Image
from Moor.
Basic Description: Sun god.
Some accounts place Surya as one of the Adityas, since in the Adityas
Vishnu is associated with the sun. One of the Nine Planets.
Alternate Names: Treyitenu, Ravi, Surya
History/Practices:
Surya is one of the earliest Hindu gods. The Rig
Veda has several hymns dedicated to him, both as Surya and as Savitri (wife
of the moon.) The first Hindu Triad
included Surya, but was displaced by the present Hindu Triad including Brahma,
Vishnu, and Shiva. Worshippers of Surya
are called Surapats, they offer him burnt offerings of Arka (a shrub.) The Hindu word for the day Sunday, Ravivara,
is named after him.
Iconography:
In art, Surya is represented as dark-red, with
three eyes and four arms.
Mythology:
Riding Animal: Surya rides in a chariot drawn by seven
horses. His charioteer is Arun, the
brother of Garuda.
Consort:
Sanjana, who tired of her husband’s brilliance
and replaced herself with her handmaiden Chhaya for a while. Another consort of Surya is Ushas, goddess of
the Dawn.
Other References on the Karma-to-Grace website:
Sources:
Moor, Edward.
The Hindu Pantheon. Los Angeles: Philosophical research society,
1976.
Thomas, P. Epics, Myths
and Legends of India. Bombay, India: D. B. Taraporevala Sons &
Co. Private Ltd, 1961.