In Hinduism, Sūrya (Devanagari: सूर्य, sūrya ("the Supreme Light");[2] Tamil: Suriya; Malay: Suria; Thai: Suraya, Suriya or Phra Athit) is the chief solar deity, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi[3]; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar (depending by the version). The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold. He is said to drive through the heaven in his triumphal chariot harnessed by seven horses or one horse with seven heads,[1] which represent the seven colours of the rainbow or the seven chakras. He presides over "Surya-waar" or Sunday.
In Hindu religious literature, Surya is notably mentioned as the visible form of God that one can see every day. Furthermore, Shaivites and Vaishnavas often regard Surya as an aspect of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively. For example, the sun is called Surya Narayana by Vaishnavas. In Shaivite theology, Surya is said to be one of eight forms of Shiva, named the Astamurti.
His other names include Vivasvat (Sanskrit: वैवस्वत) (also Visvakarma or Vivasvan), Ravi (lit. "the Fire Bird"[2]), Aditya (lit. the son of Aditi)[4], Pusha (the best Purifier), Divakar (the maker of the day), Savita (the vivifier), Arka (the ray), Mitra (friend),[4] Bhanu (light), Bhaskar (maker of Light), and Grahapati (the Lord of Grahas).[5]
Depictions
Sometimes Surya is depicted with two hands holding a lotus in both; sometimes he has four hands holding a lotus, chakra, a conch and a mace.
Surya namaskara, or the "Sun salutation"
A well-known Hindu mode of worship of the devotional movements of Surya is done at the rising of the Sun, known as Sūrya namaskāra (sun salutation). Ten yogic postures are assumed in successive flowing movements to complete one namaskar. Twelve sacred Hindu mantras uttered and for each mantra one complete namaskar is done. Ancient practice is to do 108 namaskaras a day. It is considered most auspicious by Hindus to do this.
The 12 mantras for surya namaskara:
- ॐ मित्राय नमः aum mitrāya namah
- ॐ रवये नमः aum ravayé namah
- ॐ सूर्याय नमः aum sūryāya namah
- ॐ भानवे नमः aum bhānavé namah
- ॐ खगय नमः aum khagāya namah
- ॐ पुष्णे नमः aum pushné namah
- ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः aum hiranyagarbhāya namah
- ॐ मारिचाये नमः aum mārichāyé namah
- ॐ आदित्याय नमः aum ādityāya namah
- ॐ सावित्रे नमः aum sāvitré namah
- ॐ आर्काय नमः aum ārkāya namah
- ॐ भास्कराय नमः aum bhāskarāya namah
The mantra frequently recited to praise the Surya comes from the Rig Veda, Book 1 Hymn 35:
- आ कृष्णेन् रजसा वर्तमानो निवेशयन्न अमृतं मर्त्यं च ।
- हिरण्ययेन सविता रथेना देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन ॥
- Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,
- Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God who looks on every creature.[citation needed]
The Gayatri Mantra is also associated with Surya. Another hymn associated with Surya is the Aditya Hridayam, recited by the great sage Agastya to Rama on the warfield before the fight with Ravana.
Surya's religious role and relationships
Surya with consorts Saranyu and Chhaya
Vivasvat (Surya) had queens - Saranyu (also called Saraniya, Saranya, Sanjna, or Sangya), Ragyi, and Prabha. Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu or Sraddhadeva Manu (the seventh, i.e. present Manu) and the twins Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami (associated with the river Yamuna). She also bore him the twins known as the Ashwins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas. Once, 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 (goddess of river Tapti) and Vishti.[6] He also has a son, Revanta, or Raivata, by Ragyi.
In Ramayana, Surya is described as father of the Monkey King Sugriva, who helped Rama and Lakshmana defeat the demon king Ravana. He also trains Hanuman as his guru. The Suryavanshi dynasty of kings, Rama being one of them, also claims descent from him.
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 fulfil the mantra before returning. Surya magically 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 (Aries) and is in decline in the sign Tula (Libra). The strongest placement for Surya is directly overhead in the 10th house, and on the angles (the 1st, 4th and 7th houses). 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 (one of Nava Dhanyas) is wheat.
Temples
There are Surya temples all across India. The most famous is the World Heritage Site of the Sun Temple, Konark, Orissa. Besides Konark, there is another sun temple in Orissa called Biranchi khetra (Biranchi Narayan Temple) in Buguda, Ganjam District. There are sun temples in Modhera, Gujarat, created by king Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty, in Arasavalli, Andhra Pradesh and in clusters of Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu and Assam.The Sun Temple at Martand(jammu and kashmir) and Sun Temple of Multan are temples which were destroyed by muslims .
Festivals
Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the Seventh day (Saptami) of the bright half of the hindu month Maagha.[7] This day is also known as Surya Jayanthi because it celebrates the power of the Sun God who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu in his form as Surya is usually worshiped on this day. Usually, Rathasapthami begins in households with a purification bath by holding a few bilva leaves on one's head while bathing and chanting a verse which is supposed to invoke the benevolence of the Lord in all that one takes up the rest of the year. It also involves doing a puja with the ritual 'Naivedyam', flowers and fruits.
See also
References
- ^ a b Jansen, Eva Rudy. The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning, p. 65.
- ^ a b Wilhelm, Ernst. Graha Sutras, Kala Occult Publishers, p.49. ISBN 0970963645
- ^ Ganguli, Kisari Mohan. Translation of Mahabharata of Vyasa, Stories and Characters from Mahabharata.
- ^ a b Wilhelm, Ernst. Graha Sutras, Kala Occult Publishers, p.50. ISBN 0970963645
- ^ Wilhelm, Ernst. Graha Sutras, Kala Occult Publishers, p.51. ISBN 0970963645
- ^ Padma Purana - Chap Srishtikhand, section 8
- ^ Swami Sivananda, Ratha Saptami
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