Surya (सूर्यः)

Surya (Sanskrit : सूर्य, Mitra Ravi, Bhaanu, Aditya are a few synonyms) occupies a prominent position as 'Pratyaksha Daivam' since Vedic times. Vedic wisdom of human consciousness was 'to see light'. For life to be complete and viewed beautifully the primary requirement is to dispel darkness. In the philosophical sense this 'seeing light' is said to be 'attaining knowledge', that which dispels the ignorance of Self and Paramatma.

Surya gives light to all the other grahas (planets). It has an area of 50 crore yojanas and its distance from the earth is 22 crore yojanas. In the external world, the trees, plants and birds, every living being depends on Light.

Introduction

Since Vedic times, Surya who is considered as the visible 'lamp of the solar system' is worshiped as 'pratyaksha daivam (Visible God)'. All life forms depend on Surya, his rays, and the heat, for virtually everything. Most importantly the earthly Kala (time) year, month, week, seasons, rains; all time factors depend upon on light and Surya. Needless to say that without Surya there is no life on Earth.

Following are the different aspects associated with Surya across the various texts.

• Gayatri mantra : The Gayathri mantra is essentially a prayer for awakening of wisdom of the mind. This internal wisdom and Jnana is far more brighter than the external brightness that is coming from Surya. Meditation thus shows the way because all aspire that our intelligence may lead us to right path. Thus Surya as Savitru stands for knowledge.
• Sandhyavandanam : All the Veda prescribed activities start with Surya for example, performance of Sandhyavandam and Suryanamaskarams.
• Karma Pravrittaka : He inspires all the living beings into performing their duties an activities of daily life.
• Arogya Pradaata : 'Aarogyam bhaskaraadichhet' as given in the texts imparts great significance to Surya as the bestower of health to mankind.
• Dwadasha Adityas : The dwadasha (12) Adityas (sons of Aditi or the Devamata) are different forms of Surya having different roles and personifications of natural phenomena.
• Navagraha Adhipati : Surya receives a prominent position among devatas and he is the first among the Navagrahas. Ravi or Surya is the adhipati (leader) of the navagrahas and associated with the precious stone 'ruby'.
• Panchaloka Palaka : Ganapati, Surya, Vishnu, Durga/Devi, And Shiva form the panchalokapalakas who are the deities worshiped in the altars of householders according to some prominent traditions of Sanatana Dharma.
• Dikpalaka : Surya the ruler of the 'East' direction is first of the Astadikpalakas.
• Purana Purusha : Innumerable instances of Surya are seen in Puranas (Bhavisya Purana was told by Surya to Manu), Ramayana (Lord of Ikshwaku dynasty, Father of Sugriva, Guru of Hanuman) and Mahabharata (as the father of Karna, Giver of Akshayapatra to Yudhisthira). He was worshiped and pleased by Yagnavalkya, to whom he gave the Yajurveda knowledge thus Vajasaneya (Shukla) Shaka of Yajurveda came into existence.
• Surya Loka : He offers shelter to about 60,0000 Valakhilyas who surround and meditate upon the Surya Paramatma, in Surya mandala or Loka.
• Chakshu  : In Jyothisha Surya is represents the power of sight, right eye and illnesses associated with it.
• Atma karaka : The Brhdaranyaka, Chandogya and Kausitaki Upanishads expound the Atmatattva of Surya and path for the realization of the soul.

Therefore Surya represents the unlimited power of God, His brightness, Creation and the power of imparting knowledge. Surya Siddhatanta, is an authoritative text on astronomy and calculations of time prescribed in the field of Jyotisha (Vedanga) of the Vedic period. Jyotisha as one of the Vedanga, deals with ascertaining the time of the day and forecasting auspicious day and time for Vedic rituals (muhurta).

