Surya
A 19th century painting of Surya on his chariot
God of the sun
Devanagari	सूर्य
Sanskrit Transliteration	sūrya
Tamil Transliteration	ஞாயிறு
Affiliation	Graha, Deva
Consort	Saranyu, Ragyi, Prabha, and Chhaya
Mount	Chariot drawn by seven white horses / by seven-headed horse (Charioteer:Arjuna)[1]

Surya (Devanagari: सूर्य Sūrya, "the Supreme Light"^[2], Malayalam: സൂര്യൻ, Kannada: ಸೂರ್ಯ, Burmese: သူရိယ, [θùɹḭja̰]; Malay: Suria; Tamil: சூரியன்; Telugu: సూర్యుడు; Thai: พระอาทิตย์) Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi^[3] of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar (depending by the version). The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold. He is said to drive through the heaven in his triumphal chariot harnessed by seven horses or one horse with seven heads,^[1] which represent the seven colours of the rainbow or the seven chakras. He presides over Sunday.

Depictions[link]

Surya sculpture

Sometimes, Surya is depicted with two hands holding a lotus in both; sometimes he has four hands holding a lotus, chakra, a conch, and a mace.

Arka form[link]

Surya is worshiped in various forms throughout India. One of the most important epithet (form) of 'Surya' is 'Arka'. The "Arka" form is worshiped mostly in North India and Eastern parts of India. The temples dedicated to 'Arka' form of Surya are Konarka Temple in Orissa, Uttararka and Lolarka in Uttar Pradesh, Balarka in Rajasthan. There was an old sun-temple in (Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh) named Balarka Surya Mandir, built by King Tilokchand Arkawanshi in early 10th Century AD. The temple was destroyed in the 14th Century AD during Turkish invasions. The Sun Temple, Modhera, at Modhera in Gujarat, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Sun-God, Surya. It was built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty.

'Mitra' form of Surya[link]

'Surya' is also known as 'Mitra' (meaning friend) for his life nourishing properties. Mitra form of 'Surya' had been worshiped mostly in Gujarat, where a clan of Suryawanshi kings was known as Mitrawanshi kshatriyas, also known by its distorted name Maitrakas (मैत्रक)

Surya namaskara, or the "Sun salutation"[link]

A well-known Hindu mode of worship of the devotional movements of Surya is done at the rising of the Sun, known as Sūrya namaskāra (sun salutation). Ten yogic postures are assumed in successive flowing movements to complete one namaskar. Twelve sacred Hindu mantras uttered and for each mantra one complete namaskar is done. Ancient practice is to do 108 namaskaras a day. It is considered most auspicious by Hindus to do this.

The 12 mantras for surya namaskara:

1. ॐ मित्राय नमः aum mitrāya namah
2. ॐ रवये नमः aum ravayé namah
3. ॐ सूर्याय नमः aum sūryāya namah
4. ॐ भानवे नमः aum bhānavé namah
5. ॐ खगाय नमः aum khagāya namah
6. ॐ पुष्णे नमः aum pushné namah
7. ॐ हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः aum hiranyagarbhāya namah
8. ॐ मारिचाये नमः aum mārichāyé namah
9. ॐ आदित्याय नमः aum ādityāya namah
10. ॐ सावित्रे नमः aum sāvitré namah
11. ॐ अर्काय नमः aum ārkāya namah
12. ॐ भास्कराय नमः aum bhāskarāya namah

The mantra frequently recited to praise the Surya comes from the Rig Veda, Book 1 Hymn 35:

आ कृष्णेन् रजसा वर्तमानो निवेशयन्न अमृतं मर्त्यं च ।

हिरण्ययेन सविता रथेना देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन ॥

Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,

Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God who looks on every creature.^{[citation needed]}

The Gayatri Mantra is also associated with Surya.^[4] Another hymn associated with Surya is the Aditya Hridayam, recited by the great sage Agastya to Rama on the warfield before the fight with Ravana.

Religious role and relationships[link]

Surya with consorts Saranyu and Chhaya

Vivasvat (Surya) had three queens; Saranyu (also called Saraniya, Saranya, Sanjna, or Sangya), Ragyi, and Prabha. Saranyu was the mother of Vaivasvata Manu or Sraddhadeva Manu (the seventh, i.e. present Manu) and the twins Yama (the Lord of Death) and his sister Yami. She also bore him the twins known as the Ashvins, divine horsemen and physicians to the Devas. Saranyu, being unable to bear the extreme radiance of Surya, created a superficial entity from her shadow called Chhaya and instructed her to act as Surya's wife in her absence. Chhaya mothered two sons - Savarni Manu (the eighth, i.e. next Manu) and Shani (the planet Saturn), and two daughters - Tapti and Vishti.^[5] He also has a son, Revanta, or Raivata, by Ragyi.

Interestingly, Surya's two sons Shani and Yama are responsible for the judgment of human life. Shani gives us the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards while Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death.^[6]

In Ramayana, Surya is described as father of the King Sugriva, who helped Rama and Lakshmana in defeating the demon king Ravana. He also trains Hanuman as his guru. The Suryavanshi / Suryavansha dynasty of kings, Rama being one of them, also claims descent from Surya.

