- For the intercontinental ballistic missile, see Surya
(missile). For the actor, see Surya Sivakumar.
 |
This article contains Indic text.
Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic
characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. |
|
| Surya |
Surya |
| God of the sun |
| Devanagari: |
सूर्य |
| Affiliation: |
Graha |
| Consort: |
Saranyu, Ragyi, Prabha and Chhaya |
| Mount: |
Chariot drawn by seven white horses
/ by seven headed horse
(Charioteer:Aruna)[1] |
| Planet: |
Sun |
|
In Hinduism, Surya (Devanagari: सूर्य,
sūrya, lit "the Supreme Light" [2] ) is the chief
solar deity, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wife Aditi[3], of Indra, or of Dyaus Pitar
(depending by the versions). He has hair and arms of gold. Surya drives through the heaven in his triumphal chariot harnessed by seven
horses or one horse with seven heads [4], which represent the seven chakras. He presides over "Ravi-war" 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" [5]), Aditya (lit. the son of
Aditi) [6], Pusha
(the best Purifier), Divakar (the maker of the day), Savita (the vivifier),
Arka (the ray), Mitra (friend) [7], Bhanu (light), Bhaskar (maker of Light) and Grahapati (the Lord of
Grahas) [8] .
Depictions
Sometimes Surya has two hands with a lotus in each of them; sometimes four with a lotus, chakra, a conch and the fourth hand makes the gesture of protection. [9]
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 mythic relationships
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.
In the Mahabharata, princess Kunti receives instruction
for a mantra from sage Durvasa by
which reciting she is able to summon any god and bear a child with him. Unable to believe the power of this mantra she tries to
summon Surya. When Surya appears, she is overawed and requests him to go back, but Surya is compelled to fulfil the mantra before
returning. Surya magically causes Kunti to bear a child immediately so that she, an unmarried princess, would not be subject to
questions from the king or his court. Kunti discards this child, Karna, who grows up to become one
of the central characters in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
Vivaswan (Surya) had three queens - Saranya (also called Sanjna or Sangya),
Ragyi and Prabha. Ragyi had a son named Revanta or Raivata while Sangya was the
mother of Vaivasvata Manu or Sraddhadeva Manu ( the seventh i.e. present
Manu) , the twins Yama Dev (the Lord of Death) & his
sister Yami ( associated with the river Yamuna). Surya is the
father of the twins known as the Ashwins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas, from Sanranya. Once, Sangya 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 Dev (the planet Saturn), while the names of her daughters
were Tapti(goddess of river Tapti) and Vishti.[10]
He also fathers the Monkey King Sugriva, who helped Rama and
Laxman defeat the demon king Ravana.
In astrology
In Vedic astrology Surya represents soul, will power, fame, vitality, courage, kingship,
father, highly placed persons and authority. Surya is lord of three nakshatras or lunar
mansions: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha.
Trivia
See also
References
- ^ The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva
Rudy Jansen p. 65
- ^ Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN
0970963645 p.49
- ^ http://www.mahabharataonline.com/translation/mahabharata_01066.php
- ^ The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva
Rudy Jansen p. 65
- ^ Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN
0970963645 p.49
- ^ Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN
0970963645 p.50
- ^ Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN
0970963645 p.50
- ^ Graha Sutras By Ernst Wilhelm , Published by Kala Occult Publishers ISBN
0970963645 p.51
- ^ The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva
Rudy Jansen p. 65
- ^ Padma Purana - Chap Srishtikhand,
section 8
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