Etymology

Amarakosha defines the following about Surya in व्योमादिवर्ग (Prathama kanda Slokas 29 - 32)

सूरसुर्यार्यमादित्यद्वादशात्मदिवाकराः । भास्कराहस्करव्रध्नप्रभाकरदिवाकराः || (Amara 1. व्योमा. 29)

भास्वद्विस्वत्सप्ताश्वहरिदश्वोष्णरश्मयः । विकर्तनार्कमार्तण्डमिहिरारुणपूषणः || (Amara 1. व्योमा. 30)

द्युमणिस्तरणिर्मित्रस्चित्रभानुर्विरोचनः । विभावसुर्ग्रहपतिस्त्विषांपतिरहर्पतिः || (Amara 1. व्योमा. 31)

भानुर्हंसः सहस्रांशुस्तपनः सविता रविः । माठरः पिङ्लो दण्डश्चण्डांशोः पारिपार्श्विकाः || (Amara 1. व्योमा. 32)

Synonyms for Surya include Soora, Surya, Yama, Aditya, Dwadashatma, Divakara, Bhaskara, Ahaskara, Martanda, Aruna, Pushana, Tarani, Mitra, Chitrabhanu, Tapana and many others as given above. Sayanaacharya in Saayanabhashyam while defining Surya, explains:

“sushtu aryaha swami sarvantharaymi thaya sushtu prerakaha” (Ref?)

Meaning : The best of the masters, sarvatharayami (one who dwells everywhere), the best inspirer- such paramatma is compared to Surya. Yaska maharshi explains in Nirukthi

“suryaha sathirva suthirva suryathe va” (Ref?)

Meaning : Surya is One who travels, one who creates and one who inspires. The mantras connected to Surya, are chanted and recited by those who perform their daily sandhyavandanam, as Surya is the 'preraka (inspirer) to perform one's Karma. Rig Mantras consider Surya as the eyes of Vedapurusha and the 'antaratma' as explained in Rk Samhita as follows

चित्रं देवानामुदगादनीकं चक्षुर्मित्रस्य वरुणस्याग्नेः |

आप्रा दयावाप्र्थिवी अन्तरिक्षं सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च || (Rig Veda 1.115.1)

citraṃ devānāmudaghādanīkaṃ cakṣurmitrasya varuṇasyāghneḥ |

āprā dyāvāpṛthivī antarikṣaṃ sūrya ātmā jaghatastasthuṣaśca || (Rig Veda 1.115.1)

Meaning : One who is “antaryami taya sarvasya prerakaha paramatma” according to Sayana Acarya whose commentary says that 'Surya is the atma of the universe and the cause of the universe'. Taitriya Aranyaka explains

'yo asau tapan udethi' (1.14.1)

Meaning : Surya is the atma of the universe.

When Sun rises, the people who are asleep and mentally detached from the world ('dead to the world') during the night time, become revitalized. It becomes “Sat” if he sets, even though the world is there, it is almost like dead. Paramatma is always responsible for wakefulness, sleep, living and dying, completeness and incompleteness as per Sayana in his bhashya.

Surya Suktams in Rigveda

Surya is a prominent as Mitra and Savitru in many Rig veda mantras and the Surya or saura sukas in Rig veda are numbered as follows : 1.50. 1 to 13, 1.115. 1 to 6, 1.164.46 among many others. The following is the famous Rig veda soura suktam which is recited by many people across India.

नमो मित्रस्य वरुणस्य चक्षसे महो देवाय तद रतंसपर्यत |  दूरेद्र्शे देवजाताय केतवे दिवस पुत्रायसूर्याय शंसत || 1

सा मा सत्योक्तिः परि पातु विश्वतो दयावा च यत्रततनन्नहानि च |  विश्वमन्यन नि विशते यदेजतिविश्वाहापो विश्वाहोदेति सूर्यः || 2

न ते अदेवः परदिवो नि वासते यदेतशेभिः पतरैरथर्यसि |  पराचीनमन्यदनु वर्तते रज उदन्येनज्योतिषा यासि सूर्य || 3

येन सूर्य जयोतिषा बाधसे तमो जगच्च विश्वमुदियर्षिभानुना |  तेनास्मद विश्वामनिरामनाहुतिमपामीवामप दुष्वप्न्यं सुव || 4 

विश्वस्य हि परेषितो रक्षसि वरतमहेळयन्नुच्चरसिस्वधा अनु |  यदद्य तवा सूर्योपब्रवामहै तं नो देवानु मंसीरत करतुम || 5

तं नो दयावाप्र्थिवी तन न आप इन्द्रः शर्ण्वन्तु मरुतोहवं वचः |  मा शूने भूम सूर्यस्य सन्द्र्शिभद्रं जीवन्तो जरणामशीमहि || 6

