Hindu religion is known for its multiple gods and goddesses, depicted in sacred art in the most beautiful forms. Yet there are a few rare deities, who are worshipped not as idols but as powerfully visible divine presence. The most popular one among them is Surya, the Vedic Sun god in India, who emerges every morning to give his devotees a chance to witness and worship him in all his glory.
Revered as Brahma in the morning, Shiva during the noon time, and Vishnu as evening comes, Surya is associated with the Prabha (aura) of the divine beings, a deity whose worship continues from the beginning of civilization to the modern period, because his role in nourishing and empowering life in the Universe is unparalleled.
In this article, we will bask in the splendor of Surya, going through various interesting facts about the Hindu Sun god, who is a primary member of the Panchayatana (five major sects dedicated to Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, and Surya) worshiped in Hinduism and is a divine being in Buddhism and Jainism.
Vedic texts and later sacred literature mention sage Kashyapa and Devi Aditi as the parents of Surya Deva. He was married to Tvastr’s daughter, Samjana or Sanjana. According to legends, they had an ideal marriage and gave birth to Yama-Yamuna and Manu, but Samjana was unable to bear the luster of Surya, and to soothe herself for some time, she created her shadow-self, named “Chaya” and left her with Surya.
☸ Chaya and Surya became parents of Shani and Savarna, but soon Surya discovered the truth about the shadow-wife. He attempted to find Samjana, who took the form of a mare, and from their union, Ashvini Kumar, the horse-headed twin gods were born.
☸ Surya Deva also became the father of Karna, through the mantra she received from Durvasa Rishi and he is also the father of Sugriva, the king of monkeys who helped Rama against Ravana.
☸ Aruna, the charioteer of Bhagwan Surya also has interesting legends related to him. He is the brother of the mighty mount of Vishnu, Garuda. According to his stories, Vinata, the mother of Aruna in order to win a bet against Kadru, the co-wife of her husband about whose child would be born first, broke the egg in which Aruna was growing prematurely.
The being that emerged from that egg was thus very brightly red-colored and ill-formed. Cursing his mother, Aruna lunged into the horizon and was later blessed by his father to become the charioteer of the Sun god. The rich red color of the sky, just before sunrise, is considered to be the manifestation of the red-hued body of Aruna, who appears moments before his Lord, announcing his arrival.
In the Vedas, Surya and his various aspects are worshipped with chants and hymns. In the Ramayana and Mahabharata, he is mentioned in stories as the keeper of the divine order. The Mahabharata narrates that Surya gave the Akshayapatra or “vessel of unending food” to the Pandavas when they were forced to live in the forest.
In Ramayana, Rishi Agastya gave Sri Rama the Aditya Hridaya Stotram, a hymn dedicated to Surya as Aditya, chanting that would help Rama defeat Ravana. Devotees worship Surya through the Stotram today to gain blessings of confidence, strength, and success as the Sun god is believed to give boons of “Tejas”- brilliance and power.
The texts on iconography in Hinduism describe the Sun god as standing or sitting on his chariot, two-armed, holding stylized lotuses in each hand. He is sometimes depicted with his two wives Usha and Pratyusha (goddesses of morning and evening). His chariot is driven by 7 horses, each representing one day of the week. The names of Surya’s 7 horses are- Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnih, Jagati, Trishtuh, Anustubh, and Pankti, each synonymous with one Vedic meter.
In comparison to other Hindu gods and goddesses, the temples of Surya in India are a rare occurrence. However, wherever they appear, they represent the majestic beauty of ancient Indian architecture and are examples of the reverence and power the Vedic deity held through various periods of Indian history.
This one is no surprise, since from the beginning of the modern period, under British rule, the “black Pagoda” of Konark was a symbol of India’s antiquity. It was built by the Eastern Ganga ruler Gajapati Langula Narasingha Deva and is famous for its gigantic wheels and chariot structures. In 1984 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site and the annual Chandrabhaga Mela attracts lovers of culture from all over the globe here, with a huge number of people visiting Konark every day to experience its grandeur.
Built under Bheem I, the Chaulukya ruler, the Modhera Temple boasts a beautiful and elaborate Maru-Gurjar architecture, a regional style of Western India. During the Uttarayana of the Sun in January every year, the temple hosts the Uttararda Mahotsava, celebrating folk, and local culture against the backdrop of the splendid architecture.
Near Anantanag, the temple in the valley stands on a raised hill, creating a marvelous coming together of architectural and natural beauty. Kalhana, the early medieval writer from Kashmir, described the construction of this temple by Lalitaditya, in the 8th century CE.
Due to its unique geographical and cultural location at a point where different styles met, the temple has a blend of Gandhara architecture, Gupta elements, and Chinese influence visible in its construction. Though the temple was damaged by attacks during medieval times and multiple earthquakes, restoration efforts are ongoing, with a new wave launched by the government in March 2024.
The sacred Vayu Purana mentions this spot as a powerful place, where Pinda Daana and other rituals related to post-death periods are done historically. The Dakshina Maanas tank of the temple is especially popular for these rites, giving the Dakshinark Temple an important place in the cultural geography of Gaya-kshetra. The present architecture of the temple is traced to the 13th century, credited to the Warangal ruler, Prataprudra.
A cluster of 7 mountain tops marks the spot of this ancient and lesser-known temple, which is surrounded by sites dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses, Jaina Tirthankaras, and Buddhist practitioners. Mahishasuramardini sculpture, Hari-Hara, Shiva, Stupas, and a 12-armed Vishnu or Mansa Devi statue are key findings of this unique site.
