KarmaVaani
Vedic tradition
सूर्यSurya
Aditya · Savitr · Bhaskara · Ravi
The sun god, giver of light, life and the measure of time.
- Abode
- The sky; Suryaloka
- Consort
- Sanjna and Chhaya
- Vahana
- A chariot with seven horses
- Colour
- Golden-red
- Arms
- 2
Surya is the sun, the visible god seen by everyone each morning. Hymns to him run from the Rigveda to the Gayatri mantra, addressed to Savitr, the sun as inspirer. He drives a chariot drawn by seven horses across the sky, and is worshipped at dawn with water offerings, at Makar Sankranti and at Chhath. Konark in Odisha is built as his great stone chariot.
Mantra
ॐ सूर्याय नमः
Om Suryaya Namaha
Salutations to Surya: said with the morning offering of water.
How Surya is shown
A radiant figure standing in a chariot drawn by seven horses, driven by Aruna, wearing tall boots and armour.
- Two lotuses
- Each morning the lotus opens to him.
- Seven horses
- The seven colours of light and the seven days of the week.
- Aruna the charioteer
- Dawn, who goes before the sun.
Stories
Aditya Hridayam
Weary in battle against Ravana, Rama was taught a hymn to the sun by the sage Agastya. He recited it three times, felt his strength return, and went back into the fight.