विश्वाहा तवा सुमनसः सुचक्षसः परजावन्तो अनमीवानागसः |  उद्यन्तं तवा मित्रमहो दिवे-दिवे जयोग जीवाःप्रति पश्येम सूर्य || 7

महि जयोतिर्बिभ्रतं तवा विचक्षण भास्वन्तं चक्षुषे चक्षुषे मयः |  आरोहन्तं बर्हतः पाजसस परि वयंजीवाः परति पश्येम सूर्य || 8

यस्य ते विश्वा भुवनानि केतुना पर चेरते नि च विशन्तेक्तुभिः |  अनागास्त्वेन हरिकेश सूर्याह्नाह्ना नोवस्यसा-वस्यसोदिहि || 9

शं नो भव चक्षसा शं नो अह्ना शं भानुना शंहिमा शं घर्णेन |  यथा शमध्वञ्छमसद दुरोणेतत सूर्य दरविणं धेहि चित्रम || 10

अस्माकं देवा उभयाय जन्मने शर्म यछत दविपदेचतुष्पदे |  अदत पिबदूर्जयमानमाशितं तदस्मेशं योररपो दधातन || 11

यद वो देवाश्चक्र्म जिह्वया गुरु मनसो वा परयुतीदेवहेळनम |  अरावा यो नो अभि दुछुनायते तस्मिन तदेनोवसवो नि धेतन || 12 (Rig Veda 10.037.1 to 12)

Surya as Devata

It is said that the Surya was born to Kasyapa by his wife Aditi. Several sons were born to Kashyapa by Aditi the daughter of Daksa. They are known by the names Adityas, Vasus, Rudras and so on. Of these,Adityas are tewelve in number. ( Aditya means the son of Aditi) . There is a difference of opinion as to who these Dwadasa Adityas (12 Adityas) are. Very often these names are used as synonyms of Sun.

Legend goes that Surya has two wives Samjna, who was the daughter of Viswakarma, and Chaya. Samjna begot three children by Surya : Manu, Yama and Yami.

Samjna unable to bear the brightness or the effulgence of Surya created Chaya, (her look alike) out of her shadow and engaged her to take her place to look after Surya and her children. She then left for the forests to do penance. Surya took Chaya to be his wife Samjna and got three children of her : Sanaiscara, (another) Manu and Tapati.

Once Chaya not being the real mother of Yama was angry with him and cursed him. Noticing the unmotherly behaviour Surya and Yama understand that she was not Samjna. Knowing from Chaya about her, Surya found out that Samjna was practising austerities taking the form of a mare. Then Surya went to her disguised as a horse and with her co-operation produced three children of which the first two came to be known as Aswinikumaras. The third son was called Revanta. Then Surya took Samjna to his place (Chapter 2, Amsa 3, Visnu Purana). Yama became the God of Death, and Aswinikumaras the Vaidyas or physicians.

Surya and Kalachakra

Surya exists within the universe, and is called Martanda as he is said to have originated from the dead (mrta) egg (anda).

Surya divides the sky, heaven, hell, the earth, east, west, north, south etc. from one another.

According to the travel course of Surya three periods of time or 'seasons' like uttarayana, daksinayana and visuvat are caused.

Surya's chariot has one wheel and twelve spokes. The wheel represents a year and the twelve spokes stand for the twelve months of the year.

The chariot has also three nabhis representing the three caturmasyas, and six bands representing the six seasons. The height of the chariot is 36 lakhs yojanas and it has a width of 8 yojanas inside. Arunadeva is his charioteer, and the seven chandas are the horses. The seven chandas are, Gayatri, Brhati, Usnik, Jagati, Tristubh, Anustubh and Pahkti.

Night is called Usa and day Vyusti and the time in between is Sandhya. (Ref 2)

Eclipses of Surya and Chandra are attributed to Rahu and Ketu. Eclipse is the phenomenon of Rahu and Ketu swallowing Surya and Chandra as and when opportunity presents itself for it. But, since the throat of Rahu is severed from the body, Surya and Candra thus swallowed get out through the throat. (Bhagavata Astama skanda).

The famous Konark Temple, though the sanctum sanctorium is closed for many years now, still holds the secrets of time calculations of past ages.