In the Mahabharata, Princess Kunti receives instruction for a mantra from the sage Durvasa; by reciting which, she would be able to summon any god and bear a child by him. Incredulous of the power of this mantra, Kunti unwittingly tests it on Surya, but when Surya appears, she gets scared and requests him to go back. However, Surya has an obligation to fulfil the mantra before returning. Surya miraculously causes Kunti to bear the child immediately whilst retaining her virginity so that she, as an unmarried princess, need not face any embarrassment or be subjected to questions from society. Kunti feels compelled to abandon the child, Karna, who grows up to become one of the central characters in the great battle of Kurukshetra.

In Zoroastrianism[link]

In the Vedas, Surya is frequently referred to as "the eye of Mitra, Varuna, and Agni" (RV 1.115.1, RV 6.51.1, RV 7.63.1, WYV 4.35, WYV 7.42, WYV 13.46, AV 13.2.35). This bears striking similarities to Zoroastrian scriptures, where the Sun is described as "the eye of Ahura Mazda".

In astrology[link]

In Vedic astrology Surya is considered a mild malefic on account of his hot, dry nature. Surya represents soul, will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority. He is exalted in the sign Mesha(Aries) and is in decline in the sign Tula (Libra). The strongest placement for Surya is directly overhead in the 10th house, and on the angles (the 1st, 5th and 9th houses). Surya is lord of three nakshatras or lunar mansions: Krittika, Uttara Phalguni and Uttara Ashadha. Surya has the following associations: the colors - copper or red, the metals - gold or brass, the gemstone - ruby, the direction - east and the season of summer. The food grain associated with him (one of Nava Dhanyas) is wheat.

Temples[link]

Konark Sun Temple, Konark, Orissa

Sun Temple, Modhera

There are Surya temples all across India. The most famous is the World Heritage Site of the Sun Temple, Konark, Orissa. Besides Konark, there are another two sun temples in Orissa called Biranchi Narayan Sun Temple^[7] in Buguda, Ganjam District and Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia, Bhadrak.

There are sun temples in Modhera, Gujarat, created by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty, in Arasavalli, Andhra Pradesh, Kanakaditya Temple in Kasheli (Dist. Sindhudurg) - Maharashtra, near the famous Galtaji's temple in Jaipur, Rajasthan and in clusters of Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu and Assam. The Sun Temple at Martand in Jammu and Kashmir and Sun Temple of Multan are temples which were destroyed. The only and the famous Surya temple in northern India is Kattarmal surya mandir in Almora District,Uttarakhand created by King kattarmal in 12 century.

The Gurjars were essentially sun worshipers and some of the sun temples were erected by them during medieval period.^[8]The sun temple known as Jayaditya was constructed by Gurjar king of Nandipuri, Jayabhatta II.This temple is situated at Kotipura near Kapika in the Bharukachha district.^[9]The Surya temple of Bhinmal known as Jagaswami Surya temple was also erected during this period.^[10]

Festivals[link]

There are Various Festivals dedicated to Sun God Surya in India.

Makara Sankaranti is most Widely celebrated Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated as Makara Sankranti throughout India and as Pongal by Tamils all over the world. People thank the Sun God for ensuring a good harvest and dedicate the first grain to him.

Chhath is another Hindu Festival dedicated to Surya. It is believed to started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. Chhath is unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the some Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Nepal & Mauritius.

Samba Dashami is another festival celebrated in the eastern coastal state of Orissa, India in the honour of Samba, the son of Krishna who got cured from leprosy by praying to Surya.

Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the Seventh day (Saptami) of the bright half of the Hindu month Maagha.^[11] This day is also known as Surya Jayanti because it celebrates the power of the Sun God who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu in his form as Surya is usually worshiped on this day. Usually, Rathasapthami begins in households with a purification bath by holding a few calotropis leaves on one's head and shoulders while bathing and chanting a verse which is supposed to invoke the benevolence of the Lord in all that one takes up the rest of the year. It also involves doing a puja with the ritual 'Naivedyam', flowers and fruits. On this day at Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh), Lord Venkateshwara (Balaji) is mounted on Seven Vahanas (Celestial Vehicles) one after the other starting from Suryaprabha Vahana and ending with Chandraprabha Vahana. Other Vahanas are Hanumad vahana, Garuda Vahana, Peddashesha Vahana, Kalpavruksha vahana and Sarvabhupala vahana. Also chakrasnanam is performed on the same day. A devotee enjoys watching the Lord mounted on different vahanas in one day which is popularly known as Okka roju Brahmotsavam (Single day celebrations).

In Mahabharata[link]

Surya is not mentioned as one of the Adityas in the first book of the epic Mahabarata, but may be regarded as the compound of the twelve solar deities mentioned there, to be understood in connection to the Jyotisha vedic astrology: Dhatri, Mitra, Aryaman, Sakra, Varuna, Amsa, Vaga, Vivaswat, Usha, Savitri, Tvashtri, Vishnu.