The Sri Sri Surya Mela during January, celebrating the Maghi Purnima is a special festival of this temple. According to local beliefs, Rishi Vyasa established 99999 Shiva Lingas in this region, to create a second Kashi. Though the exact number of Shiva-Linga here is not known, there are hundreds of medium and small sizes Lingas all over the mountains, making this site a powerful one, which is protected by the Indian Government.
This temple houses the idol of Surya Deva with his wives, along with a cluster of temples dedicated to the Navagraha or nine planetary deities. According to the temple legends, the planets were cursed by Lord Brahma and later blessed by Shiva, to reside in this sacred land. Thousands of devotees visit this temple to gain positive effects of Navagraha in their birth charts and worship Shiva to protect them from the negative impacts of these planetary deities.
A tradition that has almost disappeared with its traces absorbed by other popular sects such as Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta, the Saura sect is an ancient Sun-worship tradition, whose members revere the Sun god and put a red dot on their forehead, symbolizing Surya. Though the practitioners of this sect are virtually none, Sun worship is an important part of Hindu culture and the importance of Surya Deva is visible in the many festivals around the country dedicated to him.
The most popular festival across India, Makar Sankranti is a celebration of the Sun going from Southern to Northern Hemisphere or what is called “Uttarayana” in Hindu culture. Bathing in sacred rivers, Daana (donation), eating Khichdi, flying kites, and offering water to the Sun are common practices of Makar Sankranti all over the country.
A Tamil harvest fest, falling at the same time as Makar Sankranti, this celebration is divided into several days- Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanum Pongal. Rice mixed with milk and jaggery boils over an earthen pot in traditional Tamil houses, marking the beginning of a new season for the farmers, and prayers of fertility and auspiciousness are offered.
The 10th day of Shukla Paksha in Pausha (December-January) is celebrated as Samba Dashami, in memory of Krishna’s son Samba, who suffered from leprosy and after revering the Sun god at Konark for 12 years, regained his health. Mothers perform special rituals for their sons during this festival, praying Surya for their long life and health.
Also known as Magha Saptami (January- February), this is celebrated on the occasion of the northeastern turn taken by Surya’s Ratha or chariot. This is also the day of Surya Jayanti or the birthday of the Sun god and the declaration of the arrival of spring.
In India and Nepal, married women with their families, joyously celebrate Chath, in honor of Surya and his sister, Chathi Maiyya. Falling after Diwali, this festival is also known as Surya Shashthi and is a major festival in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, and the neighboring country of Nepal.
A massive celebration every 12 years, the Kumbha Mela marks the revolution of Jupiter or Devguru Brihaspati and takes place in the sacred cities of Prayagaraj, Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain. Ganga-snan and offering arghya to Surya Deva are prominent parts of the Kumba festivities, where lakhs of devotees gather around the holy rivers and pray for atonement and spiritual attainments.
One of the most popular exercises in Yoga all over the world, Surya Namaskar has its origin in the ancient worship of the Sun god, in his aspect as Aditya. Consisting of 12 poses, the Surya Namaskar is preferably performed before the rising Sun and is believed to bring positivity, strength, and confidence.
Unlike how many modern practitioners perform the Surya Namaskar, the practice is rooted in ancient Hindu culture, where each pose is connected to one aspect of Surya-Aditya and is paired with a powerful mantra. Each posture is to be done while chanting the mantra, for the maximum benefit from the salutations.
12 Postures of Surya Namaskar
☛ Pranamasana (the praying pose) – “Om mitraya namah”
☛ Hastauttanasana (raising the hands above) – “Om ravaye namah”
☛ Padahastasana (hand touching the foot) – “Om suryaye namah”
☛ Asvasanchalanasana (horse-rider’s pose) – “Om bhanave namah”
☛ Shvanasana (dog’s pose) – “Om khagaye namah”
☛ Ashtanganamaskarasana – “Om pushane nama”
☛ Bhujangasana (sperent’s pose) – “Om hiranyagarbhaye namah”
☛ Shvanasana (dog’s pose) – “Om marichaye namah”
☛ Ashvasanchalanasana (horse-riders pose) – “Om adityaye namah”
☛ Ananastasia (hand touching the foot) – “Om savitre namah”
☛ Hastauttanasana (raising the hands above) – “Om arkaye namah”
☛ Pranamasana (praying pose) – “Om bhaksakaraye namah”
In this way, the asanas or poses, performed with mantras, make the Surya Namaskar a complete physical and spiritual exercise, for the well-rounded growth of the individual.
For the worshippers, the rising and setting Sun is the god himself, energizing the world every day and instilling routine, balance, and strength in its residents. Inside the home of the devotees, the Sun is symbolized by the Chakra (the multi-spoked wheel) or the blooming lotus whose petals are the rays of the Sun. In many sacred texts, Surya and Chandra are the two eyes of the divine gods and goddesses, guarding the creation endlessly.
The mighty protector and nurturer of the world is sometimes overpowered by the shadowy deity Rahu, who “eats” the Sun, causing the Surya-Grahan (Sun eclipse), a time associated with disturbances. But the ancient god always emerged unharmed from the Grahan.
Since the first human beings gazed at the sky and wondered at the power and brilliance of the yellow mass glowing above their head, Surya is among the rare witnesses of the waxing and waning of civilizations. It is probably this eternal and visible presence, that makes the Sun god a divine and powerful being not only in Hinduism but in every ancient culture of the world.
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