form, respectively, at will.
Sun Temples in India
One can find several temples in India, dedicated to the worship of Surya. Here is a list of the major temples:
Konark Sun Temple, Orissa
The Konark Sun Temple is the most famous in India. Built in the 13th Century, it is also known as the Black Pagoda. It is located in Konark, Odisha and was supposedly built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. This temple is built in the shape of a huge chariot with elaborately carved stone wheels, walls and pillars. A UNESCO World Heritage Site; also considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of India; this temple is now partially in ruins.
The name “Konark” is derived from the roots, “Kona” (corner) and “Arka”. The structure was originally built at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but now, the river has notably receded. Strictly adhering to the Kalinga style of architecture, this temple was built with Khondalite rocks and faced the east in such a way that the first rays of the sun could strike the main entrance. The Konark temple is well known for its intricate and erotic sculptures of maithunas.
Two smaller temples have been found nearby. One of them is the Mayadevi Temple, who is supposedly one of Surya’s wives. The other one is a Vaishnava temple, comprising sculptures of Balarama, Varaha and Trivikrama. But neither of the temples has a main idol.
According to legend, Samba, the son of Krishna, suffered from leprosy. The sage Kataka asked him to worship Surya to cure his disease. Samba undertook penance for 12 years near the shores of Chandrabhaga and then built Konark and other temples as well.
Multan Sun Temple
This temple is also known as the Aditya Sun Temple and is located in modern Punjab, Pakistan. The original Multan Sun Temple is said to have been built by Samba. This temple is supposed to have been visited by Hsuen Tsang in 641 AD. The temple, rich in its opulence, gold and gems, became a great source of revenue for the Muslim invaders, post their invasion. He plundered and looted its wealth, sparing only the idol, which was made of wood. Before the invasion, this idol had been covered with gems and gold, with two red rubies for its eyes.
The city of Multan probably got its name from the Sanskrit word, “Mulasthana”, which is the location of this temple. However, the exact location of the original Multan temple is presently under debate.
Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda
Also known as the abode of Biranchinarayana or the Wooden Konark, this temple is situated in the Buguda town in Orissa. It was built immediately after the Konark temple, by King Bhanjadeva in 1790. The main deity in this temple is Biranchi Narayana, whose idol was recovered from the ruins of Maltigad. The idol shows a chariot driven by seven horses with only one wheel on the left; also with Arjuna as the charioteer.
Made of wood, this temple faces west and is built in such a way that the setting sun’s last rays fall on Surya’s feet.
Sun Temple, Modhera
The Sun temple in Modhera, Gujarat, was created in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. This impressive stone temple is located along the banks of the river Pushpavati, about a 100 kms from Ahmedabad. Though prayers are no more conducted in this temple, it still retains its earlier grandeur. At present, it is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India.
According to the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, the regions surrounding Modhera was known as Dharmaranya. On the advice of Sage Vasishtha, Lord Rama had come to this place to purify himself after killing Ravana. He stayed in a place called Modherak and performed a yagna there, after which he set up a village named Sitapur, which eventually came to be known as Modhera.
Though the Solanki dynasty lost its power during the Turkish invasion, it regained its glory in the later years. The Solankis were considered to be Gurjars or descendants of Surya. They helped bring back the region’s lost glory.
The temple is so built that the first rays of the sun fell on the idol of Surya, at the time equinoxes. Now, the temple is partially in ruins. However, a dance festival is annually held, in order to keep the ancient culture and tradition alive. Renowned artists travel from all over the globe to perform at this wonderful location.
Martand Sun Temple
Situated near Anantnag in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, this Sun temple is now in ruins. It was built in the Aryan style in the 8th Century and is now one of the most important archaeological sites in India. Built by King Lalitaditya Muktapida, it is said that the foundation of the temple was built around 370-500 AD.
Now, the Martand temple appears in the list of India’s centrally protected monuments.