Thus, while Surya has been attributed to various things, the Atma tattva of Surya is greatly significant and he is worshiped by sadhakas for attaining the 'Atma Jnana'.

Surya Tattvam

The tatva or nature of Surya has been explained in many contexts of scriptures.

Karma Pravrittaka

Rk Samhita explains

तत् सूर्यस्य देवत्वं तन्महित्वं मध्या कर्तोर्विततं सं जभार |

यदेदयुक्त हरितः सधस्थादाद्रात्री वासस्तनुते सिमस्मै || (Rig Samhita 1.115.4)

tat sūryasya devatvaṁ tanmahitvaṁ madhyā kartorvitataṁ saṁ jabhāra |
yadedayukta haritaḥ sadhasthādādrātrī vāsastanute simasmai || (Rig Samhita 1.115.4)

Meaning: The greatness of Surya and His mastership spreads over and everything is revealed through his rays, whose setting hides all His greatness and thus putting to rest all the activities of the living entities. The rising Surya springs all beings into action and life again.

Buddhi Prachodaka

Surya is the devata for Gayatri mantra which explains " May the light coming from Surya activate my Mind or Buddhi" . And it also says that Surya or Bhagavan is the one who gives us inspiration for wisdom. It also explains that it is the beautiful harmony between jnana and karma. This is the breath or essence of Gayathri and it is a beautiful formula to make life auspicious and wonderful. In this way Surya or sun god is initiator or inspirer for all activities.

Atma Jnanakaraka

Surya represents transcendental knowledge and also only because of him the great karma or the great action becomes inspired. He represents that Light or Jnana which is beyond the external sun, called as 'paranjyothi' as a personification of Knowledge of the Brahman.

Veda Swaroopa

Surya is associated with Vedas and his 'Bhagavat tatva' is explicitly given as -

“ragdbhihi purvarne divi yathe yajur vede thishtihi madhye ahna sama vedana sthamay thamayathi vedai asunyai tribhirethi surya ha “ (Ref for 3.12.9? )

Meaning : Surya when rises in eastern direction is associated with rik veda, at peak is associated with Yajur Veda and while setting he is associated with Sama Veda.

Surya though unseen in the physical plane traverses the path of the Vedas or along the Vedic path. He symbolizes the Vedas which are hence called: “asunya”. Symbolically, His connection to the Vedas and Veda Jnana is intertwined and expressed beautifully by the path traversed by Him in the form of “jnana surya”.

In the morning the Rgveda praises the Sun. At noon the Yajurveda praises the Sun and in the evening the Samans such as Brhad Rathantara and so on. The complete power of Visnu is the three Vedas Rig, Yajus and Sama. The power in the form of the three Vedas blazes in the form of the Sun. That power destroys all the sins in the world. Visnu stays in the sun in the form of Rg, Yajus and Sama for the Sustenance and protection of the world. As said before, the three Vedas are the parasakti, or the feminine supreme power of Visnu. She is the three Vedas themselves. Every month she stays inside that particular Aditya of the month.

Thus this Vaisnavite power which is having the attribute of purity (Sattva) and Vedas, pervades mainly the sun though it remains on the seven groups also. Being the seat of this power, the Sun blazes with his rays and destroys the darkness in all the worlds. Such a Sun is praised by the hermits. The Gandharvas sing in front of the Sun. The celestial maids dance before him. The giants guard him, the serpents prepare his chariot, the Yaksas hold the bridle and the Balakhilyas stand around him. Visnu who is having the figure of the Sun pervaded by the power of the Vedas, never rises or sets. The seven groups are separate from that Visnu. As the figures of those who approach, are reflected in a mirror fixed on a post, that power of Visnu, without separating itself from that chariot, pervades them who come every month in turn. (Visnu Purana, Amsa 2, Chapter 11 ).

Discussion

Surya appears in as Mitra along with Varuna mostly in Vedic literature as against Surya or the Bhaskara in recent spiritual texts. There are different opinions about the Dwasasha Aditya's and Surya's association with them.

References

1. Veda Sanskrita Parichaya
2. https://ia802606.us.archive.org/17/items/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft.pdf
3. http://www.sanskritebooks.org/2009/07/amara-kosa-the-sanskrit-thesaurus-with-notes-index/ (Page no 29)
4. http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m01.htm