Surya: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->

| type = Hindu

{{cite book |last=Jansen |first=Eva Rudy |year= |title=The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, manifestations, and their meaning |page=65}}</ref>

| Greek_equivalent = [[Helios]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Pande |first=Govind Chandra |author-link=Govind Chandra Pande |date=2007 |title=A golden chain of civilizations: Indic, Iranic, Semitic, and Hellenic up to c. 600&nbsp;BC |edition=1st |page=572 |location=New Delhi, India |publisher=Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy, and Culture |isbn=978-818758628-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZGsMAQAAMAAJ&q=Surya+Helios |access-date=20 April 2018  |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011215201/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZGsMAQAAMAAJ&q=Surya+Helios&dq=Surya+Helios |archive-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>

| consorts = [[Sanjna]] and [[Chhaya]]

| father = [[Kashyapa]]

| mother = [[Aditi]]

| planet = [[Sun]]

| day = [[Sunday]]

| number = 1

| member_of = [[Navagraha]]

| Roman_equivalent = [[Sol (Roman mythology)|Sol]]

'''Surya''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|uː|r|j|ə}};<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=Surya |dictionary=Oxford Dictionaries (en.oxforddictionaries.com) |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/surya

==Texts and history==

</ref>

The Vedas assert Sun (Surya) to be the creator of the material universe ([[Prakriti]]).<ref>

  |year=1968–1969

  |title=The Hindu trinity

  |volume=63–64 |issue=1–2 |pages=216, 219, ''see'' pp&nbsp;212-226 note&nbsp;[51]

  |jstor=40457085

In the [[Brahmana]]s layer of Vedic literature, Surya appears with [[Agni]] (fire god) in the same hymns.<ref name="Bodewitz1976p36"/> Surya is revered for the day, while Agni for its role during the night.<ref name="Bodewitz1976p36">{{cite book|author=H. W. Bodewitz|title=The Daily Evening and Morning Offering (Agnihotra) According to the Brāhmanas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8hmmCoxGmX4C&pg=PA36|year=1976|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1951-1|pages=36–39 with notes|access-date=26 September 2016|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809073153/https://books.google.com/books?id=8hmmCoxGmX4C&pg=PA36|url-status=live}}</ref> The idea evolves, states Kapila Vatsyayan, where Surya is stated to be Agni as the first principle and the seed of the universe.<ref>{{cite book|author=Roy W. Perrett|title=Indian Philosophy: Theory of value|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61gqCISiFAQC|year=2001|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-8153-3612-9|pages=182–183|access-date=26 September 2016|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809073258/https://books.google.com/books?id=61gqCISiFAQC|url-status=live}}</ref> It is in the Brahmanas layer of the Vedas,<ref name=bodewitz328>Henk Bodewitz (1997), ''Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa I, 1–65: Translation and Commentary'', Brill Academic, {{ISBN|978-9004036048}}, pp. 328–329, 254-258</ref><ref name=heesterman93>JC Heesterman (1985), ''The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kinship, and Society'', University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226322995}}, pp. 93–94, {{Google books|Ju5x1cUD0aAC|link}}</ref> and the [[Upanishad]]s that Surya is explicitly linked to the power of sight, to visual perception and knowledge. He is then interiorized to be the eye as ancient Hindu sages suggested abandonment of external rituals to gods in favor of internal reflections and meditation of gods within, in one's journey to realize the Atman (soul, self) within, in texts such as the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]], [[Chandogya Upanishad]], [[Kaushitaki Upanishad]] and others.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/thirteenprincipa028442mbp#page/n117/mode/2up Brihadaranyaka Upanishad] Robert Hume (Translator), Oxford University Press, pp. 96–97</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/thirteenprincipa028442mbp#page/n323/mode/2up Kausitaki Upanishad] Robert Hume (Translator), Oxford University Press, pp. 302–303, 307–310, 327–328</ref><ref name=olivellesu147>Patrick Olivelle (1992), ''The Samnyasa Upanisads: Hindu Scriptures on Asceticism and Renunciation'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195070453}}, pp. 147–151</ref>

====Conflation with other solar deities====

Surya in Indian literature is referred to by various names, which typically represent different aspects or phenomenological characteristics of the Sun. The figure of Surya as we know him today is an amalgamation of various different Rigvedic deities.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Coulter|first1=Charles Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC&q=vivasvan&pg=PT1134|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|last2=Turner|first2=Patricia|date=2013-07-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-96397-2|language=en}}</ref> Thus, [[Savitr]] refers to one that rises and sets, Aditya means one with splendor, [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]] refers to Sun as "the great luminous friend of all mankind",<ref>{{cite book|author1=Alice Boner|author2=Sadāśiva Rath Śarmā|title=New Light on the Sun Temple of Koṇārka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x_DVAAAAMAAJ|year=1972|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|oclc= 759154388|page=ix}}</ref> while [[Pushan]] refers to Sun as illuminator that helped the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] win over Asuras who use darkness.<ref name=hopkins81>{{cite book|author=Edward Washburn Hopkins|title=Epic Mythology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-H0eiuvcG5IC|year=1968|publisher=Biblo & Tannen: New York|isbn=978-0-8196-0228-2|pages=81–85}}</ref> Arka, Mitra, Vivasvat, Aditya, Tapan, Ravi and Surya have different characteristics in early mythologies, but by the time of the epics they are synonymous.<ref name=hopkins81/>

Other Surya temples named after Arka include Devarka (Deva teertha) and Ularka (Ulaar) in Bihar,  Uttararka and Lolarka in [[Uttar Pradesh]], and Balarka in [[Rajasthan]]. Another 10th-century sun temple ruin is in [[Bahraich]], Uttar Pradesh named Balarka Surya Mandir, which was destroyed in the 14th century during the Turkish invasions.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

=== Epics ===

The Mahabharata epic opens its chapter on Surya that reverentially calls him as the "eye of the universe, soul of all existence, origin of all life, goal of the [[Samkhya]]s and [[Yogi]]s, and symbolism for freedom and spiritual emancipation.<ref name=Dalal-2010-hind-alph/>{{rp|page=399–401}}

{{cite book

  | author=Milner, G.B.  