Suryanar Temple
The Suryanar Temple is situated in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. This temple was built even before the Konark temple, by Kulottunga Choladeva. comprising a 50-foot Gopuram or tower, there is an idol of the Surya with his chariot and horses, right at the entrance. The central sanctum sanctorum is dedicated to Surya, with shrines of the other planets situated all around it. This Navagraha temple is considered to be extremely powerful and attracts a large number of devotees every year, especially during festival times. Earlier, this temple was also known as Kulottungachola-Marttandalaya.
Festivals
Many festivals are dedicated to Lord Surya. The major festivals are as follows:
Makar Sankranti is the most popular, also the most widely celebrated festival, dedicated to Surya Deva. Referred to as Pongal by Tamil people residing all over the world, this event is to show gratitude to the Deva for bestowing a good harvest. Here, the first grain is dedicated to him.
Chhath is yet another Hindu festival celebrated in Surya’s name. Said to have been started by Karna, the son of Surya, it is held in Bihar, Jharkhand and certain regions in Uttar Pradesh, Nepal and even Mauritius.
Samba Dashami is a Surya-related festival celebrated in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. This is held in honor of Samba, the son of Krishna.
Ratha Saptami is another major Hindu festival dedicated to Surya. This falls on the seventh day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Magha. This day is also celebrated as Surya Jayanti, as it is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Surya on this day. Rathasaptami starts with the purification bath, followed by an elaborate pooja and other rituals, seeking the benevolence and grace of Lord Surya. At the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, the presiding deity, Lord Balaji (Venkateshwara) is mounted on seven Vahanas (vehicles), one after another, in the prescribed order. The Lord is mounted on the Suryaprabha Vahana, Hanmad Vahana, Garuda Vahana, Peddasesha Vahana, Kalpavruksha Vahana, Sarvabhupahala Vahana and finally, the Chandraprabha Vahana. This is referred to as the Okka roju Brahmostavam, or a single day celebration, wherein the devotee gets the darshan of the Lord being carried by his different vahanas. The Lord, along with his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, are taken on a procession on the Thiru mada streets around the temple.
Elaborate prayers are offered to Surya on this day, including the Adityahridayam, Gayathri Suryashtakam, Surya Sahasranamam and so on. Many Hindu temples conduct a ceremonial procession of Surya at this time. In South India, rangolis are drawn on the ground with colored powder, often depicting a chariot driven by 7 horses.
Surya Namaskara or the “Sun Salutation”
Many devout Hindus regularly perform the Surya Namaskara, literally meaning, “Sun salutation”. This mode of worship is essentially made up of 11 asanas or yogic postures, which are assumed in successive movements, along with breath control, to form a flowing series of one complete namaskara. 12 mantras are chanted for each of these namaskaras. The Surya Namaskara is not only considered auspicious, but is also very beneficial for all-round health and wellness, both physical and mental.
Suryopasana or Sun Worship
Many Hindus perform regular Suryopasana, that is, offering worship to the Sun God. The period from April 12th to 23rd is considered most auspicious for the worship of Surya. Surya is believed to be the giver of intelligence, confidence, good health, courage, strength, leadership qualities, independence, fame, success, power and much more. While an ill-placed position of the Sun in a person’s horoscope could indicate low self-esteem, lack of confidence, ill health and dependency; an overly strong placement of the Sun could also trigger many negative qualities in the person concerned.
After having a bath early morning, the seeker has to offer jal or water to Surya, looking in his direction, paying salutations to the Lord. Surya is regarded as a manifestation of the Brahman and so he is often referred to as Surya Narayana.
One can chant the Vedic mantra of Surya, which is mentioned right at the very beginning of this article.
The puranic mantra of Surya is as follows:
“Japa Kusuma Sankasham Kashyapeyam Mahadyuthim
Thamognam Sarvapapagnam Pranathosmi Divakaram”
Surya’s Beeja mantra is “Om hran hrin hron sah suryay namah”
The mantra, “Om ghrini suryay nama:”, is commonly used as well.
