Surya (सूर्यः)

Surya (Samskrit : सूर्यः) occupies a prominent position in bharateeya samskruti 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 realization of Paramatma.

Surya gives light to all the other grahas (planets). According to Puranic Encyclopedia, Surya 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.

Surya appears in Rig veda as Mitra along with Varuna mostly in Vedic literature as against Surya or the Bhaskara in more recent post vedic texts. Following are the different aspects associated with Surya across the various texts.

• सन्ध्यावन्दनम् || Sandhyavandanam : All the Veda prescribed activities start with Surya for example, performance of Sandhyavandam and Suryanamaskarams.
• बुद्धिप्रचोदकः || Buddhi Prachodaka The Gayathri mantra is essentially a prayer for internal awakening of wisdom of the mind. All beings aspire that our intelligence may lead us to right path. Thus Surya as Savitru stands for knowledge.
• कर्मप्रवृत्तकः || Karma Pravrittaka : He inspires all the living beings into performing their duties an activities of daily life.
• आरोग्यप्रदाता || Arogya Pradata : 'Aarogyam bhaskaraadichhet' as given in the texts imparts great significance to Surya as the bestower of health to mankind.
• आदित्यस्वरूपः || Dwadasha Adityas : The dvadasha (12) Adityas (sons of Aditi or the Devamata) are different forms of Surya having different roles and personifications of natural phenomena.
• नवग्रहाधिपतिः || 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 is associated with the precious stone 'ruby'.
• पञ्चलोकपालकः || 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 (panchayatana puja) of Sanatana Dharma.
• पुराणपुरुषः || Purana Purusha : Innumerable instances of Surya are seen in Puranas (Bhavisya Purana was told by Surya to Manu), Ramayana (Mulapurusha of Ikshwaku dynasty, Father of Sugriva, Guru of Hanuman) and Mahabharata (as the father of Karna, Bestower of Akshayapatra to Yudhisthira).
• Vajasaneya Shaka : He was worshiped and pleased by Yagnavalkya, to whom he gave the Yajurveda knowledge thus Vajasaneya (Shukla) Shaka of Yajurveda came into existence.
• सूर्यलोकः || Surya Loka : He offers shelter to about 60,0000 Valakhilyas who surround and meditate upon the Surya Paramatma, in Surya mandala or Loka. According to Nirukta (7.5) : सूर्यः द्युस्थानः । Surya's location is Dyus.
• ज्योतिष्यांशः|| Jyotisha aspects : The Brhdaranyaka, Chandogya and Kausitaki Upanishads expound the Atmatattva of Surya and path for the realization of the soul. Surya is the Atmakaraka according to Jyotishashastra and represents the power of sight, right eye and illnesses associated with it. Surya Siddhatanta, is an authoritative text on astronomy and calculations of time prescribed in the field of Jyotisha (Vedanga) of the Vedic period.
• सू्र्योपनिषद् ||Suryopanishad : A minor Upanishad in the name of Surya.
• सूर्यरश्मयः ||Surya rashmi : The characteristic seven rays of the Suryarashmi (sun rays) and their importance in sustaining life forms.(Kurma Purana, Purvabhaga, Adhyaya 43)

व्युत्पत्तिः|| Etymology

Amarakosha defines the following about Surya in व्योमादिवर्ग (Prathama kanda Slokas 29 - 32, Page No 29 of Reference )

सूरसुर्यार्यमादित्यद्वादशात्मदिवाकराः । भास्कराहस्करब्रध्नप्रभाकरदिवाकराः || (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. Niruka by Yaskacharya describes Surya as

स्वीर्यतेः वा । सुवतेः वा । सूर्यः सर्तेः वा । (Nirukta 12.14)

Meaning : Surya is One who travels, one who creates and one who inspires. Rigveda Samhita gives the following attributes of Surya

चित्रं देवानामुदगादनीकं चक्षुर्मित्रस्य वरुणस्याग्नेः । आप्रा द्यावापृथिवी अन्तरिक्षं सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च ॥१॥ (Rig Veda 1.115.1)

Meaning : Surya is the 'atma' (soul) of all inanimate things and animate beings of the universe. The shine of Surya is the lustre (तेजस्) of the strength of all devatas put together. Rising sun represents the extraordinary 'eye' of devatas like Mitra, Varuna and Agni and spreads across the Dyurloka, Prithviloka and Antariksha filling the universe with his efflugence.Taitriya Aranyaka explains

योऽसौ तपन्नुदेति । स सर्वेषां भूतानां प्राणानादायोदेति ।..... असौ योऽस्तमेति । स सर्वेषां भूतानां प्राणा-नादायास्तमेतिं । .....(Tait. Aran. 1.14.14)

Meaning : When surya rises, all beings (who are asleep and mentally detached from the world during the night time), become revitalized. When surya (planetary aspect) sets, even though the world is exists, it is like dead.

सूर्यदेवतास्वरुपम् || Surya Devata Swaroopam

Birth and Family

According to Puranic Encyclopedia, Surya descended from Mahavishnu, in the following order:

Vishnu - Brahma - Marichi - Kashyapa - Surya

Dvadasha Adityas

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 (son of Aditi) are twelve in number. There is a difference of opinion as to who these Dvadasa Adityas (12 Adityas) are. Very often these names are used as synonyms of Surya.

