Surya

 The Sun God is one of the very few deities that are common in several cultures. Hindus call him Surya Deva. Not only the Hindus worship him, but other cultures also worship Him. Surya is a God who can be witnessed, so he is highly revered by believers and non-believers. Here you will learn about many aspects of Surya:

 

Origin

Surya is called Ravi, Aditya, Arka, Prabhakara, etc. He finds mention in the Rig Veda and also in the Upanishads. Surya Deva is also quoted in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and various other Puranas. He is among the Vedic era deities that people worship even today. He has many devotees but we don’t find many temples built for Surya. However, carvings of Surya are found in many ancient temples like the Kailasa temple and Ellora caves. According to historians, there were many temples for Surya Deva, but they were demolished by invaders. After this, his worship also reduced.

 

Significance

The sun is a symbol of power, clarity and knowledge. He illuminates people’s lives and is a dispeller of darkness. Many hymns are created that are dedicated to the Sun God and sung during prayers to bestow knowledge and awareness in one’s life. Like the other Gods, Surya Deva is also portrayed in many ways. However, in most illustrations, he is shown riding a chariot drawn by 7 horses. In a few illustrations, he is accompanied by Goddesses Pratyusha and Usha on either side and is shown shooting arrows. That is the reason Surya Deva is considered a symbol of light and a Victor over darkness. Not only in Hinduism, the Sun God is popular in Greek and other cultures and that has influenced the portrayal of the Indian Sun God.

People born in the Sun lineage belong to the Ikshavaku dynasty and are called Suryavanshi. Some famous people of this lineage are Rama, Sage Vashistha, Ambarisha, Bahubali, Sagara, Harischandra and Dushratha.

 

Sun God Worship

The Sun God was among the most worshipped in the Vedic period. He is among the few deities who can be worshipped directly with our naked eye. That is probably the reason why Vedic rituals revolved around Surya Deva. There is a mention of the Sun God in the Gayatri Mantra, too.

But as time progressed, Surya Deva worship also reduced and was replaced with other deities. But there are a few groups who still worship Him and are called the Shauryas. Surya Deva worship is done in South India during Pongal, the harvest festival. It is a festival to thank the Sun God for the wonderful harvest. Buddhists, too, revere Him, and He is mentioned in many texts.

 

Nava Grahas And Surya Deva

Nava grahas are the nine heavenly bodies that influence human life according to Hinduism. There is mention of rituals and Poojas associated with them to reduce any negative effects these Grahas cast on a person.

The Nava Grahas are not the nine planets that are mentioned in modern astronomy. According to Hinduism, they are not physical entities but lunar and solar chaya grahas or shadows, with the Sun being the primary among them. The other Grahas are Mercury, Mars, Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu. Sun is the father of Saturn, or Sani, a powerful graha that delivers justice based on actions.

 

Temples Of Surya Deva

There are not many temples dedicated to the Sun God. However, one of the most famous is the Konark Sun Temple in Orissa. The temple has a grand chariot drawn by seven horses inscribed on stone walls.. There are giant wheels, each with 12 spokes, on the front and back of the temple. Constructed in the early 13th century, it is a shining example of the Indian architectural brilliance.

Another famous temple is in Martand, Srinagar, which was once a place of spirituality and religion in Kashmir, but it is now in ruins. As per experts, it is among the earliest Hindu monuments in Kashmir.

 

Conclusion

The Sun God is one of the few deities revered across many cultures and religions. Unlike other deities, he can be seen, and there is no need to follow a religious belief system to realise Surya’s contribution to people’s lives. Without Him, there is no life on earth. Many Hindus begin their day by offering prayers to the Sun God, as they believe there is no existence without Him.