Adityahridayam
Adityahridayam is a sloka or hymn in praise of Aditya, the Sun God. It was originally recited by Sage Agastya to Rama on the battlefield, before the latter went to fight the demon king, Ravana. Belonging to the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana, this hymn starts at the beginning of the Rama-Ravana duel. Rama was exhausted after a long day’s fight with the army of Lanka and so, Agasya taught him the mantra in order to gain the courage and strength to face the enemy. The hymn was later compiled by Sage Valmiki.
The Adityahridayam comprises a total of 30 slokas, which contain the whole episode of Agastya telling Rama about the greatness of Lord Surya; relating the benefits of reciting the hymn; the sloka itself; and how the Lord pervades the Consciousness and is actually one with the jeevatma.
The Adityas
The word “Aditya” in Sanskrit refers to something “that comes from Aditi”. In other words, it refers to “the offspring of Aditi”. Aditya also means the Sun.
In the Rigveda
According to the Rigveda, the Adityas are the 7 sons of Aditi. These celestial beings are Varuna, Mitra (or Surya), Aryaman, Bhaga, Amsa, Dhatri and Indra. Aditi had an eighth Aditya as well, called Martanda, who she rejected and disowned.
The Yajurveda records the existence of 8 Adityas, the last one being, Vivasvan. Some believe that this entity was actually Martanda, who was revived and then became Vivasvan.
The Rigveda describes the Adityas as akin to pure streams of water, free from all guile, falsehood and negativity. They have also been attributed as being completely Dharmic or righteous. They are benevolent divine beings, who protect all beings and also guard the world of the spirits.
In Other Texts
The Brahmanas, which are commentaries on the 4 Vedas, list the existence of 12 Adityas, as Amsa, Aryaman, Bhaga, Daksha, Dhatri, Indra, Mitra, Ravi, Savitr, Arka (or Surya), Varuna and Yama.
The Linga Purana too talks about 12 Adityas, namely, Vishnu, Indra, Dhata, Bhaga, Twashta, Amshuman, Varuna, Mitra, Vivasvan, Pusha, Savitr and Aryaman.
In the Chandogya-Upanishad, Aditya is another name of Vishnu, in his fifth avatara as Vamana, the Dwarf. Interestingly, Vamana’s mother, according to this Purana, is Aditi.
One other list from the Vishnu Purana names 12 Adityas, as Amsa, Aryaman, Bhaga, Dhuti, Mitra, Pusan, Sakra, Savitr, Tvastr, Varuna, Vishnu and Vivasvat.
Who is the Hindu Sun God?
Hindus worship a plethora of deities who represent various elements of nature and life events. One of the most powerful deities that Hindus worship is Lord Surya, the Hindu sun god. Also called Aditya (the solar deity), or Surya Bhagavan, Lord Surya represents the sun in Hindu astrology and is the chief deity among the nine classical planets of Hindu antiquity, known as the Navagraha. The nine classical planets of Vedic lore include Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun, and the Moon. Surya is worshipped as a creator god and the essence of life in the universe. Surya is said to ride across the sky on a sacred golden chariot, destroying the demons of the night and darkness. Sometimes flanked by the goddesses Usha and Pratyusha, Surya’s chariot was guided by seven horses that represent the sacred number seven. The number seven reflects the colors of the rainbow spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) and the seven chakras inherent to Hindu doctrinal systems.
History of Surya the God
The Vedas, ancient sacred Hindu texts that contain hymns, philosophical writings, and poems written between 1500 and 500 B.C.E., have a variety of devotional writings that worship Surya, the sun god. Lord Surya is first mentioned in the Rigveda, the earliest of the published Vedic texts. The Rigveda (1:50) is devoted to the worship of the magnificent sun god. The Mahabharata is an epic Hindu narrative poem composed between 400 and 200 B.C.E. that depicts a group of individuals that worship the sun. It also features the tilak, the red circular dot worn by many Saura Hindus that reflects an image of the sun on the human body. Surya is also mentioned in the Upanishads, the last writings of the Vedas.