==Iconography==

}}

{{cite journal

  | last1=Sick | first1=David

</ref>

==Astronomy==

</ref>

   |+ Sanskrit texts: How many days in a year?

|-style="text-align:center;"

The oldest of these is likely to be the ''Surya Siddhanta'', while the most accurate is the ''Siddhanta Shiromani''.<ref name="Burgess198926"/>

[[File:Lord Surya.JPG|thumb|Surya (center) is typically depicted holding lotus flowers and riding in a horse-drawn chariot. He is accompanied by his wives (bottom female figures) and children (other male figures). The dawn goddesses (top female figures) are depicted shooting arrows. Circa 9th century CE.]]

Surya's synonym Ravi is the root of the word 'Ravivara' or [[Sunday]] in the Hindu calendar.{{refn|name=Dalal-2010-hind-alph-p88|

==Temples and worship==

name=Meister-1986-p243|

Meister (1986)<ref name=Meister-1986-var-Mātṛkā>

  |department=Freer Gallery of Art

  |publisher=The Smithsonian Institution

  |jstor=4629500

  |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629500

===Dedicated temples===

In [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu|Navagraha temples]] are world famous. [[Suryanar Kovil|Suryanar kovil]] situated in [[Thanjavur|Tanjore]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]] is one among the [[Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu|Navagraha temples]] and it is dedicated to Surya. Here lord Surya is called as Sivasurya Perumal. It is the first among the Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu.<ref>

  |archive-date=9 August 2019

}}

Besides Konark, there are two other sun temples in Orissa called [[Biranchi Narayan Sun Temple]].

  |archive-date=30 June 2016

}}

[[Adithyapuram Sun Temple]] is a [[Hindu temple]] located in Iravimangalam near [[Kaduthuruthy]] in [[Kottayam]] district in the Indian state of [[Kerala]] dedicated to Surya. It is noted as the only Surya shrine in the [[Kerala]] state.<ref>

===Surya temples outside India===

{{cite book

  |last=Wink |first=André

</ref>

[[Tan Chung|Chung Tan]]

(2015)

==In cultures, arts and other religions==

===Festivals===

</ref>

{{cite book

  |title=A dictionary of Chinese Buddhist terms : with Sanskrit and English equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali index

===Indonesia===

[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangpop van karbouwenhuid Bima voorstellend TMnr 1772-528.jpg|thumb|Batara Surya [[wayang]] (puppetry) figures]]

In the [[Ramayana]], Surya is mentioned as the father of King Sugriva, who helped Rama and Lakshmana in defeating King Ravana. He also trains Hanoman as his teacher. In the Mahabharata, Kunti receives a mantra from a sage, Durvasa; if spoken, he will be able to summon every god and bear children by him. Believing in the power of this spell, Kunti unwittingly has summoned Surya, but when Surya appears, she gets scared and demands him to return. However, Surya has an obligation to fulfill the spell before returning. Surya miraculously made Dewi Kunti to give birth to a child, while maintaining her virginity so that she, as an unmarried princess, would not have to face any shame or be the target of questions from society. Kunti feels compelled to leave behind her son, Karna, who grows up to be one of the central characters in the great war of [[Kurukshetra]].

====Worshiping Shiva ''Raditya'' in Bali====

In the [[Puranas]] in [[Bali]], ''Batara Surya'' is the most intelligent student of Lord [[Shiva]], so that Lord Surya was given the title ''Surya Raditya'' and used as an example to find out the intelligence or supernatural power of Lord Shiva, and as a thank you from ''Bhatara Surya'', Lord Shiva was given an honorary title by the name of ''Bhatara Guru'', because he is the teacher of the Gods. There are others who argue, however, that in the transformation of the [[Purana]]s which is the interpretation of the ''maharsi'' on the Vedic chess book, it was ''Dewa Surya'' who later turned into [[Ludra]], who was finally called [[Shiva]], so that in worship chants it is often called the term ''Shiva Aditya''.

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:WLANL - 23dingenvoormusea - Suryabeeldje.jpg|Surya statue from India

File:Surya Hindu Sun god, with seven horses, Jakarka National Museum Indonesia.jpg|Surya statue in [[National Museum of Indonesia]], [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]]

File:Office Pongal celebration.jpg|[[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]

File:6 images Makar Sankranti collage.jpg|Surya festival [[Makar Sankranti]]

</gallery>

==See also==

*[[List of solar deities]]

==References==

}} <!-- end "refs=" -->

  |title=Sun worship in Odisha

  |magazine=Orissa Review

  |url=http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2012/nov/engpdf/25-32.pdf

}}

  |title=Iconography of Surya in the temple art of Orissa

  |magazine=Orissa Review

  |url=http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/Dec/engpdf/28-34.pdf

}}

[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]