Surya, the Sun God is one of the most revered in Hinduism.
So much so that Adi Shankaracharya classified the worship of Surya as Sauram along with Ganapathyam,Kaumaram,Shaivam,Saaktham and Vaishnavam.
The foremost duty of a Hindu is the performance of Sanshyavandana.
The God addressed to and the Argya, the offering of water is to Surya.
He is described as the Visible Reality,Brahman.
‘Namas Savitre, Jadadeka Chakshushe,
Jagat Prasoothi Sthithi Naasa Hetave,
Thrayee Mayaya Thrigunathma Dharine,
Virinchi Narayana Sankarathmane’
Lord Krishna says He is Vishnu among the Adhityas.
‘Adhityanaa Aham Vishnu’
Surya is the axis on which the Universe rests and moves.
Surya’s Sisumara Chakra explains the Universe and the movement of Sun and Galaxies
Surya Siddhanta explains this.
Surya assumes different names for different months.
They are,
|
The 12 Adityas |
Ruling Month |
Solar Month |
Lunar Month
|
|
|
1
|
Dhata |
March – April |
Madhu
|
Chaitra |
|
2
|
Aryama |
April – May |
Madhava
|
Vaishakha |
|
3
|
Mitra |
May – June |
Shukra
|
Jyeshtha |
|
4
|
Varuna |
June – July |
Suchi
|
Ashadha |
|
5
|
Indra |
July – August |
Nabhas
|
Shravana |
|
6
|
Vivasvan |
Aug – Sept |
Nabhasya
|
Bhadrapada |
|
7
|
Tvashtha |
Sept – Oct |
Isha
|
Ashvina |
|
8
|
Vishnu |
Oct – Nov |
Urja
|
Karttika |
|
9
|
Amshuman |
Nov – Dec |
Sahas
|
Margasirsha |
|
10
|
Bhaga |
Dec – Jan |
Sahasya
|
Pushya |
|
11
|
Pusha |
Jan – Feb |
Tapas
|
Magha |
|
12
|
Parjanja |
Feb – March |
Tapasya
|
Phalguna |
47-48. While the sages glorify the sun-god with the hymns of the Sama-, Rig- and Yajur Vedas, which reveal his identity, the Gandharvas also sing his praises and the Apsaras dance before his chariot. The Nagas arrange the chariot ropes and the Yaksas harness the horses to the chariot, while the powerful Raksasas push from behind.
49. Facing the chariot, the sixty thousand brahmana sages known as Valakhilyas travel in front and offer prayers to the almighty sun-god with Vedic mantras.
46. Thus, throughout the twelve months, the lord of the sun travels in all directions with his six types of associates, disseminating among the inhabitants of this universe purity of consciousness for both this life and the next.
45. All these personalities are the opulent expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, in the form of the sun-god. These deities take away all the sinful reactions of those who remember them each day at dawn and sunset. -Bhagavatha Purana.
The Twelve Suns.
. In different Puranas their names are given differently.
Brahma once recounted to the sages the one hundred and eight sacred names of Surya. The Brahma Purana lists these names.
Here are the nine groups of twelve names each.
(1) Surya, Archana, Bhagavana, Tvashta, Pusha, Arka, Savita, Ravi, Gabhastimana, Aja, Kala, Mrityu.
(2) Dhata, Prabhakara, Prithivi, Jala, Teja, Akasha, Vayu, Parayana, Soma, Brihaspati, Shukra, Budha.
(3) Angaraka, Indra, Vivasvana, Diptamshu, Shuchi, Shouri,Shanaishvara, Brahma, Vishu, Rudra, Skanda, Vaishravana.
(4) Yama, Vaidyuta, Jathara, Agni, Aindhana, Tejohapti, Dharmadhvaja, Vedakarta, Vedanga, Vedavahana, Krita, Treta.
(5) Dvapara, Kali, Sarvasurashraya, Kala, Kashtha, Muhurta, Kshapa, Yama, Kshana, Samvatsara, Ashvattha, Kalachakra.
(6) Vibhavasu, Shashvata, Purusha, Yogi, Vyaktavyakta, Sanatana, Kaladhyaksha, Prajadhyaksha, Vishvakarma, Tamonuda, Varuna, Sagara.
(7) Amsha, Jimuta, Jivana, Ariha, Bhutashraya, Bhutapati, Sarvalokanamaskrita, Shrashta, Samvartaka, Vahni, Sarvadi, Alolupa.
(8) Anata, Kapila, Bhanu, Kamada, Sarvotamukha, Jaya, Vishala, Varada, Sarvabhutasevita, Mana, Suparna, Bhutadi.
(9) Shighraga, Pranadharana, Dhanvantari, Dhumaketu, Adideva, Aditinandana, Dvadashatma, Ravi, Daksha, Pita, Mata, Pitamaha.
“All these personalities are the opulent expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, in the form of the sun-god. These deities take away all the sinful reactions of those who remember them each day at dawn and sunset.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 12.11.45)
Citation.
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