What is Surya the god of?
Lord Surya is worshipped as the god of the sun. He was first written about in the Vedas, an ancient set of Hindu hymns and philosophical texts that outline the mythology of Hinduism.
What is Surya worship?
Surya is frequently worshipped every morning by Hindu devotees that chant the Gayatri mantra, which specifically invokes one of the names of Surya (Savitur). Yoga practitioners also perform Surya namaskar, which are known as ‘sun salutations’.
Surya Dev
He is typically shown as a resplendent standing person holding lotus flower in both his hands, riding a chariot pulled by one or more horses typically seven. The seven horses are named after the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody: Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha and Pankti.
The Brihat Samhita, a Hindu text that describes architecture, iconography and design guidelines, states that Surya should be shown with two hands and wearing a crown.
His chariot driver in both books is stated to be Aruṇa who is seated. Two females typically flank him, who represent the dawn goddesses named Usha and Pratyusha. The goddesses are shown to be shooting arrows, a symbolism for their initiative to challenge darkness.
Birth Story Of Lord Surya
The origin of Surya begins with the creation of the universe through Brahmaa, the creator god. Bhrama begins the creation process by first creating the progenitor Daksa and his wife from the tips of his right and left thumbs respectively. One of the 13 daughters of Daksa and his wife was Aditi, mother of Surya. A succinct version of how Aditi came to be the mother of Surya follows.
Aditi was betrothed to a sage named Kasyapa with whom she gave birth to twelve sons. These sons were known as the twelve Adityas and their names include Indra, Dhata, Tvashta, Bhaga, Varuna, Mitra, Yama, Savita, Vivasvan (the Sun-God), Pusha, Visnu and Ansuman. Kashyapa also had other wives to whom were born many other children including the race of demons and also other species of animals and birds. Conflict arose between the demons and the gods when Bhrama allowed the gods to have a share of what was received from sacrificial offerings or the Yajnas. This did not sit well with the demons and, as a result, a war ensued in which the gods found themselves losing and were forced to give up their place in heaven and their portion of the Yajnas. Seeing her sons tormented this way grieved Aditi greatly and caused her to prostrate herself before the Sun-God, Vivasvan, and beg for his help.
After several days of fasting and devotion, the Sun-God was pleased and allowed Aditi to make a request of him. Aditi requested that the Sun-God be born as a son to her and a brother to her children so that he could defeat the powerful demons and restore her children to their rightful place in heaven and also their allotment of the Yajnas. The Sun-God granted Aditi’s request but said that he was far too powerful to be born to her in his fullness and granted her a thousandth part of his essence to be born as a son. So it was that the Sun-God was born to Aditi and Indra then declared war against the demons and it was seen that Martanda (the Sun-God) turned the demons to ashes merely by looking at them. In the end the gods regained their place in heaven and partook of the Yajnas once again.
Home / Hindu / Surya The Sun God Story – Birth Story Of Lord Surya
Surya The Sun God Story – Birth Story Of Lord Surya
Surya The Sun God Story – Birth Story Of Lord Surya
By Indian Astrology / July 2, 2019
Surya the Sun God story – birth story of Lord Surya. Know the Lord Surya seven horses names. We will also find the answer to “according to Vishnu Purana who was the wife of Surya – Surya Dev wife name”.
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Surya Dev
He is typically shown as a resplendent standing person holding lotus flower in both his hands, riding a chariot pulled by one or more horses typically seven. The seven horses are named after the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody: Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtubha, Anushtubha and Pankti.
The Brihat Samhita, a Hindu text that describes architecture, iconography and design guidelines, states that Surya should be shown with two hands and wearing a crown.
His chariot driver in both books is stated to be Aruṇa who is seated. Two females typically flank him, who represent the dawn goddesses named Usha and Pratyusha. The goddesses are shown to be shooting arrows, a symbolism for their initiative to challenge darkness.