In Mahabharata, Surya is referred to as father of Karna, as he begot the latter on Kunti when she was virgin. With his grace and in order that Kunti is not spoken of badly in the world, Kunti could retain virginhood even after delivering a child.

Saurashtra Surymandir[link]

The Kathi Darbar, Shri Amra Patgir developed the temple of Shri Surynarayan in Thangadh village of Surendranagar district in Gujarat. The kathis were come in Saurashtra in the 12th and 13th centuries. Inscription from the temple:

સંવત તેર બોતેર આપ સુરજગઢ આયા,પાવર પડતું ,મેલ્ય પડ પંચાળ રચાયા , જાડેજા લાગે જોર ,પીવા ન દીએ પાણી ,સુરજ આલી સાંગ,હેમ હાથોહાથ આણી, ઘર પંચાળ કાઠી ઘણી ,કોણ બીઓ સમાવડ કરે,જાડેજા કઢ્યો જદુરાણ પથ ઈ વાળે વેળાવળે.

See also[link]

• Hindu deities
• Navagraha

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Surya

• An ancient hymn to Surya - from the Rig Veda
• Weekly podcast on Vedic Chanting and Vedic Mythology with stories from the Puranas
• Surya Upanishad (Wikisource)

v t e Navagraha Surya · Chandra · Mangala · Budha · Brihaspati · Shukra · Shani · Rahu · Ketu Navagraha temples Astrology · Hinduism · Hindu astrology

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

Priya Anand (born 17 September 1986) is an Indian film actress and model who appears in Telugu and Tamil. She appeared in some Telugu and Tamil films including, Leader^[2] and Vaamanan^[3].

Early life[link]

Priya Anand was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu as the only child to a half Telugu, half Marathi father Bharadwaj Anand and a Tamil mother Radha.^[4][5] Because of her mixed regional background, she was brought up in both her parents' hometowns, Chennai and Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, becoming fluent in Tamil as well as Telugu.^[5] Besides her mother tongues, Priya is proficient in English,^[6] Bengali, Hindi and Spanish languages as well.^[5]

Priya, who describes herself as "naturally extremely hyperactive", became fascinated by films, developing an interest in cinema, since childhood, and noted that she has been dreaming of getting into the film industry and working on technical aspects of film making, but confesses she never thought of becoming an actor.^[5][6] She moved to the U. S., where she pursued her higher studies.^[6] Keeping her later career in mind, she studied Communications and Journalism at University of Albany.^[5] After completing her education, she returned to India in 2008 and since, stays with her grandparents in Chennai. However, she then ventured into modeling, appearing in various television commercials like Nutrine Maha Lacto, Prince Jewellery and Cadbury Dairy Milk.^[5]

Career[link]

She was subsequently receiving acting offers from directors, who had seen her television commercials. She was initially supposed to make her acting debut in the Tamil film Pugaippadam, which she signed up first, but since its release was delayed until 2010, her first release became the action-thriller Vaamanan, directed by newcomer Ahmed. She was assigned for the project in late 2008 to portray Divya, a simple girl next door, whom the male lead character, essayed by Jai, would fall in love with. The film created some anticipation before its release, mainly due to its hit music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, which enabled a big opening,^[7][8] with the song "Aedho Saigirai", which was picturized on her, being considered as her "claim-to-fame" that made her popular among Tamil audience, and being dubbed as a "Priya song".^[9][10] However the film got a lukewarm reception and fared only averagely at the Chennai box office.

In 2010, three of her films released within a short span of time, the first on New Year 2010, which was the college-life based drama Pugaippadam, a film revolving around the friendship between seven students. Priya enacted the charcater of one of the student roles, a Malayali Christian named Shiney George.^[11] The film opened to mixed reviews and proved to be commercially unsuccessful. She next starred in her first Telugu film, AVM Productions' Sekhar Kammula directed political drama Leader, alongside newcomers Rana Daggubati and Richa Gangopadhyay. She recalls that an assistant director of Kammula had found her on Facebook and invited her and how she had to audition thrice for the film to prove herself and eventually got the offer.^[5][6] She played Ratna Prabha, a television channel reporter and friend to a young man, who would later go on to become a political leader. Although her screen presence in the film was very limited, her performance garnered overwhelming response and was well received,^[2][12] while the film itself earned positive reviews and became a critical success.^[5] The Dil Raju-produced family entertainer Rama Rama Krishna Krishna was her last 2010 release, in which she plays the love interest of the film's male protagonist. She next starred in 180, a bilingual Tamil-Telugu project by ad filmmaker Jayendra,^[13] which was her only release in 2011. In the second half of 2011, she filmed for her debut Hindi film English Vinglish, produced by R. Balki,^[14] in which she will be sharing screen with Sridevi, who Priya admires and considers her as her idol. Priya said: "I signed this film just to be up and close to an artist who has influenced me and to be part of something that was so important to her. I'm doing this movie as her fan and I'm fortunate enough to play a very important part in her journey in the film".^[15]

Filmography[link]

Personal life[link]

On 20 June 2011, Anand was chosen as the ambassador for the "Save the Children" campaign for both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.^[16]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Priya Anand at the Internet Movie Database
• Priya Anand on Twitter