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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.   

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 spiritual texts.  There are different opinions about the Dwasasha Aditya's and Surya's association with them. Following are the different aspects associated with Surya across the various texts.   

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.

*    '''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.

*    '''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.  

* '''कर्मप्रवृत्तकः ||''' '''Karma Pravrittaka''' : He inspires all the living beings into performing their duties an activities of daily life.  

* '''आरोग्यप्रदाता || Arogya Pradaata''' : 'Aarogyam bhaskaraadichhet' as given in the texts imparts great significance to Surya as the bestower of health to mankind.   

* '''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 dwadasha (12) Adityas (sons of [[Aditi and Diti|Aditi]] or the Devamata) are different forms of Surya having different roles and personifications of natural phenomena.   

* '''आदित्यस्वरूपः || Dwadasha Adityas''' : The dvadasha (12) Adityas (sons of [[Aditi and Diti|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 associated with the precious stone 'ruby'.   

* '''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.  

* '''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).   

* '''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.  

* 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.  

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.  

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.  

Yama became the Dharmadevata, Tapati was blessed to be a river and Aswinikumaras became the Vaidyas or physicians.The celebrated Kuru king (ancestor of Kauravas) was the son of Tapati with Samvarana of Chandravamsa.<ref name=":1" />

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.<ref name=":1" />

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.

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.