Family

सूर्यस्य पत्नी संज्ञाभूत्तनया विश्वकर्मणः । मनुर्यमो यमी चैव तदूपत्यानि वै मुने ।। २ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.2.2)

संज्ञयमित्यथार्कश्व छायायामात्मजत्रयम । शनैश्वरं मनुञ्चन्यं तपतीञ्चप्यजीजनत् ।। ४ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.2.4)

ततो विवस्वानाख्याते तयैवारण्यसंस्थिताम् । समाधिदृष्टया ददृशे तामश्वां तपसि स्विताम ।। ६ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.2.6)

वाजिरूपधरः सोऽथ तस्यां देवावथाश्विनौ । जनयामास रेवन्तं रेतसोऽन्ते च भास्करः ।। ७ ।। (Vish. Pura. 3.2.7)

Surya has two wives Samjna, (the daughter of Viswakarma), and Chaya. Samjna begot three children by Surya : वैवस्वतमनु ॥ Vaivasvata Manu, Yama and Yami. By Chaya, three children were born : सावर्णिमनु ॥ Savarni Manu, Sanaischara and Tapati.

Once, 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, Manu and Tapati. 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 identity, 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 Aswini Kumaras. The third son was called Revanta. Then Surya took Samjna to his place and Visvakarma reduced the effulgence of Surya to a bearable level.

Vaivasvata Manu became the Manu of the present seventh Manvantara. Yama became the Dharmadevata, incharge of maintaining the lives of people. Yami became the sacred river Yamuna. Savarni Manu will be the adhipati or ruler of eight Manvantara. Sani became one of the navagrahas. Tapati was blessed to be the sacred river Narmada. Aswinikumaras became the Vaidyas or physicians.The celebrated Kuru king (ancestor of Kauravas) was the son of Tapati with संवरणः || Samvarana of Chandravamsa.

Besides them Surya had another daughter named Savitri also (Bhav. Pura. Chap 47). On other occasions other sons such as Sugriva, Kalindi and Karna were born of Surya.

रविः || Illumination

अवति त्रीनिमाँल्लोकान् यस्मात्सूर्यः परिभ्रमन् ।। अविधातुः प्रकाशाख्यो ह्यवनात्स रविः स्मृतः ।। २१.४ ।। (Brahmanda. Pura. 1.21.4)

Meaning : The root अव Av means illumination and protection. Revolving all round, the sun illuminates and protects the three worlds. Hence, on account of illumination and protection he is remembered as रविः Ravi.

कर्मप्रवृत्तकः || Karma Pravrittaka

Rigveda Samhita explains

तत् सूर्यस्य देवत्वं तन्महित्वं मध्या कर्तोर्विततं सं जभार | यदेदयुक्त हरितः सधस्थादाद्रात्री वासस्तनुते सिमस्मै || (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.

आरोग्यप्रदाता || Arogya Pradata

आरोग्यं भास्करादिच्छेद्धनमिच्छेद्धुताशनात् । ईश्वराज्ज्ञानमिच्छेच्च मोक्षमिच्छेज्जनार्दनात् ।। ६८.४१ ।। (Mats. Pura. 68.41)

Meaning : Health ought to be sought from Bhaskara (sun), wealth from Hutashana (Agni), Jnana (knowledge) from Ishvara and Moksha (liberation) from Janardhana (Vishnu).

बुद्धिप्रचोदकः || Buddhi Prachodaka

As given in Rig Veda, the Gayatri mantra is as follows:

तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि । धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥१०॥ (Rig. Veda. 3.62.10)

However, the ritualistic procedure, recitation with intonation or svara and deities to worship is given in Taittriya Aranyaka

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः । तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरेण्यं॒ भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑धीमहि । धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥ (Tait. Aran. 2.11)

The Gayatri mantra, addressed to deity Savitru, a form of Surya is recited with high reverence by men who have undergone the sacred thread ceremony, as a part of the Upanayana since ancient times in Bharatavarsha. First given by Visvamitra maharshi, this mantra is in Gayatri chandas, praising Gayatri (a form of Saraswati). It is performed as a part of the nityakarma Sandhyavandanam, to be performed thrice a day. 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.

आत्मा || Atma

सूर्यः आत्मा जङ्गमस्य च स्थावरस्य च । । १२.१६ । (Nirukta 12.16)

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.

वेदस्वरूपः || 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 ).

सूर्यस्य अयनम् || Surya's Path

Many Puranas vividly describe the relationship between Surya, the planetary bodies, constellations and kalachakra or cycles of time. Bhavishya Purana, Vayupurana, Matsya Purana and Garuda purana.

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.

The rotation and revolutions of the planetary systems, Dhruva (son of Uttanapada) mandala (the constellation of Polaris), formation of clouds, precipitation as rains, vishuvats (equinoxes and solisticies), ayanas (uttarayana, daksinayana), winds and movements, and finally division of time are well described in Brahmandapurana (Purvabhaga, Adhyayas 20 to 24).

ध्रुवेणाधिष्टितश्चैव सूर्योऽपो गृह्य वर्षति ।। तदेष दीप्त किरणः स कालग्निर्दिवाकरः ।। २२.१२ ।।

परिवर्त्तक्रमाद्विप्रा भाभिरालोकयन् दिशः ।। सूर्यः किरणजालेन वायुयुक्तेन सर्वशः ।। २२.१३ ।।

जगतो जलमादत्ते कृत्स्नस्य द्विजसत्तमाः ।। आदित्यपीतं सकलं सोमः संक्रमते जलम् ।। २२.१४ ।।

Meaning : Presided over by Dhruva, surya (sun) takes up water and showers it. This sun whose rays are ablaze, is the fire of the destruction of the universe. In the course of his revolution, Oh Brahmanas, he illuminates the दिशः quarters. With the mass of his rays and accompanied by the wind, the sun takes away the water of the entire world, Oh Brahmanas. The moon transmits the entire water drunk by the sun.

सूर्यरथः || Surya's Chariot

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 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 Pankti.(Page 296 of Reference)

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

सूर्यग्रहणम् || Solar Eclipse

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'.

Verses and Meanings

Surya is a prominent as Mitra and Savitru in many Rig veda mantras and the Surya or saura sukas in Rig veda are 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)