Surya
The Sun God
The Sun God who lights the universe every morning. Ancestor of Rama through the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty), one of the most important lineages in Hindu tradition.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: సూర్యుడు
- Also known as: Aditya, Ravi, Bhaskara, Divakara
- Vehicle (vahana): Sapta Ashwa Ratham (seven-horse chariot)
- Symbols: Golden chariot, Seven horses, Radiant crown, Lotus in hand
Story
Every morning when the sun rises over the Godavari or Krishna rivers, Telugu families greet Surya Bhagavan with Surya Namaskarams. He rides a golden chariot pulled by seven horses, each representing a day of the week and a color of the rainbow. Surya is the founder of the Suryavansha dynasty, the lineage that produced Raja Ikshvaku, Raja Harishchandra, and eventually Sri Ramachandra himself. His son Vaivasvata Manu is considered the ancestor of all humanity. Surya also fathered Yama (the god of dharma and death), the Ashwini twins (divine physicians), and Karna, the tragic hero of the Mahabharatam. In Telugu tradition, Surya Namaskar is performed during Sankranti, when the sun transitions into Makara Rashi. Ratha Saptami, celebrated in January or February, honors Surya with special pujas. Many Telugu families teach children to offer water (arghyam) to the rising sun every morning as part of Sandhyavandanam. The famous Arasavalli Surya temple near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh is one of the few temples in India dedicated to Surya, and its architecture is designed so that sunlight falls directly on the idol during specific times of the year.
Fun fact
Surya's charioteer is Aruna, the dawn god, who has no legs and sits facing backward on the chariot. The seven horses of Surya represent the seven days of the week and the seven colors of visible light.
Family and connections
- Child: Yama
- Child: Karna (Divine father)
- Child: Shani
- Child: The Ashvins (the twin healers)