Birth Story Of Lord Surya
The origin of Surya begins with the creation of the universe through Brahmaa, the creator god. Bhrama begins the creation process by first creating the progenitor Daksa and his wife from the tips of his right and left thumbs respectively. One of the 13 daughters of Daksa and his wife was Aditi, mother of Surya. A succinct version of how Aditi came to be the mother of Surya follows.
Aditi was betrothed to a sage named Kasyapa with whom she gave birth to twelve sons. These sons were known as the twelve Adityas and their names include Indra, Dhata, Tvashta, Bhaga, Varuna, Mitra, Yama, Savita, Vivasvan (the Sun-God), Pusha, Visnu and Ansuman. Kashyapa also had other wives to whom were born many other children including the race of demons and also other species of animals and birds. Conflict arose between the demons and the gods when Bhrama allowed the gods to have a share of what was received from sacrificial offerings or the Yajnas. This did not sit well with the demons and, as a result, a war ensued in which the gods found themselves losing and were forced to give up their place in heaven and their portion of the Yajnas. Seeing her sons tormented this way grieved Aditi greatly and caused her to prostrate herself before the Sun-God, Vivasvan, and beg for his help.
After several days of fasting and devotion, the Sun-God was pleased and allowed Aditi to make a request of him. Aditi requested that the Sun-God be born as a son to her and a brother to her children so that he could defeat the powerful demons and restore her children to their rightful place in heaven and also their allotment of the Yajnas. The Sun-God granted Aditi’s request but said that he was far too powerful to be born to her in his fullness and granted her a thousandth part of his essence to be born as a son. So it was that the Sun-God was born to Aditi and Indra then declared war against the demons and it was seen that Martanda (the Sun-God) turned the demons to ashes merely by looking at them. In the end the gods regained their place in heaven and partook of the Yajnas once again.
Lord Surya Seven Horses Names
The seven horses names of Surya:
Gayathri
Bruhathi
Ushnik
Jagathi
Dhrushtup
Anushtup
Bhakthi
Chhaya or Chaya is the Hindu personification or goddess of shadow, and the consort of Surya, the Hindu sun god. She is the shadow-image or reflection of Saranyu (Sangya), the first wife of Surya. Chhaya was born from the shadow of Sanjna and replaced Sanjna in her house, after the latter temporarily left unable to bear Surya’s fierce splendour.
Chhaya is usually described as the mother of Shani, the god of the planet Saturn and a feared graha; goddess Tapti, the personification of river Tapti; and a son Savarni Manu, who is destined to be the next and eighth Manu. Bhagavata Purana tells that Chhaya was a sister of Sanjna and the daughter of the divine architect Vishwakarma.
Story of Devi Sanjna and Chhaya
The Vishnu Purana tells the story – unable to bear Surya’s intense heat, Sanjna after giving birth to three children – retires to the forest to practise harsh austerities in form of a mare, leaving her shadow-image Chhaya, her handmaid to take her place and tend for her husband and progeny. Surya mistakes Chhaya for Sanjna and fathers three children on her. Chhaya gives birth to Shani, Savarni Manu and Tapti. However, Chhaya became partial to her own children and ignored those of Sanjna. Yama, suspected the behaviour of who he thought was his mother and offended her. Chhaya cast a curse on Yama (the details of the curse are not disclosed), which revealed to Yama and Surya that Chhaya was not the true Sanjna. After the extracting the truth from Chhaya, Surya finds Sanjna and brings her back.
In general context, Surya had three offspring with Sanjna. These were Vaivasvata (one of the 14 original men or Manu), Yama (god of the dead), and Yami (goddess of the Yamuna river).
In Matsya Purana, the children of Chhaya are named as Savarni Manu a son and two daughters: Tapti and Vishti, who was dark blue colour and a personification of Kaal (Time or Death) and who dwells in Narak.
In Markandeya Purana, Devi Chhaya had three sons: Shani, Savarni Manu and Revanta, the divine master of horses. Kurma Purana describes only Savarni Manu as her son.